FAIRFIELD, Conn. Jackie Abelli sat on a nice sandy beach Thursday afternoon with her family and friends. She listened to the sound of waves crashing, just as she heard when she woke up 100 yards away. Not a bad spot for a vacation. But where was she? Cape Cod? Florida? The Caribbean? Try Fairfield Beach.
Its a beautiful beach, and people are friendly, Abelli said of her home for July. And downtown Fairfield is awesome for shopping and all that.
Abelli and her family have rented beach homes for their vacations the past few summers. Usually, they hit up the usual suspects: Cape Cod, Narragansett and Nantucket. But this year, the Cheshire resident decided to stay in her home state and head to Fairfield.
The change brought the Abellis two key benefits. Because Fairfield offers cheaper rates than the more famous vacation spots, the family can afford to spend a full month on the beach rather than their usual week. And because she stayed closer to home, she can continue to run her wedding and party planning business from the shore.
For one month versus one week, [Fairfield] stacks up just fine, Abelli said. Its not the ocean, but it does us just fine. Theres something to be said for waking up on the beach.
Juliann Hudson, who manages some beach rentals for William Pitt Sothebys International Realty, says Abelli is not alone. Fairfields beach rentals have long opened up for summer vacationers once Fairfield University students head home. But Hudson says she has seen more homes go up for rent over the past few years, and more families taking them instead of college kids.
People love the beach, its a very unique area, Hudson said. I think the rental market is still very strong in the beach area.
Even locals are taking their vacations right on Fairfields shores. Rocky Pacelli lived on the beach as a kid, but now lives deeper in town. So for his summer vacation, he travels a full three miles. We just move to the beach, Pacelli said. This summer he has struck up a friendship with Abelli, his neighbor, and welcomed her into the community of Fairfield beachgoers.
The same renters come back every year, said Hudson, a Penfield Place resident. Because its such a wonderful community.
Would you consider taking a vacation on Fairfields beaches instead of farther away? Tell us why or why not in the comments below.
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