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Sign in with FacebookLatest Essex hotel reviews
Pro
Small town, patriotic, historical, RIVER, water is so close
Con
might be too calm if you are a big city person
In a nutshell
A great small town for a day trip
msbrandysue Says: I visited the Essex Steam Train because it's featured in the book 1000 Things to Do Before You Die: USA Edition. It's definitely worth doing, especially if you are travelling with kids. This authentic steam train ride really takes you back in time, and the steamboat ride is...
msbrandysue Says: There isn't a WHOLE LOT to do in Essex. So, towards the afternoon hours I decided to stroll the couple blocks of Main Street Essex. I thought there might be more shopping opportunities but didn't see many. Most of them were real estate agencies or private offices. And I was...
msbrandysue Says: While visiting the Connecticut River Museum I found they offered schooner rides on the Mary E. twice a day. Well, it was mentioned in the book 1000 Things to See Before You Die so of course I said "Let's go!" For $26 you get an hour and half "ride" on the schooner. Well, I...
msbrandysue Says: The Connecticut River Museum was mentioned in the Essex tip in 1000 Things to See Before You Die: USA Edition. So, of course, I had to visit. :) When approaching the museum you will park to the left of Main Street right in front of the River Museum. I went in the double...
peterd1331 Says: The Connecticut River Museum is a small museum located on the riverfront in Essex, CT. You can see all sorts of things from their docks, and learn about the history of the river and it's peoples inside. It includes family-friendly exibits for all ages.
2 Reviews and 131 Opinions My stay here was pleasant. There was a sale on the rooms for $109 a night during the summer for...
Burger King: Sometimes You Just Need a Cheeseburger
msbrandysue Says: Burger King is the international home of the Whopper (yuck). When I was in Historic Essex I went out on the Schooner and shopped so by the time I was finished I missed the food at the Coffee and Tea Company, they closed. The Tap Room was loud and finished serving dinner so I...
msbrandysue Says: Well, Pizza Hut is the biggest pizza chain, probably in every state if not city in the United States. Their pizza choices are vast and I order them on a somewhat regular basis because my dad likes their pizza. I went to this Pizza Hut (which is actually in the city limits of...
Essex Coffee and Tea Company: A Coffee and Snack While Strolling
msbrandysue Says: While strolling around Main Street I stopped here for a sandwich and coffee. Unfortunately, I think the place was closing so I just ordered a coffee. However, the iced coffee was just right for a warm afternoon and the little tables and chairs were quite nice to take a...
Griswold Inn Hunt Brunch: Ultimate Sunday Brunch
msbrandysue Says: The Griswold Inn presents their Sunday Hunt Brunch and I would definitely recommend this even if you aren't staying in the area. The food is superb and the setting is fantastic. Eating in a tavern that has existed since our first President was alive is an amazing experience...
Olive Oyl's: Great Fresh Sandwiches
peterd1331 Says: They have great original sandwich creations with catchy names such as "The Endevour". They also offer other things from salads to complete diners. Of course, they have all the basics too and more. They also have great coffee as well as olive oil and other gifts and sweets....
Helpfulness
I stayed at the Griswold Inn on a Monday night if I remember correctly. Attached to the Inn is the Tap Room, a bar that was used in the colonial days and is available to still have a drink in these days. Even on Monday night they had live music from about 7-8pm until around 11pm. The bar isn't a huge place so there are people that spill outside at busy times. But everyone seemed to be having a good time.
*I checked the website and they claim to have live music/entertainment on every night of the week!
Dress Code: There was no dress code here.
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Address: 36 Main Street Ave
Phone: 860.767.1776
If you are planning to visit Essex for a day trip, I suggest that you take you car and park it on or around Main St. and walk around. You can walk to the Town Green, the Connecticut River Museum and various shops and restaurants. It's lots of fun.
Written Jul 25, 2006
Toys Ahoy!: A great assortment of toys
Bunsch Says: As you might imagine from the name, this village toy store features a nautical theme, but that hardly limits the scope of the offerings inside. As a relatively new grandmother, I couldn't stop fawning over the adorable purses for little girls, each with a tiny stuffed animal...
