Westport, Connecticut
Things to do with an older parent in Westport
Easy outings, the beaches and parks with their resident rules, the arts, and the Senior Center calendar, with the access details the places publish and how a caregiver can make the outing happen.
What are good things to do in Westport with an older parent?
Start short and close to parking. The Westport Library is wheelchair accessible, Compo Beach has Mobi Mats and accessible picnic pads, and the Thursday Farmers' Market sits next to the Senior Center. The Playhouse, Levitt Pavilion and MoCA CT cover the arts. Town beaches have a resident emblem category for ages 62 and older. A caregiver can drive and set the pace.
Close to home
Easy outings close to home
The simplest outings are indoors, close to parking, with somewhere to sit. The Westport Library at 20 Jesup Road and all of its meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible, a motorized wheelchair is available inside, and it has large print books and audiobooks. Wheels2U stops at Jesup Green/Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Westport Museum for History and Culture, at 25 Avery Place, is open Thursday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM, and sits less than a minute by car from Town Hall. The Farmers' Market runs Thursdays, 10 AM to 2 PM, next to the Senior Center at 50 Imperial Avenue, through November 5 this year. Wheels2U serves its Imperial Avenue entrance Tuesday to Thursday.
Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve, at 191 Hillspoint Road, has a walking path, benches and a small parking lot, with views of a pond that is home to more than 70 species of birds. It is a short stop with benches.
The water and the parks
The beaches, the parks and the resident rules
Compo Beach, at 60 Compo Beach Road, is the town's main beach: 29 acres on Long Island Sound, open year round, with a boardwalk, pavilion, concession stand and bathrooms. It has Mobi Mats on the main beach and south beach, four wheelchair accessible picnic pads on south beach and two wheelchairs at the entrance gate. One floating beach wheelchair is available and must be accompanied by an able-bodied adult.
Entrance to Westport's beaches is free and open to the public except from May 1 to September 30. In that window, parking emblems are required at Compo, Old Mill and Canal Beach, and at Burying Hill from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Compo has a daily parking fee, with daily passes limited to 125 a day. The town has a resident emblem category for a senior (62 and older) or handicapped person and a Basic Senior handpass for ages 62 and up. Fees change each year, so read the town page.
Burying Hill Beach is smaller, with restrooms, a changing area, picnic tables and grills. Old Mill Beach has limited parking for emblem holders only, no restrooms and no lifeguards. Longshore Club Park, at 260 Compo Road South, has golf, tennis, swimming and boating, and the town lists Senior (62+) handpass categories for golf, tennis and the pool.
Sherwood Island State Park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset, with a mile-long beach and the Living 9-11 Memorial. Accessible beach surf chairs are free, first come, first served. The pavilion is closed for the 2026 season.
Culture and learning
Theater, music, art and nature
Westport Country Playhouse, at 25 Powers Court, has a 2026-2027 mainstage season, and Pride and Prejudice, Part 2 runs October 20 to November 7, 2026. Its site has an FAQ answer on accessibility for people with disabilities, so read it before you buy seats.
Levitt Pavilion, at 40 Jesup Road, is an outdoor amphitheater on the Saugatuck River presenting free shows between April and October, with a sloped lawn and a RiverWalk around it. We could not read its accessibility details, so call before you plan where to sit.
MoCA CT, at 19 Newtown Turnpike, is the museum formerly known as the Westport Arts Center. Gallery hours are Thursday 12 to 8 PM, Friday 12 to 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 12 to 5 PM.
Earthplace, at 10 Woodside Lane, is a 62-acre wildlife sanctuary with about two miles of trails, an indoor learning center and animal exhibits. The building is open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM, and a senior (65+) admission category is listed. Wakeman Town Farm and the Rolnick Observatory are also open to the public, and their pages do not give hours, so check first.
