I skip the Hamptons and head to a coastal town in Connecticut instead. It’s less crowded and wonderful year-round.

The local beaches attract me like a magnet. Fortunately, Madison has about a dozen.

My favorite is Hammonasset Beach State Park, with about 2 miles of Long Island Sound shoreline and trails that I can bike on. It’s felt clean and uncrowded each time I’ve visited.

Madison’s downtown is low-key, laidback, and walkable, with excellent New England vibes.

I can get lost for hours at RJ Julia Booksellers, which I consider one of the best independent bookstores in the entire country.

I always stop at Savvy Tea Gourmet, which sells a variety of unique teas and has in-store tastings. When I’m not sure which tea leaves to buy, the owner steers me in the right direction.

The town also has a cluster of cute clothing boutiques. My favorite is The Dressing Room, where the staff is friendly and the sales are legit.

Madison has a few eateries I try to stop at each time I visit.

French bistro Bar Bouchée transports me right to Europe with its ambiance and traditional Gallic fare. I can also never resist ordering the profiteroles drenched in warm chocolate sauce.

I book a table at The Wharf when I want to eat fresh seafood with a view of the water. My go-to order is the warm lobster roll served with a mountain of crisp shoestring fries.

When I crave pasta like my Nonna used to make, I head to Café Allegre. The Italian eatery serves classics like spaghetti with fresh clams and robust rigatoni with meatballs and sausage.

Madison is also lovely in the fall and winter

In the fall, the area’s numerous farms and farm stands overflow with fresh produce and pretty flowers. My favorite is Bishop’s Orchard in neighboring Guilford, where I go apple-picking each autumn.

The beaches are fun to visit throughout the year, too. The water usually stays warm well into October, so I can have a dip surrounded by fall foliage.

I even go in winter for chilly seaside strolls and snowshoeing on the maze of wooden boardwalks.