The towns
surrounding Madison, Connecticut are like a string
of pearls, each with its own charm. Heading north from the south, you will pass
the towns of Branford, Guilford, Madison,
Clinton, and Killingworth, all of which are worth
exploring. New England shore towns, the possibilities for discoveries are
endless in any season. We thoroughly enjoyed a mini vacation experiencing their
charm.
View from the Connecticut shoreline
We spent a
fabulous weekend in Madison, Connecticut from Friday, July 14 until Sunday,
July 16, 2023, and found that there were so many wonderful events and options
each day, that we wished we could have stayed for a few more days. Now that we
have "discovered" Madison and the surrounding areas we will definitely return,
perhaps in the Fall when the leaves will be donning their spectacular colors,
or in Winter when New England is covered in pristine white snow, or in Spring
when the earth is just awakening and celebrates with its displays of stunning
blooms. What we learned during our visit to Madison is that no matter the
season, there is always something wonderful happening there.
Where to
Stay - The Homestead Madison Bed & Breakfast, Madison, Connecticut
The Homestead Madison Bed & Breakfast
The Homestead Madison Bed & Breakfast, located in Madison, Connecticut, owned by The Guardino
Family for over 30 years by 3 generations, lovingly takes care of their guests
in their beautiful and well-maintained 11-guestroom boutique Inn.
We stayed
at the Homestead Madison from Friday, July 14 until Sunday, July 16, 2023, and
found this attractive and welcoming Inn to be the perfect base for exploring
the charming town of Madison and the surrounding areas.
Besides
gracious hospitality, each guestroom is unique and elegantly appointed, with
luxurious 1,000-thread count linens, and in-room vintage record players with a collection
of vinyl albums to match your mood. We started our day off with their sumptuous,
complimentary breakfast before venturing out on their complimentary bicycles,
including a tandem bicycle, to explore the town of Madison.
Selection of musc to enjoy
Another
perk of staying there is that they provide their guests with the use of a complimentary
day beach parking pass for enjoying one of the 3 nearby beaches. Special
amenities and gracious hospitality make The Homestead Madison a standout. For
guests who like to travel with their pets, The Homestead Madison has 3
pet-friendly rooms for dogs under 35 pounds making it a lovely getaway with
your fur-baby.
Dining Room
Also of note
is that The Homestead Madison Bed & Breakfast belongs to Select
Registry, and guests who join the Select Registry
program can earn points from their stay, adding to the long list of plusses
that make The Homestead Madison Bed & Breakfast a standout.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.homesteadmadison.com
Read about our
stay at The Homestead Madison Bed & Breakfast in more detail in our Hotels and Resorts section.
Tandem bicycle practice
Read about
our experience riding their tandem bicycle in the Adventures section.
The Homestead
Madison Bed & Breakfast
391 Boston
Post Road
Madison,
Connecticut 06443
United
States
Telephone:
203-245-0212
Email:
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Website:
www.homesteadmadison.com
Social
Media: #1BoutiqueB&B, #madisonct
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/homesteadmadison//he=en
Facebook: www.faceook.com/homesteadmadison
Tripadvisor:
The Homestead Bed Breakfast -
Madison Connecticut
Exploring
Madison - Local Things to Do - Fun in the Sun - The Beaches
A visit to
the Connecticut shoreline is a summertime must, although we love walking on
beaches at any time of the year as the scenery is always breathtaking.
There are 4
gorgeous beaches in Madison to experience each with its own unique charm: East
Wharf Beach, Surf Club Park, and West Wharf Beach (The Homestead
Madison offers guests complimentary parking passes for those beaches), and Hammonasset
Beach State Park, boasting over 2 miles of beach making it Connecticut's
largest shoreline park (there is free
parking for CT residents with CT-registered vehicles, fees apply for
out-of-state registered vehicles.)
We visited
West Wharf Beach and Hammonasset Beach State Park and walked along its long
boardwalk as well as taking a dip in Long Island.
