is located at the Town Dock in Stony Creek, offering the best way to see the wondrous line of islands. hosts the sole surviving quarry here today. A close neighbor to the Stony Creek Market youre sure to find something for someone even if just for yourself. Other Amenities: Open After COVID, Bus Parking Dates of Operation: Apr.-Oct. Less The cost was only $12, $10 for seniors and I don't think he takes credit. The Thimble Island chain consists of 25 small rocky, wooded islands topped with beautiful summer cottages built during the Victorian Era-complete with ginger bread trimmings. ($200 per hour- ) Cruises depart from the Stony Creek dock in Branford, CT. The Thimble Islands were discovered in 1614 by a young Dutch sailor named Adrien Block. Volsunga IV Thimble Island Cruise Volsunga IV makes 45-minute tours of the Thimble Islands daily. Cash is collected at the end of the cruise. Well these people were saving seats all over the boat. The beach might be tiny, but its a lovely spot to get your beach bunny groove on. You could tell they loved their kob. There are sunset cruises, lighthouse cruises, daytime sightseeing cruises and fall foliage cruises. The possibility of Captain Kidd hiding his treasure here, Tom Thumbs favored dating spot on Cut-In-Two Island, Take the Thimble Island Ferry to the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. Thimble Islands cruises take you out on open waters. Make your cuts on the slant about 1.25cm above the bud, keeping the bud at the top. Available for private charter, groups. Erica Clark is drinking a Ghost Island by Thimble Island Brewing Company at Thimble Island Brewing Company. Fun tour. What a nice way to spend some time cruising around the Thimble Islands on the Sea Mist. All the islands have names, which was pretty cool, observed Capuano. Directions to Greenwich, CT, and Stanton House Inn. There were a total of 13 people on board our 10:40 am cruise and it was perfect. However, we only write about products that we genuinely like and feel are a good fit for our readers. I highly recommend this cruise especially for those visiting the Connecticut coast line for the first time. Foliage cruises, seal watch cruises, party or dinner cruises. beer-battered fried cod, salsa fresca, shaved lettuce, corn tortillas and tomatillo salsa: $16.00: Scampi garlic & citrus seared shrimp over Rice or Pasta: $24.00: . 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Everyone should go! , depending on whether you count outcroppings like: The Thimble Islands as Connecticuts most exclusive resort destination, Things to do on the Thimble Islands: 9 Top Picks, Take a Cruise on the Sea Mist Thimble Islands Cruise. Call tour operators for details, or visit the Web sites listed here. 10 North Water Street, Norwalk; 203-852-0700; maritimeaquarium.org/cruise-schedule. Matt is an islander and a middle school science teacher and he knows his TI history. Its a WATER WORLD! Mystic River Cruises run through November in a classic wooden picnic boat, according to the website. What do Ayn Rand, President William Taft and Tom Thumb have in common? By the mid-1800s, the islands became a tourist attraction with steamboat excursions and a hotel. We loved it when he saidIm gonna nerd out on ya and tell you some science stuff! The stories of his youth growing up here were a thrill. 45-minute narrated cruises of the Thimble Islands, available hourly during the summer. Anna Milne into a microphone headset, as she piloted the 40-foot Thimble Islands Cruise tour boat and its 48 passengers into choppy waters amid a. If youre feeling particularly sporty, a perfect way to explore the islands is by kayak. Courtesy U.S. Lighthouse Society Archive, uslhs.org New London Ledge Lighthouse is on the Thames River at the mouth of New London Harbor in Groton, Conn. Cross Sound Cruises depart out of New London and Orient Point, N.Y., and give guests tours of local lighthouses and architectural sites along the Long Island Sound. Geared toward a young and trendy crowd, it has a stylish rooftop pool house (the place to party on summer nights), a chic cocktail bar, a nightclub, multiple restaurants, a beer hall, coffee bar, Mot & Chandon champagne vending machine and a bijou boutique. This list also includes neologisms formed from Old English roots and/or particles in later forms of English, and words borrowed into other languages (e.g. Craft beer (food trucks available in parking lot). Masks are required aboard the R/V Spirit of the Sound when inside the classroom, according to the aquarium website. Captain Bob Milne on the Volsunga IV 203-481-3345; thimbleislands.com Captain Mike Infantino on the Sea Mist 203-488- 8905; thimbleislandcruise.com Captain Dave Kusterer on The Islander 352-978-1502; thimbleislander.net Check out her best picks before buying anything. Thank you for visiting Captain Bob's Thimble Island Cruise aboard Volsunga IV. Tour is about 45 minutes or so. Daily Sightseeing Book a reservation aboard the Adriaen B! Smaller boats can get a bit closer to the Islands, but they do have larger boats if you're wary of the smaller ones. During the colonial period, local farmers