Enjoy a day at the beach!
For more than a century, Branford has enjoyed the distinction of being an ideal summer escape. And while the trolleys and steamboats that originally brought travelers to Long Island Sound are now just a memory, Branford remains the largest of the Shoreline towns, as well as one of the most vibrant. If you’re overnighting, check into one of Branford’s original hotels — such as the Owenego Inn and Beach Club, where a traditional seafood dinner and the ebb and flow of the waves along 500 feet of direct oceanfront will ensure a “Sound” night’s sleep. In the morning, grab a hearty breakfast and maybe a take-away lunch at G Café Bakery, then head for Stony Creek and a leisurely boating tour around the Thimble Islands. Enjoy that picnic lunch at Stony Creek Beach before exploring the trails at the Supply Pond Park, Short Beach and Branford Point. Take a trolley ride to the Shore Line Trolley Museum in nearby East Haven. Or wander Branford’s Town Green, where boutiques, markets, and historic sites abound. P.S. Fine Stationers on Main offers some great shopping. And if a little self-pampering is called for, stop in at Paul & Company Hair Color & Design on Montowese Street. Next, choose one of Branford’s many fine restaurant so you can show yourself off while enjoying a scrumptious meal. Feeling weary after all that activity? Head to Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea for a cup of that second wind we sometimes need — and be sure to stop at Ashley’s Ice Cream for a scoop or two or three of their heavenly homemade ice cream. Just one of five Ashley’s locations on the Connecticut Shore, their motto says it all: Moderation is for wimps.
