Enjoy a day at the beach!
Essex may not be right on the shoreline, but its location along the beautiful Connecticut River is absolute perfection. Reserve a room at the venerable Griswold Inn — known locally as simply the Gris. Once you’ve unpacked, enjoy rubbing elbows with yachters and boatwrights who’ve carved out a fine life among the river’s many marinas and shipyards — and a good place to start is with a cruise on the Connecticut River Museum’s Onrust, a re-creation of the vessel Adriaen Block built in 1614, which weighs anchor from Steamboat Dock for public cruises Thursdays through Sundays all summer and into October. When you return, a superb dinner of classic entrees and seasonal specials awaits you at The Gris, after which you can enjoy a sing-along in the Taproom or sample vintages at the wine bar. Rise early and enjoy a ride on the Essex Steam Train, followed by a cruise on the Becky Thatcher, their riverboat. Grab either lunch or brunch at the Black Seal Seafood Grille — a town landmark, featuring both traditional and seafaring pub grub that is beyond wonderful. Then it’s on to the Essex Art Association and The Spectrum Gallery, followed by a wander through the village’s many delightful shops on Main Street. And for those enchanted by the maritime culture of this special town, a return to the Connecticut River Museum for a leisurely wander among the Shoreline’s fascinating artifacts will prove beguiling. Staying another night? Why not treat yourself to a room and a gourmet dinner just up the road in East Haddam at the Gelston House Restaurant and Inn, along with an evening of great theater at the Goodspeed Opera House, which is right next door — or at The Ivoryton Playhouse in nearby in Ivoryton. And come morning, don’t rush off. Pick up a map to the Connecticut River Estuary Canoe/Kayak Trail at the town hall, find your way to the river at Town Park, and — assuming you have a boat — explore a marshland listed among the world’s Wetlands of International Importance.
