[renrenbri]

Hello all,

It looks like we might make it to Clinton on Tuesday for our trip! We will be spending more time than we thought. What are some great things to do within say a 30-45 min drive of Clinton? Outdoor or non crowded indoor activities are great! Hope you all are doing ok with Henri! It sounds like it is not as bad as predicted??

[Stylo]

Henri is a light breeze and drizzle so far.

How long are you there for?

Lobster Landing in Clinton is a great spot.

You’re near a lot of beautiful town centers. Guilford, Essex, and Chester (great food in Chester too) are standouts but Madison, Old Saybrook, Branford are nice too.

Check out Gillette Castle, try the car ferry or drive past Goodspeed Opera House. Drive Route 146 from Guilford green to Stony Creek. Beautiful drive and take the Thimble Island Boat Tour.

Devil’s Hopyard has nice hikes with waterfalls. Sleeping Giant for a hike to tower. Fox Farm Brewery is beautiful and IMO our best brewery.

Hammonasset and Rocky Neck beaches. Get a drink at Madison Beach Hotel then drive along the water and gawk at houses. Visit Fenwick in Old Saybrook and you’ll see the Hepburn estate.

You’re within 30 min of Mystic area. The seaport museum, downtown Mystic, and especially Stonington Borough are worth it. Lots of good food in Mystic. Skip Abbott’s and go to Ford’s. Jonathan Edward’s Winery is really good and a beautiful spot. You’re so close to RI, might as well hit Watch Hill. Park in town, walk up the hill and there’s a path to an ocean beach.

Go to New Haven, walk around Yale campus, East Rock neighborhood, go to top of East Rock, get pizza (Sally’s, Modern, Pepe’s, Bar, Da Legna, Next Door are standouts). If you want to continue the amazing pizza tour, Mike’s, Zuppardi’s, Roseland.

Go to Yale Art Gallery (you have to book it now for Covid reasons), it’s world class. The British Art Center, rare books library, and musical instruments museum are good too. The latter is on a gorgeous street with a cathedral worth wandering into (Hillhouse Ave). If you want non-pizza food, New Haven is hard to beat. Open Yelp and go to town.

Like breweries? Lots of good ones in that area. Counterweight, NEBCO, East Rock, Tribus, Two Roads. If going west of New Haven, try the Silver Sands Boardwalk, and Coastal Audubon Center. Grab ice cream at Walnut Beach Creamery, stop downtown Milford for Scratch Baking or if early enough, Corner Brunch.

That’s a highlight reel. Anything else specific interest wise, just ask.

[CTartist]

The Thimble Island Cruise in Branford.
https://thimbleislandcruise.com

[renrenbri]

We will be there for 3.5 days, and these are great suggestions! We were in Mystic years ago, and loved it. We are trying to avoid crowded indoor places right now as we have some really high risk family members, but I love walking through unique shops, along the water, etc... Normally, hubby and I love breweries, but our daughter will be with us on this one, and she doesn't drink. We will definitely be frequenting outdoor dining, which there appears to be alot of! Hopefully the storm doesn't pick up in intensity and cause issues!

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by renrenbri

We will be there for 3.5 days, and these are great suggestions! We were in Mystic years ago, and loved it. We are trying to avoid crowded indoor places right now as we have some really high risk family members, but I love walking through unique shops, along the water, etc... Normally, hubby and I love breweries, but our daughter will be with us on this one, and she doesn't drink. We will definitely be frequenting outdoor dining, which there appears to be alot of! Hopefully the storm doesn't pick up in intensity and cause issues!

FWIW Yale Art Gallery majorly cuts indoor capacity. If you go during the week, there won’t be many people at all and it’s a huge space.

Many breweries have non alcoholic drinks and food trucks. They are often really nice places to hang out even if you don’t drink with great outdoor space.

If focused on outdoor dining, here’s a list. We are big foodies so we’ve made the rounds.

