Great library - really like how they provide print outs of crosswords from newspapers. Staff was…read morereally friendly and was giving away free books and flowers that had been donated. Had many computers available for public use and tables to sit at. Only complaint was there were not lots of outlets near the tables making it difficult for people going to study with laptops/personal computers. Nothing an extension cord can't fix. Overall a wonderful place.

In honor of…read morePhoebe The great era of library building in New England was in the late part of the 19th century. Very wealthy individuals would donate vast sums of money to build libraries in honor of deceased loved ones. The Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library is a classic example. Charles Ludington gave money to the town of Old Lyme to build a library to memorialize his mother in law, Phoebe Griffin Noyes. The library was opened in 1898 and was very pleasant and lovely but rather modest by the standards of some of the more grand and opulent libraries being built. It served well for decades and was renovated and expanded over the years. The largest building project was in 1955 and the size of the library was great expanded. The library today is a very pleasant place, especially the old, original section. Unfortunately the new addition is rather incongruent with the original part and it is obvious when you go from one part to the other. Even parts of the original wall is exposed as you go from one part to another. The inside of the library is very colorful with all kinds of cool displays and art and plenty of computers and modern conveniences. An interesting and comfy library that is a nice memorial to a person long gone but not forgotten.

This public library is so cute and really doing the most. There are so many community programs and…read morenice things such as a pen pal program (with a kit to get you started!), a graphic novel section, and board games/binoculars to rent out! I wish my library at home was more like this one:) It's much bigger in the inside than it looks on the outside and had a great selection. Also outside there's a really cute statue of a praying mantis reading the Lord of the Flies which made my day! I wonder if he has a name.

Pretty, quiet and secluded gem of a library. I did not borrow anything - just came to enjoy the…read moretiny beautiful setting of a quaint small-town library. It has parking and spacious green spaces to sit in. Benches. Tables. #Yankees 5

This library is pretty cool! It's part of several municipal buildings, and the extrance is combined…read moreinto a red door tucked behind a small garden. Inside the building are several benches, and several grand entrances with columns! The symbol of the library is a sea shell which you can find around like an Easter Egg. The employees are really nice as well, very open to questions and providing information.

Dark inside but lots of tables and computers available. Smaller library in a huge building…read more Beautiful gardens when walking in.

The Florence Griswold Museum is more than just a beautiful museum. To show even more support this…read moreyear, I decided to buy a family membership. For years my family has been visiting the museum in the fall for the Wee Faerie Village, an extraordinary outdoor display of faerie villages that are created by local businesses and individuals. There isn't enough room for me to gush about this event. The beauty, creativity, and the scavenger hunt keep us coming back. The museum offers a glimpse into history, beautiful art, extraordinary gardens, breathtaking views of the river. and more.

We ventured to Old Lyme, Connecticut on Sunday for the final day of Mystical Murmurs: An Enchanted…read moreEnvironment by Adrien Broom. The exhibit features a fairy ring of gigantic mushrooms. The artist was born and raised in Old Lyme. The installation is meant to encourages us ponder the magical mysteries of the forest. We also really enjoyed the Amanita sculptures outside the main building housing the museum's permanent collection. We were able to photograph these just before one of the museum staff sold them off to a local mushroom enthusiast (since Sunday was the last day of the mushroom exhibit). While we came specifically for the mushroom installation, we also really enjoyed our visit to the other galleries. The museum showcases the work of the artists of the Old Lyme Artist Colony, a nexus of American Impressionism and has some beautiful impressionist landscape painting, including many by female artists of the 19th and early 20th century. The grounds here are also beautiful with gorgeous views of the Lieutenant River. There was also an exhibit of small fairy houses when we visited. Beautiful spot with nice staff and docents. Would definitely return here!

I love visiting the library of a small town. I went to the Public Library in Essex, and it is just…read moreadorable. The library has been providing books for the community since 1889. You can tell by the structure, that it's been around for a while! The inside is beautiful, modern, colorful and so inviting. There are beautiful murals across the walls. There were kids playing in the children's area. They have these round domes, you can curl up and read inside of. I wish I got a picture. The library is very clean, organized and with the friendliest librarian. Their quiet area is away from the noisy children's area. They had some books available for free outside. This is such a beautiful library in the lovely small town of Essex, CT.

This is the BEST library around. Very efficient and friendly people work here. If I ever move…read morefrom here, this is one of the places I'll miss most.

