Nearby Attractions
There are so many fun, wonderful things to do in this area. There is an unending list of Shopping, Dining, Movies, Theaters, Shoreline Drives, Train & Boat Rides and so much more. It has it all, the city, the country all within just under 30 minutes, most of the shoreline towns are within 15 minutes! We have included some information and links to help guide you around with some interesting history on some of the towns.
Welcome to Clinton!!
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Clinton
Our shoreline town is now home to the very popular Chamard Vineyards. An intimate eatery at a vineyard, it offers farm-to-table French-American dining & house wines. On Rt. 81 there are the bussling Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. At the end of the day, the Clinton beach offers one of the most beautiful sunset views of all the shoreline towns.Deep River
The quaint little town of Deep River in Middlesex County is located on the Connecticut River in Southern Connecticut River Valley. The area was originally part of Saybrook Colony and formerly called Eight Mile Meadow or Potapaug Quarter. In 1859 it was incorporated as Saybrook and renamed Deep River in 1947. Including the village of Winthrop to its west, Deep River was an early shipbuilding and quarrying town. Later, it manufactured wire goods, lace, glass, ivory combs, and piano keys. The beautifully restored piano keys structure is now Piano Works Condominiums. There are some great places to eat on downtown Main St. One of the most popular breakfast spots is "WHISTLESTOP" with such a unique healthy homestyle menu is worth the wait. Later in the day a stop at the "RED HOUSE" or the "RUSTY RAIL TAVERYN" will not disappoint. Deep River also now has two beautiful very large equestrian training and boarding facilities, both located on Rt. 80. The town hosts the Annual Ancient Muster of Fife and Drum Corps every July.Chester
Chester is a little enclave of charming little shops and restaurants. It is just north of Deep River and if you follow the road into the 25,000 acre State Forest you will wind up in Chester on the Hoophole Hill Rd on the Chester side!Essex
Essex has so much charm it is hard to know where to start. Main street is lined with quaint little shops and several restaurants. It meanders down to the Connecticut River where you will pass the Connecticut River Museum. You can keep driving and get a peek at some of the beautiful estates looking over the Connecticut River. It is also where the Essex Steam Train departs and takes you on a dining car trip up the river to the Steamboat at the Deep River Landing, where you are then taken on a wonderful little cruise. It is also home of the Ivoryton PLayhouse which is in a little suburb of Essex, where there are regular plays.Old Saybrook
"Saybrook" is the largest of the shoreline towns and is home of the historic "Monkey Farm, the original building dates back to the early 1800's. This is the town eatery and probably the most well known out of all the restaurants and it is in a class of its own and there are many many others. It is one of a kind and you can't miss it on the corner of Rt. 1 and Main St. The town is also graced by "The Kate", Katherine Hepburn's addition to this lovely town. A drive thru the causeway and Rt. 154 around the shore give you a glimpse of the many assets of this town.Westbrook
Westbrook is located about 30 miles from New Haven off of Rt. 95 North and not too far from historic Mystic and the famous resorts and casinos off Rt. 95 South. The town itself has many attractions for your day trip or vacation spot. Spend the day sightseeing, fishing, boating, sailing, shopping or dining out at one of Westbrook's finest restaurants. There is the Long Island Sound and several freshwater lakes for water lovers; there are antique shops, flea markets and the Factory Outlet Stores in Westbrook for shopaholics and many Inns, B & B's and Hotels in case you need an overnight stay for your guests!Killingworth
Killingworth is a little town running north and south of Rt. 80. It is also the home of many many horses. It was established from the area called Hammonasset which was taken from the local Native American tribe of the same name. It also originally incorporated the town of Clinton, but Clinton was later separated to be it's own town. There are a few little farms worth a Sunday trip, one of which is Lavendar Pond Farm on Roast Meat Hill Rd. The road itself has quite a history as to the origin of it's name. There are many stories about how it became "Roast Meat Hill Rd." One being that lightning struck a hay cart pulled by oxen causing the hay to catch fire and roast the oxen!Madison
This historical coastal town has several Historical homes open to the public. A quaint town for shopping and movies, Madison also has Connecticut's longest public beach; Hammonasset State Park. The Allis-Bushnell House was built in 1785 and was the home of Cornelius Bushnell. Cornelius Bushnell financed the building of the Monitor which was the first Iron Clad Vessel in the Civil War. Phone: 203-245-4567 for more information. Another Historical home is the Deacon John Grave House, built in 1685. This home served as an inn, a hospital, school and courthouse. The Hammonasset State Park has 2 miles of sandy beach where you can enjoy boating, fishing, hiking, biking, more than 550 camp sites and more.Guilford