New Haven Style Pizza (must try if you haven’t):
New Haven: Nolo/Da Legna, Sally’s, Next Door, Bar
West Haven: Mike’s

Chester: River Tavern, Otto
Essex: Olive Oyl
Guilford: the Place, Bufalina
Clinton: Lobster Landing
Mystic: Treehouse at Oyster Club, S&P, Engine Room, Ford’s
Stonington: Milagro, Breakwater
New Haven: September in Bangkok, August, Tavern on State, Olmo (breakfast/lunch), Midpoint, Sherkaan, Pacifico, Geronimo, Camacho Garage, Olea, Kitchen Zinc, Prime 16, 116 Crown. Probably forgetting a bunch. There’s a ton of outdoor dining all over city. Shell and Bones has great water views, but reservations required.
West Haven: Dive Bar (water views), Stowe’s
Milford: Corner, Oar and Oak Birdhouse, Strega, El Barrio, Bistro Basque

Just a few options! You’ll see there’s lots all over.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Henri is a light breeze and drizzle so far.

How long are you there for?

Lobster Landing in Clinton is a great spot.

You’re near a lot of beautiful town centers. Guilford, Essex, and Chester (great food in Chester too) are standouts but Madison, Old Saybrook, Branford are nice too.

Check out Gillette Castle, try the car ferry or drive past Goodspeed Opera House. Drive Route 146 from Guilford green to Stony Creek. Beautiful drive and take the Thimble Island Boat Tour.

Devil’s Hopyard has nice hikes with waterfalls. Sleeping Giant for a hike to tower. Fox Farm Brewery is beautiful and IMO our best brewery.

Hammonasset and Rocky Neck beaches. Get a drink at Madison Beach Hotel then drive along the water and gawk at houses. Visit Fenwick in Old Saybrook and you’ll see the Hepburn estate.

You’re within 30 min of Mystic area. The seaport museum, downtown Mystic, and especially Stonington Borough are worth it. Lots of good food in Mystic. Skip Abbott’s and go to Ford’s. Jonathan Edward’s Winery is really good and a beautiful spot. You’re so close to RI, might as well hit Watch Hill. Park in town, walk up the hill and there’s a path to an ocean beach.

Go to New Haven, walk around Yale campus, East Rock neighborhood, go to top of East Rock, get pizza (Sally’s, Modern, Pepe’s, Bar, Da Legna, Next Door are standouts). If you want to continue the amazing pizza tour, Mike’s, Zuppardi’s, Roseland.

Go to Yale Art Gallery (you have to book it now for Covid reasons), it’s world class. The British Art Center, rare books library, and musical instruments museum are good too. The latter is on a gorgeous street with a cathedral worth wandering into (Hillhouse Ave). If you want non-pizza food, New Haven is hard to beat. Open Yelp and go to town.

Like breweries? Lots of good ones in that area. Counterweight, NEBCO, East Rock, Tribus, Two Roads. If going west of New Haven, try the Silver Sands Boardwalk, and Coastal Audubon Center. Grab ice cream at Walnut Beach Creamery, stop downtown Milford for Scratch Baking or if early enough, Corner Brunch.

That’s a highlight reel. Anything else specific interest wise, just ask.

You forget the aquarium in Mystic. It’s pretty nice.

Also no one mentioned The Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods Casinos. Tons of things to do there besides gambling. Jay

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by JayCT

You forget the aquarium in Mystic. It’s pretty nice.

Also no one mentioned The Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods Casinos. Tons of things to do there besides gambling. Jay

Yes the OP said no indoor crowds so I left those out.

[renrenbri]

How is it in the Clinton area? Power outages? Flooding? We would be coming from NE Pennsylvania.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by renrenbri

How is it in the Clinton area? Power outages? Flooding? We would be coming from NE Pennsylvania.

Non event

[renrenbri]

Is there left to do in the New London and Old Saybrook areas? New London isn't a big city is it?