Where: Essex, Connecticut
When: February 13-14, 2015
With: Dave
Next stop on our Connecticut road trip from the city of Hartford was the tiny town of Essex. And this was by far my favorite stop of the trip.
Despite the modern traffic signals and cars on the road, Essex felt like stepping back 200 years in time. The buildings all look like they came from the Revolutionary War era (some did) and the locals are happy to keep it that way.
Let's start with our hotel for the evening: the Griswold Inn. It was built in the late 1700s and supposedly housed soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The floors were uneven, the beds had four posters and it was insanely cool.
On the first floor of the "Gris" was a taproom that used to serve as the town's school room. A wood stove pipe continues to sit in the middle of the room. On weekends, a banjo band comes in and plays to a very enthusiastic crowd of locals. We spent the whole night listening to music in there.
The next morning, we got to see Essex by daylight and saw that the mood and feel of the Gris bled through the whole town. It only took a short while to explore everything, but it was adorable. White picket fences, old buildings, a perfect time capsule.
We went down to the Connecticut River on which this town sits, which is how it gained its wealth as a port. This also caused some problems as it allowed easy access to the town for the British during the War of 1812. This is one of the few towns that was truly attacked by the British, who used the Griswold Inn as their base during this time.
When: February 13-14, 2015
With: Dave
Next stop on our Connecticut road trip from the city of Hartford was the tiny town of Essex. And this was by far my favorite stop of the trip.
Despite the modern traffic signals and cars on the road, Essex felt like stepping back 200 years in time. The buildings all look like they came from the Revolutionary War era (some did) and the locals are happy to keep it that way.
Let's start with our hotel for the evening: the Griswold Inn. It was built in the late 1700s and supposedly housed soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The floors were uneven, the beds had four posters and it was insanely cool.
On the first floor of the "Gris" was a taproom that used to serve as the town's school room. A wood stove pipe continues to sit in the middle of the room. On weekends, a banjo band comes in and plays to a very enthusiastic crowd of locals. We spent the whole night listening to music in there.
The Gris, by day.
The next morning, we got to see Essex by daylight and saw that the mood and feel of the Gris bled through the whole town. It only took a short while to explore everything, but it was adorable. White picket fences, old buildings, a perfect time capsule.
We went down to the Connecticut River on which this town sits, which is how it gained its wealth as a port. This also caused some problems as it allowed easy access to the town for the British during the War of 1812. This is one of the few towns that was truly attacked by the British, who used the Griswold Inn as their base during this time.
The Connecticut River Museum is the town's main attraction and appropriately sits on the river's bank. It provides some interesting history of this town and the wars that affected it.
Here is Dave, inside a model of The Turtle, America's first submarine used during the Revolutionary War. The inventor, David Bushnell, attempted to use it to attach explosives to British ships in the New York Harbor in 1776. Though his attempts failed, we appreciate the innovation.
There was also an intense toy train setup in the museum. I'm not a big toy train person, but this was pretty cool. Every holiday season, a new display is created.
So Dave loves America. And that means he loves eagles. And that's why the next activity of the day was such a good one for Dave.
Apparently, this part of the Connecticut River is home to a large number of eagles. And as such, you can take a boat tour to watch them fly, see their nests, and learn more about them.
It was a beautiful day to be on the water, but a cold one. Especially when Dave's suitcase was still packed for Dallas, Texas. But whatever it takes to see a slice of America.
Pretty quickly into the cruise we began spotting them flying overhead.
This was a younger eagle in the trees. The plumage hasn't given him his bald head yet, hence the brown feathers.
Here 's an eagle's next, way up in the trees.
And my favorite photo of the trip. Such a fantastic time in Essex. I can't believe this place is just a short drive away in Connecticut. America, f--- yeah.
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