It's still spring at Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic, so more people were on the sand on the afternoon of Memorial Day than in the water.
"It's pretty cold," said Sabrina Gomez, after taking her daughter Savannah into the calm salt water. "It"s not that bad once you get in. You kind of get used to it."
Even though the water temperature was below 60 degrees, the sun was warm enough for a lot of people.
"It's beautiful after this winter. I had enough of the shoveling and the plowing, so we're enjoying the day," said Gonzalo Morillo.
For him, it was hour after hour under the sun. Beach chairs and umbrellas were everywhere. So were people sprawled on towels.
There was a line for ice cream under a tent, and families picnicked in the sand.
"Well we've got real big hamburgers, waiting to cook it, and then we're going to eat it, then we're going to the beach," Mariser Cruz said.
