Explore the Area

Hadlyme lies in one of the most beautiful areas of the lower Connecticut River Valley, where wooded hills meet country roads that wind through charming villages. If you're coming for Artists & Friends, leave yourself some time to explore.

The surrounding towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Chester, Essex and East Haddam offer historic villages, remarkable landscapes, miles of trails and preserved open space.

Along the River

The Connecticut River shapes much of the landscape here. From Hadlyme, the historic Chester-Hadlyme Ferry crosses the river beneath the wooded heights of Gillette Castle State Park, connecting the rural roads of Hadlyme with the village of Chester on the opposite shore.

The river and its tributaries also offer opportunities for kayaking, canoeing and boating, from the quiet waters around Hamburg Cove and the Eight Mile River to the broad lower Connecticut River and its tidal wetlands.

Take a Walk

Lyme is home to an extensive network of preserves and trails through forests, wetlands, rocky ridges and old New England farm landscapes. Nearby Nehantic State Forest and Selden Neck State Park offer still more opportunities to explore.

Just north of Hadlyme, Gillette Castle State Park rises above the Connecticut River, with trails through the surrounding woods and spectacular views of the river valley. Continue into East Haddam and Devil's Hopyard State Park offers miles of wooded hiking and its distinctive Chapman Falls.

Farther south, the landscape begins its transition from river valley to coast. Old Lyme's preserves protect hundreds of acres of forest, wetlands and trails, with the Connecticut River estuary and Long Island Sound just beyond.

Explore the Villages

A short drive in almost any direction leads somewhere worth exploring.

To the south, Old Lyme has its own extraordinary artistic legacy. The town became a center of American Impressionism around the turn of the twentieth century, a history that remains an important part of its identity today.

Cross the ferry to Chester, a compact village known for its galleries, arts and historic New England center. Continue south along the river to Essex, with its historic streets, waterfront and long connection to the Connecticut River and maritime life.

Stay a While

Artists have been responding to this landscape for generations. In October, it's particularly easy to understand why.