Guilford is a charming coastal community in New Haven County, Connecticut, named in honor of the English town of Guildford, originally established in 1639. Today, the town is home to one of New England's most significant collections of preserved historic homes, including the 600 preserved historic buildings within the Guilford Historic Town Center district.
Walk down The New England National Scenic Trail Gateway
The New England National Scenic Trail Gateway is a National Scenic Trail overseen by the National Park Service in cooperation with the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
Pick blueberries at Bishop's Orchards
Bishop's Orchards is an expansive family farm and tourist attraction in Guilford, originally opened in 1871 by Walter Goodrich Bishop. At the orchards' farm market, guests can purchase a wide variety of produce and grocery items, including organic and specialty groceries, international cheeses, baked goods, and other health-conscious items. Visitors can also taste wines at the award-winning Bishop's Orchards Winery, which is part of the Eastern Connecticut Wine Trail.
Address: 1355 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-2338
Take a tour of The Henry Whitfield State Museum
The Henry Whitfield State Museum preserves the historic Henry Whitfield House, located adjacent to the town green in the city's historic downtown district. Today, the National Historic Landmark home is open to the public for self-guided and guided tours, with interactive guided tours also available on the museum's website for at-home visitors.
Address: 248 Old Whitfield St, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-2457
Visit Guilford Art Center
Guilford Art Center is a nonprofit arts center serving the greater Connecticut region, originally opened in 1967 as the Guilford Handcraft Center, which was established as an extension of Guilford's first Handcraft Expo a decade earlier. Visitors can explore the center's public gallery space, which is open free of charge seven days a week and showcases works by contemporary American artists. A gallery shop also sells works by regional and national artisans and hosts special events such as the Artistry Holiday Sale. Each summer, the center organizes the annual Craft Expo on the Guilford Green, which is considered to be one of New England's top annual arts and crafts shows.
Address: 411 Church Street, P.O. Box 589, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-5947
Explore the area with CT Bike Tours.com
CT Bike Tours.com is a cycling tour company based out of Guilford offering laid-back group rides throughout some of Connecticut's most scenic backroads areas. One-hour narrated cruises comprise the boating portion of the tour, offered aboard the Volsunga IV and exploring the nearby Thimble Islands. Rides are limited to six tour participants and offer complimentary admission to the Henry Whitfield House upon return to Guilford.
Address: 75 Round Hill Road, North Haven, CT 06473, Phone: 203-856-7263
Enjoy the 18th-century garden at The Hyland House Museum
The Hyland House Museum is a living history home museum in Guilford that preserves the former 1713 Hyland House, named in honor of original land owner George Hyland, who settled in the area in 1657. Visitors can tour the home and its 18th-century garden, which features native Connecticut and period-appropriate non-native plants.
Address: P.O. Box 229, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-9477
See at historic blacksmith shop at The Guilford Keeping Society Museums
The Guilford Keeping Society Museums include the Thomas Griswold House and the Medad Stone Tavern. This museum features a historic barn housing farm implements and tools, historic blacksmith shop, and the New England saltbox house from the late eighteenth century. The Medad Stone Tavern features the Len Hubbard Community Garden in addition to the 14-room, Dutch gambrel-style tavern that hosts the society’s September Wine Tasting and Memorial Day Picnic among other events.
Address: 171 Boston St, Guilford, CT 06437, 203-453-3176
Take a tour of The Dudley Farm Museum
The Dudley Farm Museum is a living history museum located on the site of Erastus Dudley's 1844 North Guilford farmstead, opened to the public in 1991 following the death of Dudley's descendant David Dudley and the acquisition of the property by the North Guilford Volunteer Fire Company. Three period-appropriate gardens are also maintained, along with the Dawnland Collection of Native American Artifacts, which showcases archaeological items related to the region's indigenous populations.
Address: 2351 Durham Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-457-0770
Visit Guilford Historic Town Center
Guilford Historic Town Center preserves the historic downtown district in Guilford, anchored around the city's historic 1639 town green. Four square miles of historic district preserve iconic buildings such as the 1639 Henry Whitfield House, Connecticut's oldest historic house, and the 1829 Congregational Church.
Have lunch at Guilford Bistro and Cafe
Guilford Bistro and Cafe is a delightful traditional-style Italian restaurant in Guilford, opened to the public for daily dining service in 2006. At dinner, diners can choose from a variety of classic Italian pasta dishes, including penne alla vodka, rigatoni alla amatriciana, or fettuccine campagnola or enjoy land and sea specialties such as veal Milanese, Sicilian meatloaf, or tilapia palermitana. An extensive beer and wine list highlights international imports and regional craft offerings on draft.
Address: 1016 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-0736
Dine at The Place Restaurant
The Place Restaurant is a unique outdoor seafood restaurant in Guilford, originally founded in the 1940s as an informal clambake along the side of Route 1. Diners can also choose from a variety of dessert selections, including cheesecake, carrot cake, key lime pie, and Mississippi mud cake.
Address: 901 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-9276
Take the kids to Shoreline Diner
Shoreline Diner is an historic New England restaurant that was originally opened in New Rochelle, New York and relocated in 1986 to its current location in Guilford. At lunch and dinner, diners can choose from clever burgers and signature sandwiches such as the restaurant's Philly-style cheesesteaks, crab cake BLTs, and New England-style lobster rolls.
Address: 345 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-458-7380
Take a tour with Shoreline Segway
Shoreline Segway is a fully-insured Segway touring company offering group guided rides throughout the attractions of the Guilford region.Rides are offered seven days a week year-round by appointment, with the exception of times of inclement weather. Hourly and daily Segway rentals are also offered, along with Segway purchases.
Satisfy your sweet tooth at The Village Chocolatier
The Village Chocolatier, situated at the historic Guilford Green, provides customers with an array of favors and gifts for birthday parties, showers, weddings, and other special occasions.
Address: 79 Whitfield St, Guilford, CT 06437, 203-453-5226
Order a lobster at Guilford Lobster Pound
A family-owned and operated business that first opened in 1991, Guilford Lobster Pound sells fresh caught lobster on a daily basis and guarantees people won’t find fresher lobsters anywhere else.
Address: 505 Old Whitfield St, Guilford, CT 06437, 203-453-6122