Essex Books: Little Book Store with a BIG Heart
msbrandysue Says: Do not underestimate this little shop, it has one of the biggest hearts of any place I've been. The owner, an independent business woman and mother, runs this store as if it were her dream...and it is. It may not be a Barnes and Noble but it has this hope in it that really...
The Christmas Barn: Ornaments Anyone?
msbrandysue Says: Have you ever been in one of those shops where your eyes don't even know where to turn because there's SO much to see per every square inch? Well, this my friends, is one of them. It may sound silly to others but having a year-round Christmas store is actually quite...
I Pledge Allegiance to the ....
msbrandysue Says: Maybe it's the history. Maybe it's the local businesses. Maybe it's the location. But, Essex is American soil and PROUD of it. Almost everywhere I went there were signs of patriotism and pride for the USA. (Must be a WONDERFUL place to visit for 4th of July.) It was really...
msbrandysue Says: While wandering up and down Main Street in Essex I found myself admiring the beautiful, private homes. They are very picturesque and I couldn't resist getting a snapshot or two. Hopefully you'll allow yourself to wander as well and appreciate beauty in its different forms.
My Life, My Love and My Lady are the Sea....
msbrandysue Says: So, Essex is a small road that leads to see the Connecticut River and everyone here loves the water. They have a lovely little area/riverwalk with an open green lawn, benches and harbor. I loved walking here to people watch, journal write or enjoy a sandwich. And I...
Helpfulness
So while I was on the riverboat cruise with the Essex Steam Train trip they showed us this structure while we were on the Connecticut River. The building was very interesting from a distance. I got a shot, then contacted the Steam Train company to get the name of it.
"Mount Saint John (MSJ) is a residential treatment program that provides comprehensive and integrated treatment services to adolescent boys and young men who are not able to function in their home community due to combinations of behavioral, emotional, family and educational problems. The staff and Board of Mount Saint John are committed to providing a treatment program to meet the evolving and changing needs of the times and of the boys who come into our care." -From their website
Mount St. Johns was a school for boys after being built in the early 1900s. Rather than paraphrase I included some historical information from their website.
"Mount Saint John was founded as St. John's Industrial School in 1904 in Hartford. The Hartford property soon became too small to meet the needs of the growing residential school for boys in need of care. In 1907 the foundation stone for a new building was blessed and laid on the present site in Deep River by the Bishop of Hartford, and staff and residents moved in during the following year. A prominent local family the Duggans of Deep River - had donated the property on which the residential school was built. A son of that family— a priest, Monsignor Thomas Duggan was a longtime friend and benefactor of this institution, as the plaque in the entrance foyer attests."
Then basically it became an orphanage for boys. Soon after that it began specializing the treatment for boys both with mental struggles and behavorial. It still functions today and is a lovely sight from the Steamboat ride of the Essex Steam Train attraction.
Boys Served:
Capacity: 40 boys
Ages at Admission: 11-15.6 years
Average Age: 14 years 8 months
Average Stay: 9-12 months
Reasons Boys Come to Mount Saint John:
Learning & behavioral problems
Emotional difficulties
Family problems
Alcohol and other drug abuse & addiction
Neglect & dependency issues
Probation and parole requirements
Updated Apr 4, 2011
Phone: 860.343.1300
Helpfulness
Favorite thing: While strolling Main Street I ran across this plaque giving the historical accounts of the shipping industry that was the backbone of Essex. Seems there was a bit of a skuttle during the War of 1812. I love thinking of the history of a certain place, and Essex is sure busy with displaying those accounts.
Written Jul 1, 2010
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I came to Essex because it was one of the first entries in 1000 Things to See Before You Die, USA Edition. It's such a charming one-road town. The water and the quaint shopping, historical inn and...
Essex CT was voted the best small town in the country. It is a tiny town on the Connecticut river steeped in history. During the revoloutinary war Essex was the shipbuilding town. In fact the British...
Essex is a small town located near the mouth of the Connecticut River. It is an old railroad town.
I want to visit this area again. The town of Essex is very charming and it looks as if there is much more to do there. :-)
Essex -- a great small town for a day trip!
There are a few must do's in the small town which was rated as one of the best small town's in America. First is the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, which there is more info about in the Things to Do...
Build your own Essex page
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