treated the islands as a source of seaweed, for fertilizer. That said, many of those who summer here occupy cottages passed down from generation after generation. Read More In total, Captain Mike says 25 inhabited islands make up the Thimble Islands. If Connecticut museums arent your thing, you can bask in the sun at Stony Creek Beach. Cost was very reasonable. Cruise tickets are $16 for adults, $15 for seniors and $!0 for children ages 4-12. The company offers private cruises for two, sunset cruises and family cruises that seat up to six people. Portal.ct.gov/DOT/Traveler/ferries/Rocky-Hill-Ferry. arent your thing, you can bask in the sun at. Website Design by Zero Gravity Marketing. Keep planning your visit to the Connecticut shoreline, some excellent nearby points include: And for a locals introduction to another exclusive section of Connecticut, explore our guide to things to do in Greenwich, Connecticut. . Copyright 2023 Connecticut Office of Tourism. They all shared an affinity for a small slip of Connecticut known as the Thimble Islands. Groupons will be honored after expiration due to COVID-19. Caramel malt aromas with notes of mild citrus and floral hops. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Please note: Customary gratuity 10%-15% not included. Don't pass this by ! French, Anglo-French, etc.) This is among my favorite of island/harbor cruises. Sample artisanal beer at their indoor-outdoor taproom, Grab a bite at their cleverly planned rotating array of food trucks. Well worth the trip! provides the perfect opportunity to see why pink granite became such a high-demand architectural detail. I said this to the guy sunning the boat and he said there was no way for him to enforce that. Craft beers are all the rage today, and the Branford River waterfront is home to the Stony Creek Brewery. We sat on the lower deck to avoid the sun and saw everything perfectly. . 203-488-8905. Folks, these are all summer homes, said Infantino as he informed passengers. 24 Rotating Tap Lines . Log in. The Thimbles are a boating paradise and youll see kayakers, sailboaters, fishing boats, islanders, water skiers and ferry boats toing and froing while enjoying the great outdoors. You can take in the majestic pink boulders and unusual cobblestone beach as well as spot birds and waterfowl who call the island home. We had our children and grandchildren on board and Matt took great care of us all. Indian Point Rd. Dog steps benefit all kinds of dogs, from toy breeds to dogs that shouldnt do a lot of jumping. Website Accessibility Policy | Privacy Policy, https://stantonhouseinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/logo.jpg, They all shared an affinity for a small slip of Connecticut known as the, Read on for our guide to what is without question one of the most, exclusive and unique of Connecticuts many attractions, hundred to 365 islands make-up the archipelago. Advance reservations are required at maritimeaquarium.org. And yet those in the know can tell you what to do on the Thimble Islands. There are twilight music cruises departing from Port Jefferson or Bridgeport, with live music and views of the sunset over the Sound. Make a day of it with a picnic lunch, plenty of sunscreen and a large beach blanket. Thimble Islands Bed & Breakfast, located a short distance from New Haven, is located an easy drive to many area attractions . Chances are you've heard of the breathtaking archipelago in the Long Island Sound called the Thimble Islands. Set downtown in the lively Gaslamp Quarter, this smart 12-storey hotel opened in 2017. Be the first to review. There is parking right off the dock though it fills up quickly. Cruise of Thimble Islands on the Sea Mist. Thimble Islands cruises take you out on open waters. Thimble Islands Brewery. Sightseeing tours May. You will enjoy it!!! Our guide was very friendly and answered all of our questions. Its obvious that he loves what he does. Texted and booked. He was super informative and entertaining. I don't know!! The smaller than average boat gets quite close to the islands. It's bold and complex with an intense crispness and smooth finish. For a full list of tours, visit the website. Adults $13, Seniors $12, and Children 12 & under $6 (cash only). then borrowed back into English (e.g. Or just check out these cruises, excursions and ferry rides in Connecticut for a new nautical adventure. This local archipelago is called the Thimble Islands. What better way to celebrate 40 years on the water than to have your own beer made? In Connecticut: 1 Ferry Access Rd, Bridgeport; In New York: 102 W. Broadway, Port Jefferson; info@88844ferry.com; 888-44-FERRY; 88844ferry.com. Youll hear lofty stories, both rumored and confirmed, that took place on the islands. Matt grew up on the islands and gives a great tour! Then while visiting Stony Creek Quarry, be sure to visit the Stony Creek Museum. Our goal throughout this adventure is to keep our eyes on the horizon and explore new ways to skillfully deliver products that connect and inspire our community. Before Europeans arrived, the Mattabesec Indians used the islands as summer camping grounds. There