Top 15 Must-Do Activities in North Branford, CT

This agricultural town is located not far east of New Haven and just inland from Long Island Sound, making various exciting locations easily accessible.

During the summer, rural New Haven County offers numerous culinary adventures, including craft breweries, vineyards, and family-operated pick-your-own orchards featuring creameries and extensive farm stands.

At this time of year, visitors can engage with North Branford’s heritage at museums maintained by the Totoket Historical Society, which oversees an 18th-century house, a farm museum, a schoolhouse, and an early gas station.

Along the coast lies Stony Creek, the launching point for the Thimble Islands, a captivating and enigmatic archipelago of granite islets.

1. Reynolds-Beers House

Situated at 1740 Foxon Road, the main museum office of the Totoket Historical Society is housed in a charming gambrel-roofed structure with three dormers.

This building is the Reynolds-Beers House, constructed by Hezekiah Reynolds in 1786, with two extensions added to the back and east sides in the 19th century.

Noteworthy for its size, the property retains a significant amount of original interior detail that has withstood the test of time.

This is particularly true for the extensive decorative paneling present in the house.

The house is accessible on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons throughout the year.

2. Gordon S. Miller Farm Museum

Timing your visit effectively could reveal a wealth of artifacts at this museum located on the same site.

Opened in 2002, the Gordon S. Miller Farm Museum is filled with authentic antique farming tools, including two-man saws, tinware, hatchets, augers, coal shovels, hay knives, threshing flails, saddles, and more.

The museum also serves as a repository for various artifacts discovered around North Branford, including numerous Native American arrowheads.

Also remarkable is the preserved 38-star flag from 1876. The building itself was built in the traditional post and beam style and opens one Saturday each month during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

3. Little White Gas Station

Located behind the farm museum on the same property stands North Branford’s first gas station.

Once known as the Angelo Forte gas station, this quaint hexagonal structure dates back to the 1920s and was initially situated on the Regional Water Company property near the High School on Route 80.

The building was relocated to its current location in 2007, and its interior is decorated with vintage gas station signage and license plates that reflect the era.

Visitors can explore the interior during the operational hours of the Miller Barn.

As of the writing of this article, the historical society was in pursuit of a vintage gas pump to place outside for completion of the display.

4. Little Red Schoolhouse

Beginning in the summer of 2019, the Totoket Historical Society has made yet another historic site accessible to the public.

The Little Red Schoolhouse has a rich and diverse history.

Originally completed as a one-room schoolhouse in 1805, it became obsolete by 1904. Following 25 years of neglect, the building was restored by the League of Women Voters, which relocated it to its current site.

For over two decades until 1956, this building served as the Town Library and has since become a museum frequented by educational groups.

What differentiates the Little Red Schoolhouse from other single-room schools is its age, with wall-attached desks and benches occupying three sides of the classroom.

Visitors can explore the premises on the first Sunday of each month during the spring, summer, and fall.

5. Northford Center Historic District

Your exploration of North Branford’s early years continues along Middletown Avenue, stretching from the village center in the south to the intersection with the Old Post Road in the north.

This historic district includes 85 contributing buildings, almost all of which originated prior to the Civil War.

While the majority are residences, the district also features a library, the Little Red Schoolhouse, two churches, and the Northford town green itself.

The oldest structure in this area is the Benjamin Howd I House (1705), a saltbox located at 1795 Middletown Avenue.

As you traverse through history, it is fascinating to observe how the district reflects Northford’s 19th-century industrial growth, during which it was regarded as the “Christmas card center of the world.” The wealth generated during this period is reflected in the impressive Greek Revival and Italianate homes, alongside the Northford Congregational Church (1846), constructed from sandstone.

This splendid Gothic Revival structure was designed by Henry Austin (1804-1891), who was also responsible for several buildings at Yale University.

6. Dudley Farm Museum

This 10-acre property located nearby in Guilford was held by the Dudley family for nearly 300 years, remaining with them until David Dudley’s passing in 1991. The present farmhouse dates back to 1845 and is preserved by a foundation as a museum dedicated to the region’s agricultural history.

Visitors can tour the farmhouse, viewing period furniture and decor while learning about the residents’ lives.

The barns and outbuildings house antique farming equipment, and children will enjoy the variety of farm animals representative of the mid-19th century.

The grounds also include period herb and flower gardens, meadows, forests, and arable farmland.

7. Rose Orchards

In the North Branford countryside, Rose Orchards represents a diverse rural enterprise.

During warm summer afternoons, visitors will be enticed by its frozen custard, along with a wide array of sundaes and milkshakes, often incorporating fresh fruits grown on the farm.

The pick-your-own fruit season at Rose Orchards runs from late June to late October, beginning with strawberries and concluding with pumpkins, including blueberries, peaches, raspberries, and various apple varieties in between.

All produce is available for purchase at the farm stand, alongside cheeses, Connecticut maple syrup, pickles, preserves, fresh dairy products, and pies in 14 different flavors.

For those with an appetite, Buck’s Grill offers a menu featuring burgers, wraps, sandwiches, hot dogs, salads, and a delightful breakfast selection.

8. Northford Ice Pavilion

For exercise or a family outing, public skating sessions at Northford Ice Pavilion provide an affordable, enjoyable option.