The senior center calendar
The Westport Center for Senior Activities
The Center, at 21 Imperial Avenue, is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM to everyone 60 and older from Westport and neighboring towns. It has Sue's Cafe, and the course catalog comes out four times a year. Registration is available by phone, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Sue's Cafe serves lunch Monday to Friday, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, and the center recommends registering at least 48 hours ahead. A Human Services social worker is on site Tuesdays and Thursdays. The October 2026 newsletter lists a Caregivers Support Group on Wednesday, October 28, a Bereavement Support Group on October 21 and the Senior Center's team for the Walk to End Alzheimer's at Sherwood Island State Park on Sunday, October 25. The Aspetuck Health District also held a flu clinic there in October.
Wheels2U runs to the Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On other days, a caregiver can drive.
Making it happen
How a companion caregiver makes outings happen
Many families have a place their parent would love to go and nobody with the time to take them. A companion caregiver can do the driving, find the parking, carry what is needed, and stay alongside for the pace your parent likes. The outing can be the whole point of the visit.
A few things help. Pick the time of day when your parent has the most energy. Call ahead about access, since the places above publish different details. Keep it short the first time. Bring a folding chair or a cane the parent already uses, and build in a place to sit.
If your parent does not drive, Wheels2U covers the Senior Center, Farmers' Market and library Tuesday to Thursday, and door-to-door rides within town are booked a day ahead for residents 65 and older. The caregiver can ride along. For evenings, weekends and anywhere those services do not go, the caregiver drives.
Local directory
Places and programs to plan around
From each place's own site or the Town of Westport, checked 2026-10-22. Hours change, so call before you go. Where an entry says check current details, it rests on the town's October 2024 directory.
Close to home
- LibraryWestport Library20 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880
The Library and all of its meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible, and a motorized wheelchair is available for use inside. It has large print books and audiobooks and an events calendar, and the town directory says it hosts nearly 2,000 free programs a year. Wheels2U stops at Jesup Green/Library on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. About 2 minutes by car from Town Hall.
- Library at homeWestport Library Homebound DeliveryDelivered to Westport residents
A weekly delivery of books, DVDs, CDs and audiobooks on CD for Westport residents who are homebound, lack dependable transportation or are temporarily incapacitated. Deliveries are made once a week on a pre-determined schedule.
- History museumWestport Museum for History and Culture25 Avery Place, Westport, CT 06880
The town's history museum, open Thursday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Less than a minute by car from Town Hall, so it pairs well with a stop at the library or the Playhouse.
- Weekly marketWestport Farmers' Market50 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
Thursdays, 10 AM to 2 PM, May 7 to November 5 in 2026, next to the Senior Center. Wheels2U serves the Imperial Avenue entrance Tuesday to Thursday, so a Thursday market and a Senior Center lunch can share one trip.
- Nature preserveSherwood Mill Pond Preserve191 Hillspoint Road, Westport, CT
A small town preserve with a walking path, benches and views of Sherwood Mill Pond, which is home to more than 70 species of birds. There is a small parking lot on site. A short stop with benches.
- Community YWestport Weston Family YMCA
The 2024 directory lists discounted memberships for adults 65 and over and senior aqua fitness, an arthritis aquatic program and senior strength training. It comes from that directory, so check current details at westporty.org.
Beaches and parks
Fees change each year, so amounts are not listed. Read the town pages.
- Town beachCompo Beach60 Compo Beach Road, Westport, CT
The town's main beach, 29 acres on Long Island Sound, open year round, with a boardwalk, pavilion, concession stand and bathrooms. Mobi Mats cover the main beach and south beach, there are four wheelchair accessible picnic pads on south beach, and two wheelchairs are at the entrance gate. One floating beach wheelchair is available and must be accompanied by an able-bodied adult. A daily parking fee applies May 1 through September 30, with daily passes limited to 125 a day. About 8 minutes by car from Town Hall.
