This was a very interesting museum, even though I'm not from the Branford area. The house is owned…read moreby the Branford Historical Society, and full of local artifacts that have spent hundreds of years in the same town. They have a chair that looks brand new (although it is roped off from sitting on, likely for good reason) that is only twenty years younger then the town itself. The downstairs has both fireplaces exposed with an area for weaving that is rumored to have a demonstrator on occasion (he was not there for my visit) and the outdoors is kept up by the Branford Garden Club. Upstairs is an example of a colonial bedroom, and the second room has local Branford history with war memorabilia from those who served, pieces of the Jenny Lind (the ship, not the Swedish Nightingale herself), and pictures of factories from days gone by. It was very clean, and no determination on whether past residents may still be lingering about... It was not a long visit but well worth the free admission!

Legend has it that Manhattan Island was bought from the Algonquin Indians for some beads in 1626…read more This marker tells us that the land that eventually became Branford was bought from the Mattabesec Indians for 12 coats of cloth in 1638. The marker also tells the history of Branford's importance as a colonial shipbuilding and trade center Here's a cool piece of trivia - in 1701, ten ministers met here and contributed books to the town - that was the origin of Yale College which became Yale University in 1887. This is a 1-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a grassy area just to the side of the Branford Town Hall. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in pretty good condition. It concludes with these words -"The twentieth century has brought some changes to Branford, but much of its historical heritage remains in the form of old buildings and well-preserved villages."

Came here for a wedding. The property is gorgeous and the staff were all very nice. The food was…read moredelicious especially the butternut squash ravioli. The only downside is the bathroom which is located inside the house and is a bit of a walk if you are outside in the back at the event.

Daughters wedding is going to be there this summer The…read moreestate tour was phenomenal with exactly what we envisioned

What a beautiful 19th century home--the architectural detail inside and out is rare and…read morefascinating. I attended a benefit brunch on the first floor, so cannot speak about the rest of the home, but I was enchanted the entire two hours I was there by the intricate design in the molding as well as the decor. The nice young owners are personable.

Chetstone is a Gothic Victorian mansion built on the highest ridge of Fairhaven Heights in the mid…read more19th century. After an almost 2 decades long effort to restore this historic home, it is now in fantastic condition. My family rented this beauty for a 4 day stay in New Haven on Air BnB. The Chetstone is also currently listed on the CT Film Commission, and is used for photography and videography, as well as a workshop and performance space. As a bed and breakfast, it would be hard to imagine a more amazing home to stay in. The Chetstone has 4 stories: the kitchen and living rooms on the first floor are warm (ambient heat in the kitchen and bathroom floors is awesome) and cozy. Three of the four bedrooms on the second floor come with working sinks! I felt like I was sleeping in a restored, totally livable adjunct to the Mark Twain house (didn't hurt that I had just recently watched Ken Burns' fantastic documentary on Twain.) The magic comes in from all angles with ancient glass refracting the sunlight in beautiful directions. The third floor is unfinished with whimsical rabbit art dating to 1919 exposed on the walls. The fourth floor is a beautiful lookout over Fairhaven Heights. This neighborhood used to be called "Dragon" because the harbor seals that hung out at the mouth of the Quinnipiac River resembled dragons: on a clear day, you can almost still seem them from the fourth floor. Thank you to all involved in the restoration of this Connecticut architectural gem!

Such an interesting and pleasant cruise. Learned so much. The Captains presentation was full of…read moreknowledge about the Islands.

I've been a passenger on the Thimble Island Cruises many times over the years, but this time was…read moreespecially important as my 88 year old dad is moving away from CT to live near me in California! We couldn't miss the opportunity to take one more ride around the Thimble Islands, and the cruise did not disappoint! Our narrator was funny and pleasant, and the snacks and cold drinks were perfect. we got a nice table inside to stay cool, and it's a ride I'll always remember! Thank you Thimble Islands Cruise!