East Wharf
Beach Park
122 Middle
Beach Road
Madison,
Connecticut
Surf Club
Park
87 Surf
Club
Madison,
Connecticut
West Wharf
Beach
99 West
Wharf Road
Madison,
Connecticut
Hammonasset
Beach State Park
1288 Boston
Post Road
Madison,
Connecticut
Sightseeing
from the Water - Thimble Island Cruises Aboard the Sea Mist
Sea Mist
There is no
better way to "Fall in Love with Madison" and the area than by taking a sightseeing
cruise through the Thimble Islands on the Thimble Island Cruises Aboard the Sea Mist. We boarded the Sea Mist, a 44-foot,
49-passenger boat, for the 10:15 am cruise on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
Captain Justin
Proudly
wearing its Pirate's Flag on its upper deck, we set off for an adventure with
Captain Justin at the helm and narrating the interesting details of the
spectacular homes on these tiny islands that attracted many celebrities
throughout the years including President William Taft (1857-1930) who
established his Summer White House on Davis Island for 2 years, and Captain
William Kidd (1654-1701) that according to legend may have buried his treasures
in these islands. Interesting history and gorgeous scenery made for a fabulous
morning adventure.
Cruise Information: Tours run from May until October 15, 2023. Tours depart
promptly at 15 minutes after the hour. July and August schedule:
Daily with exception of Tuesdays when they are closed. The first cruise of the
day departs at 10:15 am, with the last cruise at 4:15 pm. During August on
Saturdays and Sundays, there is a Happy Hour Ride at 5:15 pm with light music
(no tour). September schedule: (including Labor Day): Fridays at 10:15
am, 12:15 pm, 2:15 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:15 am, 12:15 pm, 2:15 pm,
2:15 pm, and 4:15 pm. October schedule: cruises run on Saturdays and
Sundays only at 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm. October 15th is the last
cruise of the 2023 season.
Debra C. Argen getting ready to cruise
Ticket
Information: Adults: $16, Seniors: (65+): $15,
Children: (Ages 4 - 12): $10. Happy Hour Boat Ride: $20.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.thimbleislandcruise.com.
Read more
about our experience on Thimble Island Cruises aboard the Sea Mist in the Adventures section.
Sea Mist,
LLC
Thimble
Island Cruises
4 Indian
Point Road
Branford,
CT 06405
Telephone:
+1-203-488-8905
Email:
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Website: www.thimbleislandcruise.com
Facebook:
@sea mist thimble island cruise
Taking "Me
Time" - Spa - The Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa, Guilford, Connecticut
Welcome to The Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa
The Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa located in Guilford, Connecticut, is just 10 minutes from The
Homestead Madison. When life becomes too busy, it is so important to make time
for yourself and relax, and a visit to a Spa should be an essential part of your
well-being.
Owner Theresa Cleary
Owned by
Theresa Cleary, The Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa opened in June 2021 and has
all the bells and whistles of excellence including an infrared sauna, a wide
variety of facials, massages, cryotherapy, body treatments, yoga and meditation
classes, and a salt cave.
Salt Cave
We spent a
lovely and relaxing Saturday afternoon on July 15, 2023, experiencing their infrared
sauna, a soothing, nourishing, and relaxing facial, a deep-tissue massage, and
their unique salt cave, and left the Spa feeling refreshed and relaxed, and
ready to explore again.
The Healing
Salt Cave and Wellness Spa Hours: Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 am until
6:00 pm, Friday from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am until 5:00
pm, and Sunday from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. The Spa is closed on Mondays.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.thehealingsaltcave.com
Read more
about our experience at the Healing Salt Cave and Wellness Spa in the Spas
section.
The Healing
Salt Cave and Wellness Spa
260 River
Street
Guilford,
Connecticut 06437
Telephone:
+1-203-457-5107
Email:
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Website: www.thehealingsaltcave.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/healingsaltcaveandwellness
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/healingsaltcaveguilfordct
Brews and
Vines
The
neighboring towns of Madison have a plethora of craft breweries and vineyards
on the Connecticut Wine Trail to discover. We took time for tasting
brews and vines.
Brews - Stony
Creek Brewery - Branford, Connecticut
Stony Creek Brewery
We visited Stony Creek Brewery in Branford on Saturday, July 15, 2023, after our Thimble Island
Cruise aboard the Sea Mist. The brewery was humming with activity as they
prepared for a wedding, and a band was setting up for afternoon music.
Flight Tasting
To get a
sense of their craft beer style we did a flight of beers consisting of
selections from the menu: Something Light (Dock Time, an Amber Lager with 4.8%
alcohol), Something Sour (Basic Batch, Sour Ale, 5.0% alcohol), Something Hazy
(Boat Shoes, Hazy Pale Ale, 5.6% alcohol), and Something Dark (Kicker, a Barley
Wine brew with 16.3% alcohol.
See you at Stony Creek Brewery for a Flight Tasting!
Through our
flight tasting, it was interesting to experience different types of craft beers
other than what we usually drink. We were pleasantly surprised by how much we
liked their Basic Batch, a Sour Ale, which was the perfect thirst quencher on a
warm summer day.
