I AM LOOKING FOR A HARBOR THAT OFFERS SOME RESTAURANTS, AND A LITTLE NIGHTLIFE, BANDS, HAPPY HOURS ETC. IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH: NEW HAVEN, BRANFORD, MILFORD, BRIDGEPORT OR ANY HARBOR IN THIS AREA?
L.I. SOUND CRUISING DESTINATIONS?
- Thread starter MATT3873
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LI Cruising
You should purchase a Long Island Sound crusing guide at West Marine or any other chandelry. The guide is very useful for marinas, yacht clubs,restaurants,phone numbers, etc. In addition it gives important information about the harbor you are entering.
You should purchase a Long Island Sound crusing guide at West Marine or any other chandelry. The guide is very useful for marinas, yacht clubs,restaurants,phone numbers, etc. In addition it gives important information about the harbor you are entering.
Some ideas:
I agree that the Maptech Guide to LI Sound would be very useful. If you are looking for a harbor on the CT shore as a destination on the CT shore, there a couple of great options. However, if you want to be within walking distance of your shoreside destinations, those options narrow considerably. Milford is one of the few harbors where the marinas are within walking distance of the actual town. The downtown area there is filled with restaurants, a park or two, beaches and shops. There are three marinas there, one of which caters only to transients, and offers morning coffee, newspapers, etc. The only marina I know of in New Haven is not near downtown at all. Branford has several marinas, including one in the Brewer's chain. It has a restaurant and pool along with showers, laundry, etc. It is also within walking distance of a couple of other restaurants, but you would need a ride into town (and a nice walking downtown it is). Stony Creek (near the Thimble Islands) is technically part of Branford, but is really its own little world. It is like a small Maine village. Restaurants, some antiquey-kind of shops, but mostly a place where new and old mansions are side by side with older smaller houses. Quaint with a capital K. I don't know if there are moorings or dock space available for transients, but there is certainly a lot of anchorage space there if you have a dinghy. You can take a guided boat tour of the Thimbles from the town dock in an excursion boat. Worth the money. Further east, Westbrook has a lot of dock space, and there are a bunch of restaurants and stores that have sprung up around them. Brewer's is there too. No real town though. If you want a real "Newport" style yacht-town sort of place, the choice is Essex. It is up a few miles from the mouth of the Conn. River, but it is the real deal. Great boating facilities and real New England walking town. It combines chi-chi stores with real old fashioned flinty New England stores. The Griswold Inn is there, a must stop place to eat or get a drink among the nautical decor. Also the CT River Museum. The Maptech Guide is worth the money: charts, piloting advice, lists/contact info for marinas, restauarants and services. Have fun.
I agree that the Maptech Guide to LI Sound would be very useful. If you are looking for a harbor on the CT shore as a destination on the CT shore, there a couple of great options. However, if you want to be within walking distance of your shoreside destinations, those options narrow considerably. Milford is one of the few harbors where the marinas are within walking distance of the actual town. The downtown area there is filled with restaurants, a park or two, beaches and shops. There are three marinas there, one of which caters only to transients, and offers morning coffee, newspapers, etc. The only marina I know of in New Haven is not near downtown at all. Branford has several marinas, including one in the Brewer's chain. It has a restaurant and pool along with showers, laundry, etc. It is also within walking distance of a couple of other restaurants, but you would need a ride into town (and a nice walking downtown it is). Stony Creek (near the Thimble Islands) is technically part of Branford, but is really its own little world. It is like a small Maine village. Restaurants, some antiquey-kind of shops, but mostly a place where new and old mansions are side by side with older smaller houses. Quaint with a capital K. I don't know if there are moorings or dock space available for transients, but there is certainly a lot of anchorage space there if you have a dinghy. You can take a guided boat tour of the Thimbles from the town dock in an excursion boat. Worth the money. Further east, Westbrook has a lot of dock space, and there are a bunch of restaurants and stores that have sprung up around them. Brewer's is there too. No real town though. If you want a real "Newport" style yacht-town sort of place, the choice is Essex. It is up a few miles from the mouth of the Conn. River, but it is the real deal. Great boating facilities and real New England walking town. It combines chi-chi stores with real old fashioned flinty New England stores. The Griswold Inn is there, a must stop place to eat or get a drink among the nautical decor. Also the CT River Museum. The Maptech Guide is worth the money: charts, piloting advice, lists/contact info for marinas, restauarants and services. Have fun.
Essex, CT
What's a good place to stay at in Essex? I've seen Brewer's website and it looks interesting, but what are the other options? Looking to go around the end of July.
What's a good place to stay at in Essex? I've seen Brewer's website and it looks interesting, but what are the other options? Looking to go around the end of July.
Port Jefferson or Stamford
Port Jefferson has many resturants and some night life. We normally pick up a mooring at the Setauket Yacht club. They supply launch service and then it is a very short walk into town. Stamford is a great small city and has many great resturants. It is a 15 minute walk to the edge of town or a short cab ride. There are also two resturants in the west branch of the harbor. The Crab Shell resturant has an outside bar and eating area and a live band most nights. If available, they also offer a slip while you eat. For over night, Brewer Yacht Haven is your only choice but is on the opposite side the channel. Not a bad walk but better to take a cab. Enjoy where ever you go.
Port Jefferson has many resturants and some night life. We normally pick up a mooring at the Setauket Yacht club. They supply launch service and then it is a very short walk into town. Stamford is a great small city and has many great resturants. It is a 15 minute walk to the edge of town or a short cab ride. There are also two resturants in the west branch of the harbor. The Crab Shell resturant has an outside bar and eating area and a live band most nights. If available, they also offer a slip while you eat. For over night, Brewer Yacht Haven is your only choice but is on the opposite side the channel. Not a bad walk but better to take a cab. Enjoy where ever you go.
Essex
The best thing to do in Essex is get one of the Chandelry's moorings. There are not many transient slips in Essex. See the link below. The Brewer marina isn't really in Essex, it's a few miles further up the river near the town of Deep River. Be careful going up that river. Runabouts doing 30 mph piloted by drunks are the norm on summer weekends, at least until you get past the bridges, after which it calms down. Make sure if you call the bridge tender that you use Channel 13, and hail him as "Old Lyme Drawbridge." He can be a grouchy old fart.
The best thing to do in Essex is get one of the Chandelry's moorings. There are not many transient slips in Essex. See the link below. The Brewer marina isn't really in Essex, it's a few miles further up the river near the town of Deep River. Be careful going up that river. Runabouts doing 30 mph piloted by drunks are the norm on summer weekends, at least until you get past the bridges, after which it calms down. Make sure if you call the bridge tender that you use Channel 13, and hail him as "Old Lyme Drawbridge." He can be a grouchy old fart.
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