This a beautiful, scenic park on a mountainous top outside of downtown New Haven and it offers…read moreopportunities for hiking, biking, picnicking, leisurely strolls, etc. It's a big area and on the day of my visit, the paved road going inside the park was closed, so we had to walk a decent amount to get to spots like Soldiers and Sailors Monument and scenic overlook vista points. The hike to the monument and scenic vista point on the paved road trail (one-way) can take up to 30 minutes if not longer. There is a (sort of short-cut) trail that goes through the woods that has rocky steps and is a rigorous hiking route. It was a nice weather day and a perfect way to work-off the delicious New Haven pizzas we ate beforehand. We enjoyed our visit here while checking out the beautiful scenic views and the monument. I am not giving it full five stars because the park lacked proper direction signage for the trail(s) and as far as I could tell, I did not find any bathrooms or port-o-potty services.

Large, BEAUTIFUL park near downtown New Haven. Unclear GPS directions/signs make it a BIT tough to…read morenavigate, but we eventually found where we wanted to be, and were rewarded with scenic trails and a challenging (whew!!) hilly walk up to the not-to-be-missed Soldiers' monument and overlook of the city. We were lucky to hit the last of peak leaf season, but I'm sure ANY time of year is great for a visit to this wonderful oasis. Didn't see very much during our quick visit, but hope to return to check out more trails and waterways. GREAT spot for locals and visitors alike. Hope to return with more time to explore SOON!!

Food, wine are all delicious. The decor is super rustic and adorable…read more Our server was funny and friendly. One of our favorite wineries in CT.

Food was absolutely delicious. The cheeses paired great with the wine. The service was a little…read moreslow, could be because we went there on a weekend. Atmosphere was nice, the inside was very lively.

It is hard to believe that almost 10 years ago in June of 2012 I witnessed Governor Malloy…read morecommemorate the opening of the magnificent new Pearl Harbor bridge. Before that it was referred to as the Q Bridge. It was absolutely exhilarating to be able to walk across the bridge and see the beautiful workmanship that went into it. There was a large crowd, music playing, food, vendors, and even a sailboat on the bridge for a photo opportunity. It was a spectacular time as I walked from New Haven to East Haven and back to New Haven.It was truly one of those experiences that you will never forget. The only thing that was missing that day was the ability to see the bridge lit up in a variety of colors. I look forward to driving over the bridge at night especially on holidays. I still think of that very special day every time I cross the bridge in a car.

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge carries I-95 over the Quinnipiac River and was completed between…read more2005 and 2015. It has five lanes in each direction as one might expect for such a busy highway. It replaces the original bridge going back to 1958. It's pretty considering the boring girder bridge base but also incorporates some cable-stayed elements. Other completely cable-stayed are more attractive. But it gets you across the river so I'm pleased. [Review 18672 overall - 87 in Connecticut - 2194 of 2022.]

I am shocked after reading this review of T&A Tours and its owners. I have traveled on many trips…read morewith T&A and have always been extremely pleased with everything about the tours. I have dealt with the owners, as they are the only ones who take reservations (not an agent) and they have always been quite pleasant and accommodating. Actually, I was on a trip with them once, and some people had missed the bus going to the location of the tour and Tim, one of the owners, actually got in his car and drove those people to the rest area where we stopped for coffee. Anytime that I have been on a bus that they had for the trip, the tour director and/or the driver mentioned where we were and not once did I encounter anyone not getting off the bus because they did not know where they were. Whether one is in the front, middle or rear of the bus, people have always known when they reach their stop. In conclusion, I have never dealt with a better tour company than T&A Tours. The owners have ALWAYS been polite, pleasant and fully responsive to people's needs.

Nice variety of tours of very good quality. Great customer service. Would highly recommend themread more

On the Town Green in East Haven stands an impressive memorial in the form of a huge artillery gun…read more The memorial honors East Haven veterans who served their country in the 1700's and 1800's. One plaque is inscribed with the words "American Revolution, 1775-83" that is followed by 16 names. Another plaque is inscribed with the words "Civil War, 1861-65" that is followed by 15 names. A third plaque bears the following inscription: This Tribute To The Worth of Her Sons Who Have By Land and Sea Offered Their Lives In Defense of Their Country Is Erected by The Citizens of East Haven Dedicated 1911 Rededicated 1990 By East Haven Historical Society and Economic Development Commission The American Revolution and Civil War plaques were both dedicated in 2002. Although the first plaque is in very good shape, the Civil War plaque is in poor condition with prominent staining, discoloration and corrosion.