When we came up with the topic for this week's SNET Internet survey, we were mostly thinking of day trips in New England -- in other words, Where do you *actually* go, if you want to go to the beach for a day? Thus, we kept the choices within reasonable driving distance.
As it turns out, lots of people, almost a quarter of respondents, either are willing to drive farther than we are or just would rather imagine themselves farther away.
Here are the survey results, followed by a selection of reader comments:
Q: For a day at the beach, I prefer:
- Long Island Sound (CT) - 707 (14.6%)
- Rhode Island - 1,532 (31.6%)
- Cape Code - 1,080 (22.3%)
- The Jersey shore - 317 (6.6%)
- New York - 110 (2.3%)
- Other - 1,091 (22.5%)
Your opinions:
"I think the Jersey shore is the best place for a family vacation. The temperatures are reasonable in summer. The others are nice too, but I prefer the Jersey shore." M.C., Waterbury
"I prefer To go to Hawaii for a day @ the beach. (Not like I do it all the time!) But when I went there it had the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. I'll go back anytime!" J.C., Burlington
"I'm too fair and sun-sensitive to go to the beach anymore (I'm not that old. I have to slather on the sunscreen just to do my yard work & I can't stand the stuff ... even the "greaseless" stuff. But I LOVE the water, so I go to rivers, streams and nature preserves with my water dogs. When I was a beachgoer, it didn't matter. Wherever was closest. Been to beaches from Maine to New Jersey." J.B., North Windham
"How about asking if people actually go to the beach or if they go boating, fishing, or to a pool? How about asking what people do at the beach? Some people do some pretty bizarre things, man! Excuse me but: When I got to the beach, I prefer: ... is way too boring! No offense or anything." T.M., Ashford (Editor's Note: No offense taken. ;-) )
"Even though the waves are pretty good at Rhode Island for boogie boarding and it's not always really crowded or anything, I really like ALL of the beaches at Myrtle Beach and Florida!" J.L., Branford
"I love the Maine coastline. Old Orchard Beach andYork Beach are absolutely beautiful.They are impeccably clean and a great place to bring your family for vacation." K.J., Canterbury
"Hampton Beach in New Hampshire is the best. The beach is beautiful. There is a lot to do. Also there are many fine and diverse eating establishments. A perfect destination." Ron G., Meriden
"For a shoreline as long as Connecticut's, there are not enough public/state beaches. There are too many privately owned properties." B.G.
"Good beaches are scarce in Connecticut. I prefer the Cape but it takes too long to get there from here! So my "other" is the family pool. My only other preference are the lakes in N.H., but they also take too long to get to in a day." D.B., Thomaston
"I know you can't print all the options. In this case "other" doesn't cover my option -- I don't go to the beach ... I don't believe in sunbathing. I have "Irish" skin, and the sun doesn't especially like me either." J.R.L., Windsor Locks
"I would rather spend my day in the bathtub instead of the slimy waters of a New York beach." A. Riley, Danbury
"We are originally from Florida, so these waters up here are way too cold for us!! Also, I don't know why the Long Island Sound is even considered a "beach!" Being in the Navy, we've been to Hawaii where the water is so clear and beautiful. So, comparing Hawaii and Florida beaches to up here, I just have to pass on a day at the beach in New England! Sue, Groton
Previous survey results are available.
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