Guilford, Connecticut is a beautiful, historic town on the Connecticut shoreline that's easy to visit whether by car or train, and well worth the stop (map).

Unlike New Haven, Mystic or Ledyard (with its casinos), Guilford has no "headline" attraction to draw the crowds, which is one of the things that makes it so pleasant to visit: you'll see lots of natural and architectural beauty, but no tourist buses.

Guilford's architectural distinction started in 1639, when its English colonists arrived and built a stately stone house for their leader, the Reverend Henry Whitfield. The house, the oldest house in Connecticut, still exists and is now open as a museum. More...

You can visit several other historic houses, but just walking several of the town's historic streets reveals numerous fine homes in a variety of architectural styles from the town's nearly four centuries of history. More...

Hexagonal house in Guilford, Connecticut....

Shops, cafes and restaurants near the town green provide sustinence and browsing opportunities.

If you have your own transportation, find your way to Stony Creek in neighboring Branford and hop aboard a boat for a delightful cruise of the aptly-named Thimble Islands. More...

The historic center of Guilford is just a mile or so south of I-95 Exit 57 on CT Route 77 (map). You can also easily reach Guilford by Amtrak train or Shore Line East train. More...

—by Tom Brosnahan

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