 Downtown New Haven--where the old meets the new.
A stroll through downtown New Haven is kaleidoscopic: a look back into
early colonial history, then a hip new restaurant, then a glimpse of
the monumental town green or the rising gothic towers of a great university.
It's an easy walk, too.
Or get your fried clams -- and historic sights and wildlife preserves
-- right here too.
Set aside a day for a portion of the shoreline of Greater New Haven.
This strip of land along Route 1 somehow fits in historic homes, stylish
restaurants, nature preserves -- all within a few miles of the Long Island
Sound and its countless opportunities for swimming, boating or casting
a few lines. Here's a look at what Branford, Guilford and Madison has
to offer, moving from west to east.
Rolling drives, hidden hikes, cozy downtowns also await visitors.
The countryside of Greater New Haven -- the land away from the water – feels
very far from the rumble of the shoreline's I-95. It's quiet, bucolic,
happily rural, dotted with orchards and historic homes. The landscape
rises and falls like a gentle wave.
For a glance at what you'll see check this list of Area Tours:
Chamard Vineyards, 115 Cow Hill Rd., Clinton. Enjoy the panoramic view
of this 20-acre vineyard with all its seasonal activity. Tours and
tastings available Tue.-Sun. 11-5 p.m. 860-664-0299 www.chamard.com
Gouveia Vineyards, 1339 Whirlwind Hill Rd., Wallingford. Vineyard and
winery with wine tasting available. Wine also sold by the glass or bottle.
Tours available upon request. Visitors may bring lunch to enjoy with
our wine. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 203-265-5526
www.gouveiavineyards.com
Milford Walking Tour, Milford Historical Society, 34 High St., Milford.
Walking tour of Milford’s colorful history with stops at several
historical sites. Tour includes the Eells-Stow House (c. 1700), the Clark
Stockade House (c. 1780) and the Bryan-Downs House (c. 1785). Obtain
a map and description at the Historical Society. 203-874-2664
New Haven Burying Ground/Grove Street Cemetery, Corner of Grove and Prospect
Sts., New Haven. A National Historic Landmark, the cemetery was established
in 1796, and is presumed to be the oldest in the nation with its type
of grid layout and is the first chartered burial ground in the U.S. A
brochure with a map identifying many of the eminent buried in the cemetery
is available from the cemetery office, 8-3:30 p.m., daily. Free one-hour
walking tours sponsored by the Friends of the Grove Street Cemetery take
place Saturday at 11 a.m., and the 1st and 3rd Sunday at noon. May through
November. 203-787-1443 or 203-230-9858
Walking Tours of New Haven, Leadership Greater New Haven presents four
self-guided walking tours of New Haven: The Theater & Museum District
Tour, The Beinecke Area Tour, The Audubon Street Tour, The Tour Around
the Green. Each tour includes maps and .mp3 audio files. Best experienced
with the audio, or simply download the maps, as they come with photos
of each of the stops and a brief description of the site. Each tour takes
approximately 1/2 hour. Obtain maps and downloads at: www.walkingtoursofnewhaven.com
New Haven Preservation Trust, 934 State St., New Haven. Self-guided walking
tours of New Haven, include many National Historic Landmarks and properties
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Call ahead 203-562-5919
www.nhpt.org
Shubert Theater, 247 College St., New Haven. Since opening in 1914, the
Shubert Theater earned the title “Birthplace of the Nation’s
Greatest Hits.” By staging the premiere of hundreds of shows including, “Oklahoma!”, “A
Streetcar Named Desire,” and “The Sound of Music.” Backstage
tours of the legendary theater—including its famous “graffiti” walls—are
available by appointment. 203-624-1825 www.shubert.com
Yale Campus Tours, Yale Visitor Center, 149 Elm St., New Haven. Student-led
walking tours of Yale Campus, lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes and covers
history, architecture and student life. Visitors see the Old Campus,
several residential colleges, Sterling Memorial Library and Beinecke
Rare Book Library. Maps of the campus are available at the Center. Tours:
Mon.-Fri. 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 1:30 p.m. Free. 203-432-2300
www.yale.edu/visitor
- Self Guided Tours: Visitors who would rather tour the campus on their
own may purchase a copy of the Blue Trail map, which includes a suggested
self-guided tour route, and a brief history of the University.
- Special Groups by Appointment: Large groups visiting the campus can arrange
to have a tour specifically suited to their group's interest and time
schedule. For each group of 25 people, there will be a $40 fee. Contact
the Visitor Center at least two weeks prior to the tour, at (203) 432-2300.
- Kids Architectural Treasure Hunt: Children visiting with parents can
take a self-guided tour of the campus that encourages hunting for architectural
details and designs. Appropriate for ages 6-11. Group tours for the treasure
hunt can be arranged by calling (203) 432-2302.
- Public Art at Yale, start at Old Campus, College Street. The statue of
Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale and Maya Lin’s The Women’s
Table, are but two of the many treasures visible around the campus. Pick
up a self-guided tour booklet at Yale Visitor Center, 149 Elm St. 203-432-2300 www.yale.edu/publicart
Connecticut Trails with Links to Tourist Sights in Greater New Haven
Connecticut Art Trail, Impressionism and More www.arttrail.org
Connecticut Freedom Trail www.ctfreedomtrail.com
Connecticut Wine Trail www.ctwine.com
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