Stony Creek
Brewery is open Monday through Thursday from noon until 10:00 pm, Friday and
Saturday from 11:00 am until midnight, and Sunday from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.stonycreekbeer.com
Read more
about Stony Creek Brewery in the Liquor Cabinet section.
Stony Creek
Brewery
5 Indian
Neck Avenue
Branford,
Connecticut 06405
Telephone:
+1-203-433-4545
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.stonycreekbeer.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/StonyCreekBeer
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/StonyCreekBeer
Vines -
Chamard Vineyard - Clinton, Connecticut
Chamard Vineyards
Connecticut
has a vibrant Wine Trail, which deserves to be experienced. Chamard
Vineyards located in Clinton, is only 6.1
miles from The Homestead Madison, and is perfect to discover the beauty and
elegance of Connecticut wines. Established in 1983, they planted their first
vines in 1984, and released their first wine in 1989. Today, Chamard has 20
acres of established vines on their 40-acre property, and they also have a
Bistro.
Kerry Ann behind the bar
We visited
Chamard Vineyards on a rainy Sunday afternoon of July 16, 2023, which was the
perfect rainy-day activity. To appreciate the various nuances of their style,
we experienced a flight of three wines each. From the White Wine section, we
selected the Estate Riesling 2020, and the Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2019. From
the Rose, Sparkling, and Dessert Wines section, we selected the Estate Rose
2020, and the Stone Cold Sparkling. From their Red Wines section, we selected
the Petite Sirah 2017, and their Cabernet Merlot 70/30 2019, made in the
classic Bordeaux style of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot. The flight
tasting gave us insight into the vineyard's style, and one of excellence.
Edward F. Nesta enjoying a flight tasting
Chamard
Vineyards Hours of Operation: Chamard Vineyards Bistro is open from Wednesday
through Saturday from 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm until
5:00 pm.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.Chamard.com
Read more
about our experience at Chamard Vineyards in the Wine Cellar section.
Chamard
Vineyards Bistro
115 Cow
Hill Road
Clinton, CT
06413
Telephone:
+1-860-664-0299
Website: www.Chamard.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chamardvineyards
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chamardvineyards
Dining
Options - Where to Eat in Madison, Connecticut
The Wharf
Restaurant at The Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
We had a
luscious lunch with a view at The Wharf Restaurant at the Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, on Friday, July 14, 2023, where Chef Brian Warmington is the talent
in the seafood focused kitchen, that also has a diverse and exciting menu to
appeal to different palates.
Charred Shishito Peppers
A few of
the highlights of our lunch included the Charred Shishito Peppers with
gochujang vinaigrette, toasted sesame, and pickled raisins to start, followed
by *MBH Tuna Tartare made with sashimi grade tuna, English cucumbers, avocado,
soy, ginger, and sesame seeds, and accompanied by housemade wonton chips, and
the Hot Lobster Roll which was 5 ounces of succulent butter poached lobster
meat served in a grilled New England roll accompanied by housemade bread and butter
pickles, and coleslaw.
Lobster Roll
The
restaurant's proximity to the water, its gracious ambience, excellent service,
and its spectacular cuisine where the presentations are every bit as tasty as
the food, make The Wharf Restaurant an excellent dining choice.
The Wharf
Restaurant is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am until 9:00 pm, and on Sunday
from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.thewharfmadison.com
Read more
about our dining experience at The Wharf in the Restaurants section.
Read the Chefs' Recipes section where Chef Brian Warmington takes time out from the kitchen
to speak with Luxury Experience an where he provides his very tasty recipe for Charred Shishito Peppers with Gochujang Vinaigrette and Pickled
Raisins.
The Wharf
Restaurant
Madison
Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
94 West
Wharf Road
Madison,
Connecticut 06443
United
States
Telephone:
+1-203-350-0014
Website: www.thewharfmadison.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/madisonbeachhotel
#madisonbeachhotel
Café
Allegre - Madison, Connecticut
Café Allegre
Café
Allegre is located 1.4 miles from The Homestead
Madison in the downtown area of Madison. This delightful Italian restaurant
founded by Chef Silvio Suppa, now features his son, Chef Ilario Suppa, as the
talent in the kitchen. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the
restaurant has a diverse menu to appeal to a variety of palates.