Guilford, CT in New Haven County, is one of the most charming and prettiest Connecticut Shoreline towns. You can easily spend your vacation time here whether you are shopping at one of the quaint little shops on the Green, dining at one of the fine restaurants, visiting one of the Historical homes, taking a drive through the country roads or driving through the shoreline. There is also Bishops Orchards filled with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables..... many of which you can pick yourself. If you are in North Guilford to go see the beautiful Lake Quonnipaug, a must stop at Lakeside Farmstand is in order.Some popular restaurants:
Guilford Mooring 505 Whitfield St. Seafood 203-458-2921
Ayuthai Thai Cuisine 2279 Boston Post Rd. Thai 203-453-2988
Guilford Lobster Pound 505 Whitfield St. Seafood/American 203-453-6122
Durham
What does the small rural Connecticut town of Durham (population 7,000, 6.3 square miles) have in common with the entire state of Texas (population 21 million, 268,601 square miles)? Simply that it is the birthplace of Moses Austin, whose plan of an American colony in Spanish Texas was brought to fruition by his son Stephen, for whom the Texas capitol is named. The Moses Austin House stands well preserved in Durham’s historic district along with a number of other eighteen century houses, many of which overlook the beautiful Coginchaug River Valley, home to a number of very active working farms. Dick’s CITGO gas station (full serve only), located at the junction of Connecticut routes 17 and 79, probably has the most splendid sunset view of any gas station in Connecticut, and is, in fact, a popular traveler’s “photo op.” But there is one thing that IS big about Durham and in fact BIGGEST, and that is the Durham Fair. Yes, it’s the biggest agricultural fair in Connecticut, well known up and down the eastern seaboard. Pretty good for a town with no supermarket, but two very excellent independent grocery stores (convenient but not convenience). See you in September!Middletown
Heading north on Route 9 toward Hartford, the first thing that will catch your eye upon entering the aptly named city residing at the geographic center of our state is a panoramic view of the Connecticut River with the Arrigoni Bridge sweeping across it into Middletown. Switching from north to south down Middletown’s Main Street, you can switch from eye feasting to just plain feasting as you cruise by an array of restaurants like few others in the state. Natural, Bistro, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, and even Hawaiian, eateries abound on South Main, East Main, as well as not quite plain old Main Street – over thirty in all! Many of the very hip connoisseurs of those restaurants are students and faculty from an institution that has helped define Middletown since 1831, and that is Wesleyan University (originally Wesleyan College). This leading liberal arts school hosts a series on concerts covering the most sophisticated aspects of classical, jazz, and world music that belies the physical size of both the university and city. In fact it was a partnership between the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, and Wesleyan University that created the investment in Middletown's Main Street that spured the downtown Middletown revival in the 90s that is so evident today.East Haddam
Just for the fun of it, imagine that you are a world famous actor whose portrayal of Sherlock Holmes has defined that character’s look. You are sailing up the Connecticut River in a houseboat called Aunt Polly. You would like to settle down, and the quest for a perfect home site is percolating in your ever fertile mind. Suddenly – there it is, a stunning hilltop vista – eureka! William Gillette discovered East Haddam on that noteworthy day in 1912. The result was Gillette Castle, but stunning as it is, it has to contend with a number of other remarkable attractions that make East Haddam a star attraction itself, a reigning prince of the Connecticut River. So here’s the list: Devil’s Hopyard State Park – named after a series of potholes said to be the hoof prints left by the devil as he hopped from ledge to ledge to keep dry, is bisected by the Eight Mile River; the park features trout fishing, picnic areas, 15 miles of hiking trails and a 22-site campground. The Hopyard is one of the 10 best birding sites in Connecticut. The spectacular Chapman Falls drops 60 feet in three main cascades. The Burnham Brook Preserve – 1,000 acres of wild woodland including watersheds of Burnham and Strong brooks, as well as permanent springs, wooded vernal pools, red maple swamps, a flood plain meadow, and ledges with rocky outcrops. Chapman’s Pond – covering 600 acres including an upland forest, brooks, a tidal pool, flood plain forests, marshes and abundant wildlife. The Leesville Dam Fishway – A fish ladder to facilitate salmon’s upstream progress and return to the river. Beautiful scenery, fish and wildlife abound. To that you can add, The Goodspeed Opera House, The Nathan Hale School House, an eagle viewing site, to say nothing of the world’s largest swing bridge. Mr. Gillette did not lack for taste!