- Resident rulesBeach parking emblems and senior passesWestport Parks and Recreation, 260 Compo Road South
Parking emblems are required at Compo and Old Mill from May 1 to September 30, at Burying Hill from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, and at Canal Beach from May 1 to September 30. The town has a resident emblem category for a senior (62 and older) or handicapped person, and a Basic Senior handpass for ages 62 and up. The 2024 directory adds hand-held emblems for senior residents who do not drive, so check current details. Fees change every year, so read the town page for amounts.
- Town beach (seasonal)Burying Hill BeachBurying Hill Road and Beachside Avenue, Westport, CT
A 2.39-acre sand and rock beach with restrooms, a changing area, picnic tables and grills, open from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. No dogs April 1 to September 30, and no kayaking or canoeing.
- Town beach (seasonal)Old Mill BeachOld Mill Road and Hillspoint Road, Westport, CT
A 1.8-acre sandy beach with limited parking. There are no restrooms or changing area and no lifeguards, so it suits a short sit by the water rather than a long day.
- Recreation parkLongshore Club Park260 Compo Road South, Westport, CT
The town's recreation park, with golf, tennis, swimming and boating. The town lists Senior (ages 62+) handpass categories for golf, tennis and the pool, and the 2024 directory says most activities have special rates for adults 62 and over, so check current rates on the town page. About 7 minutes by car from Town Hall.
- State park and beachSherwood Island State ParkSherwood Island Connector, Westport, CT 06880
Connecticut's first state park: 235 acres with a mile-long beach and the Living 9-11 Memorial, open daily 8:00 a.m. to sunset. Accessible beach surf chairs are free, first come, first served. The pavilion is closed for the 2026 season, and there is an alcohol ban.
- Town parkWinslow ParkPost Road East and Compo Road North, Westport, CT
A town park with an off-leash dog area at the north end and no dogs at the south end. The town page we checked describes only the dog rules, so we make no other claim about the park. Useful if your parent walks a dog or enjoys watching them.
- Indoor poolStaples Community PoolStaples High School, Westport, CT
An indoor pool for residents from mid-November to early June, with a season pass for ages 62 and over. It is closed during Staples events and holidays. It comes from the October 2024 directory, so confirm hours and passes on the town site.
Arts, nature and learning
- TheaterWestport Country Playhouse25 Powers Court, Westport, CT 06880
A not-for-profit theater with a 2026-2027 mainstage season posted on its site. Pride and Prejudice, Part 2 runs October 20 to November 7, 2026. The site FAQ has an answer on accessibility for people with disabilities, so read it before you buy seats. About 2 minutes by car from Town Hall.
- Outdoor concertsLevitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts40 Jesup Road, Westport, CT 06880
An outdoor amphitheater on the Saugatuck River presenting free shows, with outdoor programs between April and October. The venue has a sloped lawn and a RiverWalk around it. Accessibility details were not readable on the site, so call before you plan a seat. About 2 minutes by car from Town Hall.
- Art museumMoCA CT (Museum of Contemporary Art, formerly Westport Arts Center)19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT 06880
Gallery hours: Thursday 12 to 8 PM, Friday 12 to 5 PM, Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM and Sunday 12 to 5 PM. The town now uses the MoCA CT name for the former Westport Arts Center. About 6 minutes by car from Town Hall.
- Community theaterWestport Community TheatreWestport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue
A community theater that has been in Town Hall since 1979, with five productions a year according to the town site. Check the theater's own listings for dates.
- Nature sanctuary and learning centerEarthplace10 Woodside Lane, Westport, CT 06880
A 62-acre wildlife sanctuary with about two miles of trails, an indoor learning center and animal exhibits. The building is open Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM, and the grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. A senior (65+) admission category is listed. No dogs or bikes. The site notes some building closure dates in 2026.
- Farm and gardenWakeman Town Farm Sustainability Center
An organic demonstration homestead open to the public, with workshops, fruit and vegetable growing, animals and a farm stand. The town page we checked does not give hours, so check wakemantownfarm.org before you go.
- Public observatoryRolnick Observatory (Westport Astronomical Society)182 Bayberry Lane, Westport, CT
Open to the public on selected nights. The town site does not give a schedule, so check before you plan an evening.
