Guilford, CT

The New England National Scenic Trail Gateway is a National Scenic Trail overseen by the National Park Service in cooperation with the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

Bishop's Orchards is an expansive family farm and tourist attraction in Guilford, originally opened in 1871 by Walter Goodrich Bishop. At the orchards' farm market, guests can purchase a wide variety of produce and grocery items, including organic and specialty groceries, international cheeses, baked goods, and other health-conscious items. Visitors can also taste wines at the award-winning Bishop's Orchards Winery, which is part of the Eastern Connecticut Wine Trail.

Address: 1355 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-2338

The Henry Whitfield State Museum preserves the historic Henry Whitfield House, located adjacent to the town green in the city's historic downtown district. Today, the National Historic Landmark home is open to the public for self-guided and guided tours, with interactive guided tours also available on the museum's website for at-home visitors.

Address: 248 Old Whitfield St, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-2457

Guilford Art Center is a nonprofit arts center serving the greater Connecticut region, originally opened in 1967 as the Guilford Handcraft Center, which was established as an extension of Guilford's first Handcraft Expo a decade earlier. Visitors can explore the center's public gallery space, which is open free of charge seven days a week and showcases works by contemporary American artists. A gallery shop also sells works by regional and national artisans and hosts special events such as the Artistry Holiday Sale. Each summer, the center organizes the annual Craft Expo on the Guilford Green, which is considered to be one of New England's top annual arts and crafts shows.

Address: 411 Church Street, P.O. Box 589, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-5947

The Hyland House Museum is a living history home museum in Guilford that preserves the former 1713 Hyland House, named in honor of original land owner George Hyland, who settled in the area in 1657. Visitors can tour the home and its 18th-century garden, which features native Connecticut and period-appropriate non-native plants.

Address: P.O. Box 229, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-9477

Romantic Activities and Attractions:

The Guilford Keeping Society Museums include the Thomas Griswold House and the Medad Stone Tavern. This museum features a historic barn housing farm implements and tools, historic blacksmith shop, and the New England saltbox house from the late eighteenth century. The Medad Stone Tavern features the Len Hubbard Community Garden in addition to the 14-room, Dutch gambrel-style tavern that hosts the society’s September Wine Tasting and Memorial Day Picnic among other events.

Address: 171 Boston St, Guilford, CT 06437, 203-453-3176

The Dudley Farm Museum is a living history museum located on the site of Erastus Dudley's 1844 North Guilford farmstead, opened to the public in 1991 following the death of Dudley's descendant David Dudley and the acquisition of the property by the North Guilford Volunteer Fire Company. Three period-appropriate gardens are also maintained, along with the Dawnland Collection of Native American Artifacts, which showcases archaeological items related to the region's indigenous populations.

Address: 2351 Durham Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-457-0770

Guilford Historic Town Center preserves the historic downtown district in Guilford, anchored around the city's historic 1639 town green. Four square miles of historic district preserve iconic buildings such as the 1639 Henry Whitfield House, Connecticut's oldest historic house, and the 1829 Congregational Church.

Guilford Bistro and Cafe is a delightful traditional-style Italian restaurant in Guilford, opened to the public for daily dining service in 2006. At dinner, diners can choose from a variety of classic Italian pasta dishes, including penne alla vodka, rigatoni alla amatriciana, or fettuccine campagnola or enjoy land and sea specialties such as veal Milanese, Sicilian meatloaf, or tilapia palermitana. An extensive beer and wine list highlights international imports and regional craft offerings on draft.

Address: 1016 Boston Post Rd, Guilford, CT 06437, Phone: 203-453-0736