Fall on the Connecticut Shoreline: How to Spend a Sweet Day in Niantic

The summer crowd thins out after Labor Day, and the Connecticut shoreline gets better. The boardwalk empties, the light over Long Island Sound turns gold in the afternoon, and you can park on Main Street without circling.

What does not change is that it is still ice cream weather, and our seasonal flavors only show up now.

Here is how to spend an autumn afternoon in Niantic.

Start on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk

The Niantic Bay Boardwalk runs along the water at the edge of town, with the Sound on one side and the rail line on the other. Trains pass close enough that kids stop walking to watch.

In July you share it with everyone. In October you might have a stretch of it to yourself. Bring a jacket, the wind comes off the water and it is colder than the forecast says.

Then head to Rocky Neck State Park

Rocky Neck State Park sits in East Lyme, minutes from downtown Niantic. The beach that is packed in August is quiet by October, and the trails and salt marsh are at their best once the leaves turn.

It is close enough that you can walk the boardwalk in the morning, stop on Main Street for lunch and a treat, and still have the whole afternoon at the park.

Our fall flavors are already on the board

This is the part of the year we look forward to. Three seasonal ice cream flavors come back in the fall, in limited availability:

• Pumpkin

• Pumpkin Oreo

• Caramel Apple

  
  

They sit alongside the flavors we make all year — Butter Pecan, Black Raspberry Chip, Salted Caramel, Cookie Dough, Mint Chip and the rest of the board. All of it is homemade ice cream, in cups or cones, and available in pints and quarts if you want to take some home.

Warm things for a cold afternoon

Ice cream in fifty-degree weather is a real pleasure, but we understand if you want something warmer:

• Cream & Sugar hot coffee with a scoop of hard ice cream dropped into it

• A brownie sundae under hot fudge

• Jitterbugs, our frozen coffee drinks, in Mocha Chip, Salted Caramel, Coffee and Coffee Oreo

  
  

And a box of fudge travels better than a cone when the wind picks up.

Bring the dog

The boardwalk is a dog walk as much as anything else, and we keep a Pup Cup on the menu for exactly that reason.

A simple route for the day

• Morning: walk the Niantic Bay Boardwalk while the light is low

• Midday: Main Street — shops, lunch, and a stop at 334 for a scoop of pumpkin and a box of fudge

• Afternoon: Rocky Neck State Park for the trails and the marsh

• On the way out: pints and quarts to take home, plus a handful from the candy wall for the drive

  
  

Plan your visit

Gumdrops & Lollipops is at 334 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357. Store hours are 11:00am to 9:00pm Monday through Saturday and 11:00am to 8:00pm on Sunday. Hours can change with the season — call 860-739-7800 if you are driving in from out of town.

Frequently asked questions

Is there good ice cream near Rocky Neck State Park?

Gumdrops & Lollipops is at 334 Main Street in Niantic, minutes from Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme. The ice cream is made in-store, in cups, cones, pints and quarts.

Are there candy shops near the Niantic Bay Boardwalk?

Yes. Gumdrops & Lollipops is a short walk from the boardwalk on Main Street, with homemade ice cream, fudge made in-store, hand-dipped chocolates and a wall of nostalgic candy.

Do you have pumpkin ice cream in the fall?

Yes. Pumpkin, Pumpkin Oreo and Caramel Apple are our seasonal fall flavors, available in limited quantities while the season lasts.

Are you open in the fall and winter?

Yes, we are open seven days a week year round. Hours can change with the season, so call 860-739-7800 before a long drive.

What is there to do in Niantic in the fall?

The Niantic Bay Boardwalk along Long Island Sound, Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme, and the shops along Main Street, which are considerably easier to browse once the summer crowd has gone.

Can I bring my dog?

The boardwalk is a popular dog walk, and we serve a Pup Cup for the dog while you have your own.

Come see the shoreline in its best season

The pumpkin does not last past the season and neither does the light. We are on Main Street, open seven days a week, a few steps from the water.