[lothar]

Can anyone tell me the real truth about the Long Island Sound along the CT. coast ?. What is the present status of this body of water?. What areas are better than others?. thanks for the info.

[skytrekker]

The status of LI Sound is good- it is much cleaner then 30 years ago. East of New Haven there are smaller towns, with a traditional New England maritime persona. There are some nice town and state beaches and the water has more clarity then toward the west of New Haven.

Beyond to the east of the mouth of Connecticut river- where the sound opens up to Block Island sound and the Atlantic, the water becomes rougher and even cleaner.

[JoeYanxfan]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

East of New Haven there are smaller towns, with a traditional New England maritime persona.

Really? A lot places along the shore look somewhat like Jersey to me. Soundview in Old Lyme and many beach neighborhoods in Saybrook and Westbrook seemed Jersey-esque as opposed to Cape Cod-like.

[ctcoldplay11]

I think Skytrekker was talking about the actual towns themselves (ie. Madison, Old Saybrook, Mystic/Stonington) not the beaches that are found in them. However, yes the Connecticut shoreline is much different from Cape Cod, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Much of the upper cape (Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro) is protected by the National Seashore, which limits growth and business in those areas, making those beaches much more bucolic and serene. However, on the lower Cape (Yarmouth, Dennis, Barnstable) I think you can argue that the beaches there are very Jersey-esque. It really depends on where you go in Connecticut, some beaches will be much more developed than others (Soundview in Old Lyme vs. Harkness in Waterford.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by JoeYanxfan

Really? A lot places along the shore look somewhat like Jersey to me. Soundview in Old Lyme and many beach neighborhoods in Saybrook and Westbrook seemed Jersey-esque as opposed to Cape Cod-like.

I don't agree with this at all. New Jersey beaches are densely developed (a lot of homes on small lots and well developed waterfront areas) with a lot of commercial areas and boardwalks. Connecticut beaches do not have that and are less dense overall. Maybe it is not exactly like the cape, but it isn't Jersey either. Jay

[JoeYanxfan]

Soundview does look like some areas on C. Jersey Shore. Go take a drive there.

[JoeYanxfan]

Originally Posted by ctcoldplay11

I think Skytrekker was talking about the actual towns themselves (ie. Madison, Old Saybrook, Mystic/Stonington) not the beaches that are found in them. However, yes the Connecticut shoreline is much different from Cape Cod, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Much of the upper cape (Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro) is protected by the National Seashore, which limits growth and business in those areas, making those beaches much more bucolic and serene. However, on the lower Cape (Yarmouth, Dennis, Barnstable) I think you can argue that the beaches there are very Jersey-esque. It really depends on where you go in Connecticut, some beaches will be much more developed than others (Soundview in Old Lyme vs. Harkness in Waterford.

Plus Cape Cod water is MAAAAAAAAAAD cold, at least the ocean side. BRRRR

[JoeYanxfan]

Originally Posted by JayCT

New Jersey beaches are densely developed (a lot of homes on small lots and well developed waterfront areas) with a lot of commercial areas and boardwalks.

That's making a really general statement (I'm one to talk ). A few years back, Nat'l Geographic did an excellent article on the Jersey Shore, all the way from Sandy Hook to Cape May. IMO, quite a few beaches in north Jersey look similar to Soundview (for instance), replete with jetskis, "blowout" haircuts, steroid juicers, and all. Of course, many beaches in CT (and our neighbor to the southwest) look nothing like this .

[skytrekker]

As a geographer- who has visited the Jersey shore many times- and also spent time on the CT shoreline- there is no part of the CT shoreline that begins to resemble New Jersey's Atlantic coastline. The population density is less- and there is more restrictive zoning that limits the density of development- in CT as Jay has said.

The Shoreline towns east of New Haven all have an historical New England maritime theme and 'house form & culture' that is New England- and certainly does not look like NJ.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by JoeYanxfan

That's making a really general statement (I'm one to talk ). A few years back, Nat'l Geographic did an excellent article on the Jersey Shore, all the way from Sandy Hook to Cape May. IMO, quite a few beaches in north Jersey look similar to Soundview (for instance), replete with jetskis, "blowout" haircuts, steroid juicers, and all. Of course, many beaches in CT (and our neighbor to the southwest) look nothing like this .

My statement is no more generalized than yours. Plus it is kind of hard not to generalize when you are talking about such a large area. You wil not find long boardwalks flank by commercial development in CT, but you do in NJ. You will not find a lot of small homes on small lots fronting on manmade inlets and waterways, but in NJ you do. Yes NJ has some wonderful and beautiful shoreline areas and the boardwalks and dense housing makes it a great vacation area for families. I just do not agree that the Ct shore is anything like that. Jay