Everything Essex
I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Essex CTMQ-style… as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. After all, that is the ultimate goal of CTMQ.
What do you know about the river town that wins awards for being quaint? You can scroll down for my list of things to do in town. Or, as always, you can click on the town’s tag to see what I’ve done.
If I’ve missed anything in town or if anything has closed or changed, please let me know.
All The CTMQ Essex Stuff
Links take you to my reports
Museums
Bushy Hill Nature Center
Connecticut River Museum
Essex Art Association
Griswold Inn Art/History Tour
Hills Academy History Center
Ivoryton Playhouse
Museum of the Fife and Drum
Pratt House Museum
River Valley Junction
Three Art Galleries:
- Cooper & Smith Gallery
Melanie Carr Gallery
Six Summit Gallery
Hikes & Paddles
Essex Land Trust – Intro
- Cross Lots
Falls River Preserve
Fern Ledge & Farm Hill Estates
Heron Pond Preserve
James Glen
Jean’s Island
Johnson Farm
The Millrace
North Cove
Osage Trails
The Preserve
South Cove
Tiley Pratt Pond
Windswept Ridge
Town Trails – Intro
- Bushy Hill Nature Preserve
Canfield/Meadow Woods
Viney Hill Brook Park/Preserve
The Nature Conservancy Trail – Intro
- Turtle Creek Preserve
CT River Estuary Canoe & Kayak Trail (Incl. ELT Water Trails)
- North Cove
Middle Cove
South Cove
Food & Drink
US Oldest: The Griswold Inn
Annual Shad Bake
CT Chocolate Trail: truffle shots
Looking for your favorite restaurant? Here is an explanation as to why it’s not here.
Everything Else
Oldest Co-Ed Camp in the US, Camp Incarnation
CT Valley Rail Road State Park
Named Rocks of Canfield-Meadow Woods Preserve
The Oliver Cromwell Revolutionary Warship Site
Model train exhibit at CT River Museum
Calamari Recycling
Brockway Island
1,000 Places to See Before You Die: Essex!
First Baptist Church
Three Cool Historic Houses:
- The David Williams House
The Smith-Dickinson House
Pratt Village Smithy
Burning of the Ships Commemoration, a.k.a. Loser’s Day Parade
Winter Wildlife & Bald Eagle Cruise
Completion Celebration Meal & Essex Wrap-Up
Sunday Hunt Brunch, The Griswold Inn

Essex… You’re on notice!



Hello Steve…I work in Essex. More for ya!
Gallery in the heart of Centerbrook is Spectrum Gallery
More great eats: The Essex (CTBK) Blue Hound Cookery and Taproom (IVTN) Black Seal (SX) Scotch Plains Tavern (SX