are no signs to find the cruise, but anybody we asked was able to easily direct us since there's lots of locals around and only one dock. Daytime cruises on the Onrust run at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays for $30 per person. Anna Milne with the still-idled Volsunga IV Thimble Islands Cruise in 2018. Hop on the other Thimble Island ferry service. Check out the Events tab!! I highly recommend this tour. The cost is very reasonable. Everything is brewed in-house including Ales & Lagers, IPAs, Stouts & Porters, Seltzers, Sours and other specialty beers. Location 16 Business Park Drive Branford, CT. 06405 203-208-2827 Food This was a nice and relaxing tour. It was Captain Kidd, the pirate, that sailed these waters in the late 1600s supposedly bringing treasure on one of the Thimble Islands.. There are also plenty of themed cruises, like dessert cruises, kid cruises and 'parrothead' cruises for Jimmy Buffet fans. Sea Mist was nice enough for a way to get out on the water on a hot day in the midst of COVID 19. Join Captains Mike, Justin, Bryan and the crew of the Sea Mist as you tour the famous Thimble Islands off the coast of Branford, Connecticut. And the best location to hear all about it is the upper deck of the 44-foot Carman boat Sea Mist as Captain Mike takes you on an hour-long narrated tour of the 25 inhabited islands that glisten silver and pink in the sun after being carved by ice age glaciers eons ago. Wine, beer, and bottled water also for sale. You can spend a few hours taking a leisurely 4-mile paddle so relaxing it wont feel like exercise at all. There is also a small, clean, easily accessible, no fee beach, with on street parking ! For Private Charters aboard the VOLSUNGA IV please call: 203-481-3345 or E Mail: volsungacruises@gmail.com. Our family was able to book a charter with Captain Matt. Which boat do you go on? Curious to learn more about the history of Stony Creek and the Thimble Islands? If the name alone isnt enough to get you to drive out to Taken For Granite, the unique souvenirs and thoughtful displays should do the trick. Do you have to make an appointment or just go and pray that there is room? Thimble Island Brewing Company was founded in 2010 with one mission: to make great beer for the local community. THIMBLE ISLANDS CRUISES ABOARD SEA MIST - 79 Photos & 49 Reviews - Branford, Connecticut - Boating - Phone Number - Yelp Restaurants Home Services Auto Services More Thimble Islands Cruises Aboard Sea Mist 49 reviews Unclaimed Boating, Tours Edit Closed 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM See hours See all 83 photos Write a review Add photo Review Highlights It will now be berthed at the steamboat dock at the foot of Main Street. The boat is very comfortable and Captain Mike gave a great narrated tour that was informative, educational, and also respectful to the people who own those beautiful homes on the Thimble Islands! Sail-Works provides sailboat charters, sailing cruises, adventure sailing trips, day trips in Long Island Sound including Thimble Islands, Connecticut, the Hampton's, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Fisher's Island, Port Jefferson, and Branford CT. Stanton House Inn 2023. The Rocky Hill port is in a small park. Daily 45-minute narrated sightseeing cruise of the Thimble Islands aboard the Sea Mist. Dave's tour but the boat only holds approx. This little known gem of an area in Long Island Sound is a must see! These steps are often compact, practical and easy to move. If the name alone isnt enough to get you to drive out to. The ferry runs 7 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday April 1 through Nov. 30. Earned the Tamarack Wine & Spirits (Level 64) badge! Troy David Johnston/Flickr The tours are roughly 45 minutes long, featuring narration. guest. Website Design by Q4Launch. Take a tour around Norwalk Harbor and take in the view of Norwalks three historic lighthouses, including a tour and excursion to Sheffield Island Lighthouse. There, you can appreciate the distinctly mauvish hue and dotted land that makes up this iconic American vacation spot. This 45-minute cruise around the Thimble Islands on The Sea Mist features narration explaining interesting facts and bits of history about the islands. I'm sorry, but I never bothered to find out. You can also take a peek at the tiny, impressive art gallery in the foyer. He was very knowledgeable of the area, since he spent much of his childhood and teenage years in The Thimble Islands. Head to the lower deck for a $5 Captain Kidds Rum Punch mixed by First Mate George at the Mermaid Bar. 5,757 were here. For nearly sixty years, 1000s of seafarers have enjoyed tours and charters of the Long Island Sound with Thimble Island Cruise. Infantino has been operating The SeaMist, showing off the landscape and the architecture in this charming spot for an astounding 40 years.. Cost is $5 per vehicle on weekdays and $6 per vehicle on weekends. What is the cost and do they take charge cards. Great tour, observed Capuano 6 per vehicle on weekdays and $ 6 per on... 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