Things to do in and around Westbrook, CT in November 2014
Oct 21st, 2014, 07:54 AM
#1
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Things to do in and around Westbrook, CT in November 2014
My mom and I will be using my timeshare options and will be staying at The Water’s Edge in Westbrook CT the 2nd week of November.
We are looking for day trips in the area, ex museums, exhibits, quaint towns, interesting or historic sites and restaurants and shopping. Also please mention any must have foods from the area. We are driving in from NY so we will have a car.
We were thinking of the following places: Pez Factory (Orange), Elephant Trunk Flea Market, Henry Whitfield State Museum (Guilford), Middletown and/or Essex, and the Pequot Museum.
Unfortunately, Gillette Castle will be closed for the season.
We haven’t decided yet if we are going to Hartford or New Haven.
Thanks
We are looking for day trips in the area, ex museums, exhibits, quaint towns, interesting or historic sites and restaurants and shopping. Also please mention any must have foods from the area. We are driving in from NY so we will have a car.
We were thinking of the following places: Pez Factory (Orange), Elephant Trunk Flea Market, Henry Whitfield State Museum (Guilford), Middletown and/or Essex, and the Pequot Museum.
Unfortunately, Gillette Castle will be closed for the season.
We haven’t decided yet if we are going to Hartford or New Haven.
Thanks
Oct 21st, 2014, 09:05 AM
#2
If you like fried seafood, chowder, lobster rolls, etc try Lenny & Joe's Fish Tales in Westbrook http://ljfishtale.com
They have another branch in Madison, a town which is worth a stroll and a stop at the bookstore R. J Julia's http://www.rjjulia.com.
You are only about a half hour from Mystic (where the Pequots were massacred, as you will learn if you visit the Pequot Museum at Foxwoods.) Things will be winding down but if it's a nice day you might visit the Seaport.
Stonington Borough has an exceptional collection of well-maintained 18th and 19th century buildings and a few restaurants -- Noah's is a local favorite.
Another forty minutes will bring you to Newport, RI with all it has to offer.
They have another branch in Madison, a town which is worth a stroll and a stop at the bookstore R. J Julia's http://www.rjjulia.com.
You are only about a half hour from Mystic (where the Pequots were massacred, as you will learn if you visit the Pequot Museum at Foxwoods.) Things will be winding down but if it's a nice day you might visit the Seaport.
Stonington Borough has an exceptional collection of well-maintained 18th and 19th century buildings and a few restaurants -- Noah's is a local favorite.
Another forty minutes will bring you to Newport, RI with all it has to offer.
Oct 21st, 2014, 09:11 AM
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I would check out the CT site: ctvisit.com and use the interactive map.
Don't miss the Florence Griswold museum in Old Lyme, about 15 minutes away.
Essex is a cute town, there is a small museum there too.
Middletown is a little gritty, but does have a couple of historic homes and of course Wesleyan. The Pequot Museum is very good (do check the days it is open before you go there).
Mystic has the Seaport and Aquarium and nearby in Groton is the Submarine museum.
New Britain is the Museum of American Art and their special exhibits is on quilts right now, but their collection is very nice.
Farmington has the Hillstead Museum.
Hartford has the Atheneam and the Mark Twain and Harriet Beacher Stowe homes.
New Haven has several museums associated with Yale, including the Peabody Museum of Natural History
Rocky Hill has Dinosaur State park where the dino tracks are under a dome and there is a small museum
Even if Cillette Castle is closed, the grounds are open and are part of the state park system there are nice views up and down the river from there.
If you use the map, you can plan a loop to hit several from Westbrook in a day.
Don't miss the Florence Griswold museum in Old Lyme, about 15 minutes away.
Essex is a cute town, there is a small museum there too.
Middletown is a little gritty, but does have a couple of historic homes and of course Wesleyan. The Pequot Museum is very good (do check the days it is open before you go there).
Mystic has the Seaport and Aquarium and nearby in Groton is the Submarine museum.
New Britain is the Museum of American Art and their special exhibits is on quilts right now, but their collection is very nice.
Farmington has the Hillstead Museum.
Hartford has the Atheneam and the Mark Twain and Harriet Beacher Stowe homes.
New Haven has several museums associated with Yale, including the Peabody Museum of Natural History
Rocky Hill has Dinosaur State park where the dino tracks are under a dome and there is a small museum
Even if Cillette Castle is closed, the grounds are open and are part of the state park system there are nice views up and down the river from there.
If you use the map, you can plan a loop to hit several from Westbrook in a day.
Oct 23rd, 2014, 08:18 AM
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We have been to Mystic, Groton and Newport and wanted to focus on CT this trip. Everything seems to be around 40 minutes or less from Westbrook so there is lots to do. I think the Florence Griswold museum and Rocky Hill sound good. So does Lenny&Joes.
Anything seasonal worth checking out?
Anything seasonal worth checking out?
Nov 2nd, 2014, 08:07 AM
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Essex is great. The CT River museum is very interesting as is the Pratt House if it is open. The Griswold Inn in town is the oldest continually operating inn in the US (stab 1776) and is neat to check out as well-definitely worth a drink in the tap room/
Chester is a very quaint artsy town with a few excellent restaurants.
Middletown is not worth a visit really.
There are some great playhouses (Ivoryton Playhouse in Essex, Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam and The Kate in Old Saybrook) that are always worth a visit.
Agree that Gilette Castle is still worth a visit to the grounds, you just can't access the inside.
Florence Griswold and the Pequot museum are definitely worth a visit.
The Thankful Arnold House Museum in East Haddam is also worth a visit.
As for must have foods-there are some great restaurants. Farm to Table-River Tavern in Chester,Copper Beech Inn in Essex (Ivoryton section) and perhaps Cafe Routier in Westbrook. Moroccan-Tissa's in Old Saybrook.
Chester is a very quaint artsy town with a few excellent restaurants.
Middletown is not worth a visit really.
There are some great playhouses (Ivoryton Playhouse in Essex, Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam and The Kate in Old Saybrook) that are always worth a visit.
Agree that Gilette Castle is still worth a visit to the grounds, you just can't access the inside.
Florence Griswold and the Pequot museum are definitely worth a visit.
The Thankful Arnold House Museum in East Haddam is also worth a visit.
As for must have foods-there are some great restaurants. Farm to Table-River Tavern in Chester,Copper Beech Inn in Essex (Ivoryton section) and perhaps Cafe Routier in Westbrook. Moroccan-Tissa's in Old Saybrook.
Nov 2nd, 2014, 07:13 PM
#9
If you head toward Hartford there are some very good museums:
https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/
https://www.marktwainhouse.org/
http://www.hillstead.org/
I love the Hillstead - lovely setting, great collection of art and a nice little museum shop. It is in Farmington which is an old and pretty town and in the center is a girls boarding school on a pretty campus. There are two nice spots for lunch I can recommend (plus others):
casual but delicious and great desserts - outside seating:
http://www.trufflesbakery.com/
nicer, sit-down, and on the river:
http://www.apricotsrestaurant.com/
https://www.noahwebsterhouse.org/
https://www.marktwainhouse.org/
http://www.hillstead.org/
I love the Hillstead - lovely setting, great collection of art and a nice little museum shop. It is in Farmington which is an old and pretty town and in the center is a girls boarding school on a pretty campus. There are two nice spots for lunch I can recommend (plus others):
casual but delicious and great desserts - outside seating:
http://www.trufflesbakery.com/
nicer, sit-down, and on the river:
http://www.apricotsrestaurant.com/
