The Bike and Boat Tour
"I really enjoyed our fall ride along the Guilford/Branford shoreline. Although it is not very far from where I live, I felt like I was on vacation for a few hours! The scenery is spectacular and there were lots of opportunities to stop and enjoy it. It was great to have someone else lead the way so I could just enjoy the ride. Hope we can get out and do it again!"
Rhonda, North Haven, CT
Our popular “Connecticut Shoreline Bike/Boat Tour” starts on the historic Guilford Green in Guilford, CT, about 25 minutes east of New Haven. We’ll take you from the historic Guilford Green out to Sachem’s Head, once a vacation stop for 19th Century New Yorkers. From there, we’ll meander to the village of Stony Creek, a former world famous quarrying center whose pink granite blocks were used as the base for our Statue of Liberty in New York harbor.
The bicycle ride to and from Stony Creek is approximately three hours, covering about 20 miles and will take us past sea estuaries and tidal marshes, where the occasional egret and osprey can be seen. Also common are the local residents crabbing for the popular blue crabs found in our tidal flows.
Following the 50 minute boat ride, we can deliver your car to you in Stony Creek or you can bike with us the remaining 6 miles back to Guilford. We'll stop at the Henry Whitfield House, the oldest existing home in Connecticut and the oldest stone home in all of New England, dating back to 1639. Tours are available through the museum at a nominal fee.
The Henry Whitfield House was also used as a fort, as the town had no stockade.
Galleries, shops and restaurnts off the Green in Guilford, CT. A great spot for your apres-ride lunch or pre-ride breakfast.
In Stony Creek you’ll board the Volsunga IV for a scenic one hour narrated cruise of the charming Thimble Islands. “The Thimbles” were first discovered by Adrian Block in 1614. These islands were used for everything from farming, quarrying its pink granite to bootlegging and were once the hiding place of the infamous pirate Captain Kidd in 1665.
The view from Stony Creek to "The Thimbles"
After the Whitfield House, it’s a short ride back to the town green with plenty of time for you to stroll its pretty galleries and shops or have a picnic lunch on the Green. We’ll recommend a couple of great sandwich shops and restaurants just off the Green or down by the scenic Guilford Harbor
