[mrs.m]

Greetings....We are thinking of renting a house for a week (through VBRO.COM) in Guilford. Can anyone tell me a little about the area, What to do, what to see etc.... Thanks....

[Seattle's Best 28]

Where is the house exactly? Guilford or Stony Creek in Branford?

[DandJ]

I don't have any information beyond the fact that my husband and I went to Thimble Islands -- we took the boat tour -- and it was spectacular.

[mrs.m]

the rental property says guilford Thimble islands

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by mrs.m

the rental property says guilford Thimble islands

The thimble islands are part of Branford, CT in the Stony Creek Harbor - near Guilford. This area of CT is beautiful and if you have a boat, or can take a cruise (they offer tours) around the Thimbles, do it! They are amazing.

For great pizza and deli, check out P&M in Branford. Also don't forget to visit the USS Chowder Pot Restaurant.

[nico7]

You can easily stay in Guilford and tour the Thimble Islands -- it's a 5-10-minute drive from southern Guilford to Stony Creek. If you're staying for a week, you're only going to need half a day to tour the Thimble Islands. The rest of the days, I would suggest the following (depending on season & weather):

1. Hike the Westwoods Trails of Guilford. See Lost Lake (it's the one just north of the railroad tracks and Route 146 near the Branford border).
2. DRIVE with the windows down the full length of Route 146 from the center of Branford to the top of the hill in at Boston St. and Boston Post Rd. in Guilford -- then keep going on Route 1 into the center of Madison (this is a 15-20 minute drive but it will give you ideas of places to stop and explore).
3. Check out Hammonassett State Beach in Madison, then go downtown to the center of Madison for dinner & a movie.
4. Check out the Henry Whitfield State Museum in Guilford -- it is a the oldest house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England, dating to 1639.
5. If you like fresh-water beaches, fishing, or canoeing, check out Lake Quonnipaug on Route 77 in Guilford.
6. Go into New Haven and take a tour of Yale, then go see the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Center for British Art, and Yale/Peabody Museum of Natural History.
7. If you're going to have pizza, do it at one of the best places: Wooster Street in New Haven (Frank Pepe's, Sally's), or Modern Apizza (State Street in New Haven), or if you're in Branford (I've never heard of P&M but they might be good) the pizza at Marco Pizzeria on Route 1 is very similar to Pepe's.
8. See a play or listen to music or do whatever (depending on the town schedule of events) or just play frisbee on the Guilford Green -- before or after checking out the surrounding shops.
9. There are plenty of unique places to eat in Guilford & Branford -- in Guilford, I would recommend the Stonehouse, The Place (fresh wood-roasted seafood and corn!), or Quattro's; in Branford, try Le Petit Cafe ($$$), Darbar India, or the Stony Creek Market. I know I'm missing many others here.
10. Spend the day strolling around Stony Creek and tour the Thimble Islands. Read a book on the beach or on a park bench. If you have kids, take them to the playground just across the street. Hike the trail between Stony Creek and Pine Orchard -- bring binoculars for bird-watching.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by nico7

You can easily stay in Guilford and tour the Thimble Islands -- it's a 5-10-minute drive from southern Guilford to Stony Creek. If you're staying for a week, you're only going to need half a day to tour the Thimble Islands. The rest of the days, I would suggest the following (depending on season & weather):

1. Hike the Westwoods Trails of Guilford. See Lost Lake (it's the one just north of the railroad tracks and Route 146 near the Branford border).
2. DRIVE with the windows down the full length of Route 146 from the center of Branford to the top of the hill in at Boston St. and Boston Post Rd. in Guilford -- then keep going on Route 1 into the center of Madison (this is a 15-20 minute drive but it will give you ideas of places to stop and explore).
3. Check out Hammonassett State Beach in Madison, then go downtown to the center of Madison for dinner & a movie.
4. Check out the Henry Whitfield State Museum in Guilford -- it is a the oldest house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England, dating to 1639.
5. If you like fresh-water beaches, fishing, or canoeing, check out Lake Quonnipaug on Route 77 in Guilford.
6. Go into New Haven and take a tour of Yale, then go see the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Center for British Art, and Yale/Peabody Museum of Natural History.
7. If you're going to have pizza, do it at one of the best places: Wooster Street in New Haven (Frank Pepe's, Sally's), or Modern Apizza (State Street in New Haven), or if you're in Branford (I've never heard of P&M but they might be good) the pizza at Marco Pizzeria on Route 1 is very similar to Pepe's.
8. See a play or listen to music or do whatever (depending on the town schedule of events) or just play frisbee on the Guilford Green -- before or after checking out the surrounding shops.
9. There are plenty of unique places to eat in Guilford & Branford -- in Guilford, I would recommend the Stonehouse, The Place (fresh wood-roasted seafood and corn!), or Quattro's; in Branford, try Le Petit Cafe ($$$), Darbar India, or the Stony Creek Market. I know I'm missing many others here.
10. Spend the day strolling around Stony Creek and tour the Thimble Islands. Read a book on the beach or on a park bench. If you have kids, take them to the playground just across the street. Hike the trail between Stony Creek and Pine Orchard -- bring binoculars for bird-watching.

Nice post! Some great suggestions.