Around Town – What’s There To See In Middletown
Dating back to 1650, resting on the west bank of the Connecticut river rests the mid-sized college town of Middletown with a shipping and manufacturing past.
Middletown’s life is concentrated on the tree-lined main street, restaurants, bars, coffee shops and the downtown is endowed with architecture from the 19th century, Wesleyan University and art museum in a mansion from the 1830s. Not to forget the epicurean delight of a craft brewery and winery across the river and forests and mountains.
While Kitchen Infinity remodels your Middletown kitchen, take a look at the best things to locally:
Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park – On the east bank of the Connecticut River, a day loaded with adrenaline boosting activities is on the menu when it comes to The Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park. It has 11 ziplines, a crazy obstacle water park, extreme rope swing, cliff jumping and a climbing wall as well.
Paddleboards and kayaks are also available on rent. Naturally all this activity is going to get you hungry. Restaurants and bars have set up their open air kitchens and have mouth watering food, snacks and pizza on brick ovens all around the park.
Kidcity Children’s Museum – We know that Haddam and Old Saybrook are not short of historic places. But so isn’t Middletown! Kidcity children’s museum is a paradise for kids aged 1-7. Three floors experiential learning moved from the historic camp-stern house (1835) to this spot in 1997.
All the exhibits here are hand-built by the in house museum team and not to be found anywhere. To give you an idea of what’s there, at the Fishery, children can manipulate the pulleys and conveyors, A kid sized miniature village, Toddler Sea caves and Space Museums with dancing mermaids are the highlight of this place. Ladies looking for some alone time from the kitchen and the house chores. Send the kids with your man here.
Davidson Art Center – Wesleyan University’s very own art museum was founded in 1952 at the state Alsop House, built in the late 1830s. Davidson Art Center is open from September to May and has gathered around 25000 pieces over the last 70 years. Featuring Jacques Callot, ALbrecht Durer, Otto Dix and many more. All exhibitions are accompanied by gallery lectures and talks.
Stubborn Beauty Brewing – These have been around in Middlesex County for for over a decade. Middletown’s favorite craft brewery is an unpretentious spot at the city’s industrial north on the old Remington Rand typewriter factory.
Opens for tastings, growler refills and growler from Thursday to Sunday with extended hours on Friday & Sunday. Conqueror brown ale, happy treez IPA, the Fist and My love is warmer than chocolate fudge are some of the eclectic brews available
Empower Leadership Sports and Adventure Center – In the ancient hardwood forest, south of Middletown is a riper adventure waiting to empower you. You can ride hundreds of meters of Ziplines and have treetop experiences. The famous 2 hour Zipline Canopy tour, where you’ll tackle a zipline more than half a mile long through the canopy forest.
Challenges like the tight wire traverses and cargo net are also available.
Seven Falls State Park – Set not far from the Saybrook Road, The Seven Falls State Park takes its name from a waterfall. Flanked by hefty boulders and seven cascading falls this park is photo-worthy in all its aspects. Whether you have fun playing rock to rock on set off on a bouldering adventure this place caters to everyone. Families with their kitchen basket, mum’s with their talks, children coursing the park for its short to medium hikes etc makes this an attractive traveller spot as well as a favorite of the locals.