As of 2019, admission rates are $8 per skater, with skate rental available for $4.

It is advisable to check the website for the complete public skate schedule, as the Ice Pavilion serves as the home ice for numerous local high school teams.

Local residents may find opportunities to join adult and youth teams, while the rink also offers a Learn to Skate program catering to participants from toddlers to adults.

Classes operate in eight-week sessions, held on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays, comprising 25 minutes of instruction followed by 30 minutes of practice time.

9. Thimble Island Brewing Company

A pioneer of Connecticut’s burgeoning craft brewing movement, Thimble Island has operated for nearly a decade and produces over 10,000 barrels annually.

Until recently, it was the sole brewery on the Connecticut shoreline, with both can designs and taproom reflecting a maritime theme.

The standout offering is the popular American Ale, an amber ale with a carefully calibrated blend of hops and malt.

The taproom operates seven days a week and features 24 rotating draft lines, offering a variety of brews such as Vanilla Coffee Stout, Oktoberfest German lager, and an extensive range of IPAs and sours.

Guided tours of the brewery are available on weekends, complemented by a New England-style seafood menu on Fridays and Saturdays, along with a rotating food truck on Sundays.

10. Stony Creek Brewery

In terms of location, Stony Creek Brewery on the Branford River is unparalleled.

The spacious taproom boasts a deck, terrace, and yard with views of the water, and even includes visibility into the brewery’s canning and bottling lines.

The brewery has a dock along the river for those arriving by boat.

In terms of brews, Stony Creek offers a comprehensive selection of hoppy IPAs known as “The Crankies,” alongside lagers, creative stouts, porters, sours, and a variety of innovative seasonal beers.

Brewery tours are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, with a continuous rotation of food trucks and live music occurring every few days.

11. Bishop’s Orchards

Another diverse rural destination, Bishop’s Orchards operates at two locations, in Northford and Guilford, offering pick-your-own fruit options, a creamery, a winery, and a farm market.

From early summer to late fall, visitors can pick strawberries, blueberries, peaches, raspberries, pears, apples, and pumpkins.

A convenient calendar on the farm’s website indicates what is ripe and available for picking.

Bishop’s Orchards’ winery, established in 2005, produces Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Pinot, Gris, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, with offerings ranging from dry to sweet, in addition to fruit wines and hard ciders.

Visitors are encouraged to join tours and tastings on weekends.

Finally, the expansive farm market is a food lover’s paradise, filled with fresh produce, artisanal cheeses, organic items, home-baked goods, and delicious “grab and go” meals.

12. Rosabianca Vineyards

A family-owned and operated establishment, Rosabianca Vineyards features a tasting room situated in a charming restored barn, offering a selection of Italian red and white wines ranging from sweet to dry.

This estate was envisioned by family patriarch Andrea Rosabianca, who arrived in America from Amalfi over 60 years ago.

Visitors can stay informed through the vineyard’s website, which announces live comedy, music events, and even vinyasa yoga classes.

Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks to complement the wine, and a pizza truck is available on Friday nights.

13. Thimble Islands

Located in Stony Creek Harbor, just a few miles south, is an archipelago composed of over 100 rocky islands.

It is fascinating to realize that these landforms are remnants of granite hills that were submerged during the last Ice Age.

Unlike many of the islands in Long Island Sound, the Thimble Islands possess a sturdy granite bedrock and were inhabited as early as the 17th century.

The sheltered waters became a significant deepwater anchorage, with legend claiming that pirate Captain William Kidd buried his treasure here.

The archipelago is home to 81 houses: fourteen of the islands host a single residence, while the most populated is Money Island, with 32 houses. Three boat companies at the Stony Creek Dock are available to take visitors on narrated sightseeing cruises filled with intriguing stories.

14. Stony Creek

The charming harbor village from which excursions to the Thimble Islands commence warrants additional time for exploration.

Stony Creek is adorned with beautiful 19th-century waterfront residences, some of which were established as hotels when the village served as a retreat for industrialists.

The village’s historical pink granite quarry, which supplied material for iconic landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Grand Central Station, and the base of the Statue of Liberty, continues to operate today.

Visitors can delve deeper into these historical narratives at the Stony Creek Museum, free of charge, which opens on Fridays and weekends.

Additionally, Stony Creek Beach might be considered the most charming beach in the state, with impressive beachfront homes providing an exquisite backdrop.

15. Lake Saltonstall Recreation Area

North Branford is situated near the southernmost point of the Metacomet Ridge, a 200-million-year-old basalt fault that forms a rugged expanse spanning 100 miles through Connecticut and Massachusetts up to the Vermont border.

One segment of this ridge lies southwest of North Branford at Lake Saltonstall, which is nestled within Saltonstall Mountain.

The Lake Saltonstall Recreation Area, owned by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, grants access to permit-holders.

If you intend to remain in the vicinity for an extended period, permits are reasonably priced, costing $50 for a family for two years.

Lake Saltonstall is a premier fishing location, abundant with carp, yellow perch, trout, smallmouth bass, and largemouth bass.

For those who enjoy hiking, a trail meanders along the ridge through dense forest, providing spectacular views of the water and over the Foxon area to the west.