THINGS TO DO NEAR WESTBROOK INN

How to spend your time on the Connecticut Shoreline

A well-kept secret, the Connecticut Shoreline has a wonderful offering of activities.

No matter the season, you will find activities to keep you entertained. Westbrook sits at the Long Island Sound and is bordered by Old Saybrook, which is on the Connecticut River, Clinton, and Essex. Central to so many attractions, Westbrook is a perfect home base to enjoy all Connecticut has to offer 

Spring through Fall, enjoying the maritime heritage of the area by getting onto the waterways is a must! Take a day sail or sunset cruise on a private boat. The Connecticut River Museum offers educational river tours and evening sails on a vintage schooner. There is even a riverboat cruise on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat to keep you entertained. If enjoying the water up close and personal is what you prefer, the Patchogue River is in our backyard. You can enjoy a leisurely kayak or rent a paddleboard from Black Hall Outfitters and view seabirds on your journey. West Beach is a quick walk and promises soft sand and lovely sunsets. Bring the beach chairs, umbrellas, and carts from the Inn for a day at the beach. We also provide parking passes for those who prefer to drive.

Nature lovers will find many hiking options like the Stewart McKinney Nature Preserve or Devils Hopyard State Park. Hammonasset Beach State Park offers a greenway trail that includes access to Meigs Point Nature Preserve. In fact, there are many options to explore outdoors across dozens of trails. Explore using pedal power by borrowing one of our beach cruisers and seeing the town. In spring, flower farms are full of blooms, and corn mazes & apple picking are nearby. 

In the Winter, nothing is cozier than sleeping in one of our fireplace rooms and enjoying a homecooked breakfast by our fieldstone fireplace before you head out for a day of Antiquing or boutique shopping. We have many small businesses that dot our local town greens, where you can find unique and unusual treasures. Charming spots for lunch, like the Little Pub or Scotch Plains Tavern, provide a perfect spot to warm up with something delicious. Christmas in Connecticut provides small-town festivals, musical events, and charming arts & crafts festivals. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Art Center offers holiday shows nightly in season. The Old Saybrook Torch Light parade attracts spectators from across the Northeast.

Our cultural attractions are vast and offer year-round enjoyment.

The Westbrook Inn is a great home base to see The Florence Griswold Museum, The Connecticut River Museum, and Gillette Castle, to name a few. The newly re-opened Peabody Museum at Yale is just 20 minutes away and will delight with new Exhibits. The Mystic Seaport Museum immerses you in what living in a 1600s New England ship buildings community was like, and the Aquarium delights with its famous Beluga Whales.

In addition to The Kate, The Ivoryton Playhouse and Goodspeed Opera have wonderful plays and musical events as well. Broadway quality shows bring in visitors from across the Northeast. And don't forget to book a ride on the Essex Steam Train featuring Dinner Cruises and Rail Bike excursions. Their North Pole Express sells out each year, so book early to enjoy this family-friendly event.

Great Dining is as simple as a trip up Boston Post Road.  Our restaurants are diverse and extraordinary. Year-round, you will find the perfect spot for waterfront dining, casual and fun food, and fine dining restaurants to satisfy the toughest critics. A must-try is a New England Lobster Roll, and Lobster Landing is well known for this yummy treat. Bill's Seafood and Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale are staples on the shoreline. Cafe Routier and Fresh Salt are perfect for special events, and Coastline Brewing or Chamard Vineyards offer options for those who like locally made beverages.

Love to shop? Find lovely treasures by following our Antiquing map. Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets and Westbrook Outlets offer the bargain hunter a day of fun. Explore the small and unique shops in the lovely colonial towns of Old Saybrook, Essex, or Chester. Destination shopping at Old Saybrook Home promises fun browsing and unique items. You won't have to go far to take home a treasure from your trip. A stop in our tiny gift shop will allow you to purchase our signature sheets, blankets, and robes, as well as the hand-crafted syrups and jams. 

Explore all your options with the links below. Now is a great time to plan your visit to Westbrook Inn!