Senior center
- Senior centerWestport Center for Senior Activities (WCSA)21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
The town senior center, a division of Human Services, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, to everyone 60 and older from Westport and neighboring towns. It has a cafe, and a Human Services social worker is on site Tuesdays and Thursdays. Registration is available by phone, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and the course catalog comes out four times a year. About 2 minutes by car from Town Hall. Free parking is from the 2024 directory, so check current details.
- Weekday lunchSue's Cafe at the Westport Center for Senior Activities21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
Lunch is served Monday to Friday, 12:00 to 1:00 PM. The center recommends registering at least 48 hours ahead. A cheese omelet or chef salad is offered as an option, and that choice must be made when you register. A Grab and Go kiosk sells snacks and beverages through the day. Guests and caregivers under 60 are charged the full meal price per the center, so ask when you register.
- Support groupCaregivers Support Group at the Westport Center for Senior Activities21 Imperial Avenue, Westport, CT 06880
The October 2026 newsletter lists a Caregivers Support Group on Wednesday, October 28, 9:45 to 11:15 AM, and a Bereavement Support Group on Wednesday, October 21, 10:00 to 11:00 AM. The newsletter does not say how often they meet, so check the course catalog for the recurring schedule.
- Public healthAspetuck Health District180 Bayberry Lane, Westport, CT 06880
The public health district for Westport, Weston and Easton. It held a flu shot clinic at the Westport Center for Senior Activities in October 2026. Hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday to Friday, are from the 2024 directory, so check current details.
Details were checked against each organization’s own website in October 2026. Drive times are routing estimates calculated in October 2026, and traffic changes them. Programs and hours change, so confirm with the organization before you go. Listing a place here is not a partnership or a referral arrangement.
Through the year
Events through the year
Dates are as each source states them, and the 2027 dates for annual events are not yet published. Check the calendars below before you plan.
- May 7 to November 5, 2026, Thursdays 10am to 2pmWestport Farmers' Market
Next to the Senior Center at 50 Imperial Avenue, with a Wheels2U stop Tuesday to Thursday. The 2026 season ends November 5.
- First Sunday of every month, 1:00pm to 1:30pmWinged Wonders raptor demonstration at Earthplace
A short bird-on-glove demonstration, easy to fit into an afternoon.
- October 24, 2026, 10:00 am to 1:00 pmAnnual Leaf-Peeping EV Road Trip at Earthplace
Earthplace's autumn event at its 62-acre sanctuary.
- Sunday, October 25, 2026, registration 8:30 AM, walk 10:30 AM (the center says the event is held annually)Walk to End Alzheimer's at Sherwood Island State Park
The Senior Center sponsors a team. A caregiver can take a parent along, or a family member who is a caregiver can walk.
- Monday, May 25, 2026 (annual; 2027 date not yet published)Memorial Day Parade
A town parade, then ceremonies on Veterans Green across from Town Hall.
- Saturday, June 13, 2026, 11am to 3pmKickoff to Summer at Compo Beach
Food vendors and activities at the beach to open the season.
- Thursday, June 18, 2026Yankee Doodle Fair
One of Westport's oldest family events, sponsored by the Westport Women's Club.
- Saturday, June 27, 2026Westport Rotary Great Duck Race
At Parker Harding Plaza in downtown Westport, with games and food trucks.
- Thursday, July 2, 2026, rain date Friday, July 3, 2026Independence Day Fireworks Celebration
Ticketed PAL fireworks at Compo Beach. Plan the ride and the seating early.
- Sunday, July 26, 2026, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Summer Stroll
The Compo Beach exit road is closed to vehicles for a car-free stroll with live music and food, which suits a parent who walks slowly.
- On-site outdoor programs run between April and OctoberLevitt Pavilion free summer concert season
Free shows on the Saugatuck River. Check the calendar for dates and plan where to sit.
