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Connecticut > State > Things to Do and See > Lower Conn. River Valley

Lower Connecticut River Valley

Find more great things to do and places to visit in this region.

Essex CT Calendar of EventsThe picturesque Connecticut River traces a path through New England from Long Island Sound northward to the border with Canada. Some of the river’s most beautiful towns are near the mouth in Connecticut, bearing the memorable names Old Saybrook, Old Lyme, Essex, Deep River, Ivoryton, Chester, and Haddam. Here you find town greens, white, steepled churches, and unique explorations, include a riverside train paired with a riverboat ride, and walking trails to a real castle.

Sites of the Revolutionary War are found throughout the Lower Connecticut River Valley, along with maritime and seafaring museums and fun art galleries. Old Saybrook is where you can kick back at the lavish Saybrook Point Resort & Marina. In Essex you can board the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat, a two-part trip along the river in a historic excursion train, followed by a cruise in a paddlewheel steamer. Two companies host river cruises to see bald eagles in winter.

Culture is abundant and really fun. Ivoryton Playhouse and the Goodspeed Opera House present many live shows. The historic house and gardens of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme tell the story of America’s native Impressionist painters. Gillette Castle in East Haddam was built by the early 20th-century stage actor who came to embody the character of Sherlock Holmes. Many of the towns host fun seasonal events, like Deep River’s huge fife-and-drum parade in mid-July.

South Pacific at Ivoryton Playhouse - Lower CT River Valley Onrust at the Dock at Connecticut River Museum - Lower CT River Valley Train Aerial View - Essex Steam Train & Riverboat - Essex, CT - Lower CT River Valley

Featured Events:

Gallery Girl - Connecticut River Museum - Essex, CT
Connecticut River Museum

67 Main Street, Steamboat Dock Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-8269

Families who visit this river museum learn about history, experience outdoor adventures

Bring the family to the Connecticut River Museum and prepare for a day that is both fun and educational. Through artifacts and artwork, you’ll learn about the river’s history and its Native American communities, explore the memorabilia and vintage racing motors of the speed-racing era on the river from 1900 to 1940, trace the river in a vertical mural that winds up and down three floors, or step inside a replica of the Turtle, the first submarine to be used in combat in 1776. You can take a cruise on the Onrust, a re-created 1614 sailing vessel or on the eco-tour boat RiverQuest, perhaps seeing an eagle or osprey. There’s a great drop-in Summer Fun Days program for kids 6 through 12.
Summer Front View 500x250 - The Griswold Inn - Essex, CT
The Griswold Inn

36 Main Street Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-1776

Longstanding heritage of hospitality at this Revolutionary War-era inn

The heritage of hospitality at the Griswold Inn began when the first visitors were welcomed in 1776 and proudly continues today with first-rate service, comfortable accommodations and fine dining. One of the oldest continuously operated inns in the United States, the Griswold, in a picturesque and historic seaport village, offers guests a choice of 34 unique rooms, furnished individually with antiques and period reproductions. The inn hosts an impressive collection of maritime art and illustrations as well as a collection of firearms used in the War of 1812. Guests can dine in the Tap Room, attached to the inn in 1801 after being rolled down Main Street by a team of oxen.
Essex Steam Train and riverboat Essex CT
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

One Railroad Avenue Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-0103

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat's two-and-a-half -hour journey begins at the historic Essex Station for a narrated round trip into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley. The steam locomotive pulls vintage coaches at 20 mph through the towns of Deep River and Chester. At Deep River Landing, passengers board the Becky Thatcher riverboat for a cruise along the Connecticut River. The deep water, coves, inlets, marshes, wildlife, and rocky shoreline are breathtaking. Upon Becky's return to Deep River Landing, the steam train welcomes passengers for the return trip to Essex Station. Trips conducted mid-May to late October.
The Griswold Inn - Essex, Connecticut - 860.767.1776
The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat -Train & Boat Excursions through the Connecticut River Valley - with all the bells & whistles!
Dive Into History at the Connecticut River Museum - Essex, CT