I regret that I don't have any photos to add to this review. The day I went to Harbor Books, it was…read morepouring down rain. My date and I walked to the bookstore in the pouring rain, and not only did I not want to get my phone wet, I also didn't want to have to keep her waiting for me under the downpour any longer than was necessary. I guess I'm a nice guy...Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone! When I realized I would be meeting someone for a date in the area, I went online to see what Old Saybrook has to offer on a Sunday. I hadn't been to Old Saybrook in at least a couple years, and I'm not too up-to-date on the goings on in the area. My search turned up a small cafe nearby...and Harbor Books. After a small but pleasant lunch, we walked to Harbor Books in the rain. Upon first walking in, I noticed a $1.00 bin where all the books were on sale for, yep, a dollar. I noticed one title in there I decided I would pick up and purchase on the way out (I did), one of Mary Higgins Clark's older novels, hardcover, in excellent condition. Looking through Harbor Books, I quickly realized I would need much more time in there than I suspected my date was willing to spend. I guessed 5 hours. No joke. Not only do they have a great selection of titles, they also have a great selection of vintage and antique books. Many of which are in excellent shape and are marked with a great price. There are probably more antique books in this little bookstore than at the antique shop a couple towns away, that has a ton of books. Five hours is likely an understatement. While looking through the bookshelves, I happened upon a book by a local author whom I had met at least a couple times, now about 10 years ago. I picked up the book, and asked the store owner how long he had had that book in stock. He estimated 7-8 years. I put the book back on the shelf, stepped away, then immediately turned back and grabbed it. After bringing the book home, along with a couple others I purchased along with it, I looked up the author online, wondering what he might be up to these days. Turns out he's up to nothing. He's dead. He died about 4 years ago, while his book was sitting on the shelf of this little bookstore, waiting years for me to come and pick it up. I got to thinking: what are the odds? This book, which I am certain had a very small print run, sat on a shelf waiting 7 or 8 years for me to find it, authored by a man I had met 10 years ago, who is now dead. I took it as a sign that the copy of the book had always been mine, waiting there on that shelf until just the right circumstances led me into Harbor Books and to it. The thing is, I'm willing to bet Harbor Books is JUST the right kind of store for that sort of thing. And I think the next time I go in there, I'll likely find something else that was there waiting for me, somewhere in those tightly-packed shelves. What will I find when I go there next? And will it really take 5 hours? We shall see.

My husband and I were in Old Saybrook for an overnight stay. We stayed at a local B and B, had…read moredinner at Penny Lane Pub on Saturday night and attended a wonderful blues concert at The Kate. Sunday morning we had breakfast at Mirsina's which was delicious. We then took a walk on Main Street. We were talking about what a sweet town this is and the friendliness of all the people we interacted with. We enjoy book stores and decided to explore Harbor Books. When we walked in, we greeted the woman at the desk. She was the wife/ owner I believe. We made small talk and looked around for books we might want to buy. During this time, a male patron came in and was talking about a 20th century European history book he had read and asked for help finding 2 other out of print books by the same author. I was preparing to make a purchase of at least 1 or 2 hardcover novels and my husband was interested in local history. A conversation took place between the owner and patron and was pointedly opinionated political talk that was very disturbing and inappropriate. Needless to say, we abruptly left. I am sorry our wonderful overnight was marred by hateful this experience. I will never go there again.

Great independent bookstore that specializes in author appearances complete with tasty appetizers…read moreand refreshments including champagne. A varied and distinguished cadre of talented authors stop by throughout the year, many of which are New York Times bestsellers. At the same time, the bookstore is committed to promoting good books by independent and local authors. It's the perfect neighborhood bookshop to snatch up an exciting new release. Everything from Dave Eggers to Anthony Doerr to Doris Kearns Goodwin. And with any luck, it could even be a signed copy. Burgundy Books is truly a Connecticut River Valley gem!

The owner was very rude to myself and others. I will not be going back, there are many other…read morebookstores in CT that I will be giving my business to, I recommend others do the same.

Can confirm the first review's report that you can't see either this lighthouse or the one that's…read moreon land in Fenwick unless you own property in the immediate vicinity or are the guest of someone who does. We thought we would drive up to visit the nearer lighthouse like we did with the lighthouses in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but there are signs telling you that access is restricted. We decided not to flout that but can verify that the golf course looks very nice. Stars awarded for the history of the lighthouses.

A light that's hard…read moreto see The Old Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse was completed in 1888 and was built to replace the much older lighthouse at Lynde Point. It's a very typical lighthouse for this period and stands 48 feet tall and is constructed of brick and cast iron. These lights are frequently called bug lights, coffee pots of most commonly spark plugs. Strong and cheap to build they can survive just about anything, including massive hurricanes and ice and freezing cold. The one was automated in 1958 and recently went up for sale in 2013. It finally sold for 340,000 dollars but the price is somewhat misleading. The owners are responsible for maintenance and the Coast Guard still owns the land that the light sits on. This lighthouse isn't a particularly easy one to get close to. It's in the very expensive and exclusive area called Fenwick and they aren't very fond of people walking around there. The best way to view it is by the water or by kind of landing a yak on a beach in the off season and they walking down the breakwater up to the light. Just hope nobody sees you. This is a classic Connecticut lighthouse and is even featured on the CT license plate. The money for the special plate goes to hope preserve Long Island Sound. A cool little light that everyone sees while crossing over the Connecticut River on I-95 but one that very few people get to see up close.