Discover Essex

Essex, in the US state of Connecticut, can be experienced through several very different activities: a narrated train and riverboat ride, dinner in restored dining cars, a museum spanning a broad sweep of history, and hiking trails and green spaces. When planning your trip, then, the key question is less about choosing one must-see attraction and more about the kind of stay you’re looking for. You can compare the offerings by what they focus on: a ride with a clearly stated duration, cultural history, or time outdoors.

Train Ride, Riverboat or Dining-Car Dinner

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers a two-and-a-half-hour narrated ride, departing from Essex station. The excursion goes as far as Deep River Landing, then continues aboard the riverboat Becky Thatcher. The sequence of a train ride followed by a riverboat trip gives this outing two clearly distinct parts. The two-and-a-half-hour duration gives you a specific timeframe for planning; check current schedules before your trip.

The Essex Clipper Dinner Train offers a different train experience: a four-course meal is served in restored 1920s Pullman dining cars. Here, the meal and historic car define the experience, while the narrated journey followed by a riverboat trip is the focus of Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. So, when choosing between the two, consider whether the train-and-boat sequence or dinner in a restored car matters more to you.

History by the River and in Historic Houses

The Connecticut River Museum is located by the river in historic Essex. Visitors can explore more than 12,000 years of history across three exhibition levels. The museum focuses on a particularly long historical span. Its riverside setting and far-reaching historical perspective make it a distinctive place to start if you want to get to know Essex through its past.

Pratt House, one of the oldest houses in Essex, offers a different perspective. You can explore the house, a reconstructed barn, gardens and a museum shop. Unlike the museum, which covers more than 12,000 years, Pratt House focuses on one historic home and its surrounding areas. This distinction can help you choose: you can focus on a broad span of history or on a specific house with a barn and gardens.

Theater History and Time Outdoors

The Ivoryton Playhouse adds theater history to Essex’s cultural offerings: it was the nation’s first self-supporting summer theater. For travelers interested in the development of theater as well as museums and historic houses, this national first offers a distinct point of interest. It broadens Essex’s appeal beyond architecture and exhibitions.

In Essex’s nature preserves, hikers can explore 87 trails totaling 42 miles. The number of trails and their combined length give you an overview of the hiking network. Viney Hill Brook Park also has hiking trails, as well as picnic areas and a dog run. The focus differs considerably: the nature preserves center on trails, while the park combines hiking with picnicking and a dog run. When planning, consider whether you’re mainly looking for hiking opportunities or want to combine them with other outdoor activities.

Discover more destinations: Middlefield, Cromwell, Middletown, Old Saybrook, Haddam

Return to the regional travel overview: Middlesex.