- Online sales and periodic outdoor salesWestport Library Book Sales
Long-standing volunteer-run sales. Check the library calendar for the next outdoor date.
Dates change from year to year. Check the current calendar: Celebrate Westport community events calendar (town), Westport Parks and Recreation special events, Westport Center for Senior Activities: programs, newsletters and course catalog, Westport Library events, Levitt Pavilion calendar, Earthplace events, MoCA CT calendar, Westport Country Playhouse season, Westport Farmers' Market.
Questions families ask
What are easy outings in Westport for a parent who walks slowly?
Start with places that are accessible and close to parking. The Library and its meeting rooms are wheelchair accessible, Compo Beach has Mobi Mats and accessible picnic pads, and Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve has benches and a small lot. A caregiver can drop your parent at the door, park and stay beside them.
Can my parent get into Westport's beaches without a pass?
Entrance to Westport beaches is free and open to the public except from May 1 to September 30. In that window parking emblems are required, and the town has a resident category for a senior (62 and older) or handicapped person plus senior handpasses. Fees change each year, so check the town page for amounts.
Is Compo Beach accessible?
Yes, with features. The town lists a boardwalk, pavilion, concession stand and bathrooms, Mobi Mats on the main beach and south beach, four wheelchair accessible picnic pads on south beach, and two wheelchairs at the entrance gate. One floating beach wheelchair is available and must be accompanied by an able-bodied adult.
What is on at the Westport Center for Senior Activities?
The Center, at 21 Imperial Avenue, serves lunch at Sue's Cafe from 12:00 to 1:00 PM on weekdays. It publishes a course catalog four times a year, and registration is available by phone. A Human Services social worker is on site Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Can my parent go to Levitt Pavilion or the Playhouse?
Yes. Levitt Pavilion presents free shows between April and October, and the Playhouse has a 2026-2027 season. We could not read Levitt's accessibility details, and the Playhouse has an accessibility FAQ on its site. Call both before you plan seats. A caregiver can drive, find parking and stay alongside.
Is Sherwood Island State Park open?
Yes, daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset, with a mile-long beach and the Living 9-11 Memorial. Accessible beach surf chairs are free, first come, first served. The pavilion is closed for the 2026 season, so plan around that. The Senior Center sponsors a team for the Walk to End Alzheimer's there on October 25, 2026.
What does Longshore offer for seniors?
Longshore Club Park, at 260 Compo Road South, has golf, tennis, swimming and boating. The town lists Senior (ages 62+) handpass categories for golf, tennis and the pool, and the 2024 directory says most activities have special rates for adults 62 and over. Check the town page for current rates.
What can a companion caregiver do on an outing?
A caregiver can drive, find parking, carry what is needed, keep the pace your parent likes and stay alongside the whole time. They can also go with a parent to a program at the Senior Center and bring them home afterward. In Connecticut, companion care is available by the hour, overnight, live-in or 24-hour.
Talk with our care team
Let's talk about care in Westport
Tell us a little about what's happening, and we'll call to talk it through. The first conversation is free, and nothing starts until you say so.
Sources for this page (25)
- Westport Library: accessibility
- Westport Museum for History and Culture
- Westport Farmers' Market
- Town of Westport: Compo Beach
- Town of Westport: Burying Hill Beach
- Town of Westport: Old Mill Beach
- Town of Westport: parking emblems
- Town of Westport: Longshore Club Park
- Town of Westport: Sherwood Mill Pond Preserve
- Town of Westport: dogs in our parks
- Town of Westport: Wakeman Town Farm
- Town of Westport: nature
- Town of Westport: arts and culture
- Town of Westport: special events
- Town of Westport: senior directory (October 2024)
- Sherwood Island State Park
- Earthplace
- Levitt Pavilion
- Westport Country Playhouse
- MoCA CT
- Westport Center for Senior Activities
- Westport Center for Senior Activities: dining and meals
- Westport Center for Senior Activities: October 2026 newsletter
- Wheels2U Westport
- Norwalk Transit District: Westport door-to-door service