Eggplant Parmigiano
We had an
excellent dinner at Café Allegre on Friday, July 14, 2023, when the restaurant
hummed with locals including Chef Jacques Pepin, and visiting guests as well. A
few of the highlights of our dinner included the appetizers/antipasti of
Artichoke Hearts Milanese, which were breaded and fried artichoke hearts
drizzled with garlic butter and parmigiano cheese, and the Pane Cotto, which
was a delectable mélange of escarole, cannellini beans and frieselle, drizzled
with olive oil and baked until golden brown. Also very nice was the Eggplant Parmigiano,
which was plentiful and delectable, from the Farinacei-Pasta section of the
menu, and the Chateau of Beef Bordelaise, which was a generous portion of Angus
beef tenderloin.
Chateau of Beef Bordelaise
Café
Allegre Hours of Operation: Tuesdays through Sunday from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm,
Friday and Saturday from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm. The restaurant is closed on
Mondays.
Please
check their website for additional information: www.cafeallegre.com
Read more
about our dining experience at Café Allegre in the Restaurants section.
Café
Allegre
725 Boston
Post Road
Madison,
Connecticut 06443
Telephone:
+1-203-245-7773
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.cafeallegre.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Cafe-Allegre/100063745340926/
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/cafeallegre
Dining Options
- Where to Eat in Killingworth, La Foresta Restaurant & Wine Bar
La Foresta - Wine Cellar
Bring on
the romance at La Foresta Restaurant & Wine Bar in Killingworth.
Owner Francesco Lulaj opened this stunning fine dining Italian restaurant in July
2014 and has been attracting attention ever since. This is a gourmand's and
oenophile's dream of a restaurant with an exceptional wine list of over 1,600
selections and more than 16,000 bottles. Located 7 miles from The Homestead
Madison, this restaurant is well worth the drive.
Stuffed Lobster
We had a
spectacular dinner at La Foresta on Saturday, July 15, 2023, where one of the
many highlights of our dinner included an appetizer of Fried Oysters under the
Seasonal Favorites section of the menu. Presented as a dozen delicately golden
battered fried oysters drizzled with siracha aioli, they were sheer perfection
that melted in our mouths. While the entrees on the menu looked very appealing,
we selected two of the specials, the Stuffed Lobster, and the Filet Oscar
topped with a crab cake and Hollandaise sauce. Both of these oh so delicious entrees
were beautifully presented with creamy mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus.
Filet Oscar
La Foresta
Restaurant is open Monday through Thursday from 12:00 pm until 9:30 pm, Friday
and Saturday from 12:00 pm until 11:00 pm, and on Sunday from 12:00 pm until
9:00 pm.
La Foresta Restaurant
Please
check their website for additional information: https://laforestarestaurant.com/
Read more
about our dining experience at La Foresta in the Restaurants section.
La Foresta
Restaurant
163 CT-81
Killingworth,
Connecticut 06419
United
States
Telephone:
+1860-663-1155
Website: https://laforestarestaurant.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laflorestact
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/laflorestakillingworth
There is so
much to discover in Madison and its neighboring towns that once discovered,
you, too, will "Fall in Love with Madison, Connecticut."
Until next
time, keep enjoying travel with Luxury Experience!
Location,
Location, Location:
Driving
Distance from Neighboring Connecticut Towns to Madison:
Westbrook: 6.5 miles, Guilford: 7 miles, Killingworth: 7 miles, Essex:
12 miles, Old Saybrook: 12 miles, Old Lyme: 14 miles, Branford:
15 miles
Driving
Distances from Other Areas to Madison, CT:
New Haven,
CT: 21 miles, East Haddam, CT: 25 miles,
New London, CT: 28 miles, Hartford, CT: 38 miles, Springfield,
MA: 63 miles, Greenwich, CT: 65 miles, Newport and Providence,
RI: 83 miles, Westchester County, NY: 86 miles, Manhattan, NY: 97
miles, Newark, NJ: 110 miles, Boston, MA: 136 miles, Salem, NH:
152 miles
Read more
about our visit to Madison, Connecticut in Luxury Experience in the
following sections: Destinations, Hotels and Resorts - The Homestead
Madison, Restaurants - Café Allegre, Restaurants -La Foresta, Restaurants - The Wharf
Restaurant, Chefs' Recipes - Chef Brian
Warmingham - The Wharf Restaurant, Spas - The Healing Salt Cave
and Wellness Spa, Adventures - Riding a Bicycle
Built for Two, Madison, CT, Adventures - Thimble Island
Cruises aboard the Sea Mist, Liquor Cabinet - Stony Creek
Brewery, and Wine Cellar - Visting Chamard
Vineyards and Bistro.
For more
information on visiting Madison, Connecticut, please visit the websites: www.madisonct.com and www.ctvisit.com.
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