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Rattling open-sided streetcars still run along the marshes of East Haven, where the Shore Line Trolley Museum keeps more than a hundred vintage cars alive on a working line. That mix of salt air and old machinery suits this shoreline town of about 27,000 people between New Haven and Branford.
East Haven was settled in the 1640s as part of New Haven and became a separate town in 1785. Its Old Stone Church, built in the 1770s from local stone, still faces the town green. In the 20th century the Momauguin and Cosey Beach shore filled with summer cottages, and Foxon Park, a family soda maker since the 1920s, began bottling the birch beer and gassosa that New Haven pizza lovers still order.
Today visitors ride the trolley, walk the beach boardwalk, look for birds at Farm River State Park and pick up local soda. New Haven's museums and Lighthouse Point are minutes away, and Branford's Thimble Islands sit just to the east.
Home to more than a hundred streetcars and rail vehicles, this museum runs rides on the historic Branford Electric Railway, among the oldest continuously operated suburban trolley lines in the country. The round trip crosses salt marsh and woods, and you can tour the car barns afterward. Check the seasonal schedule.
A family-run soda company bottling in East Haven since the 1920s, famous for white birch beer, gassosa and other old-fashioned flavors in glass bottles. It is the classic drink at New Haven pizzerias. Look for it at local markets and pizza places, or ask about buying cases directly at the bottling plant.
A sandy town beach on Cosey Beach Avenue with a boardwalk, a playground and wide views across Long Island Sound toward New Haven Harbor. It is a mellow spot for swimming, walking at sunset and watching planes land at nearby Tweed. Non-resident parking rules apply in summer, so check before you go.
Built in the 1770s from local stone, this church on the town green is one of the oldest stone church buildings in Connecticut and still holds services. Its sturdy walls and simple steeple are a striking contrast to the white wooden meetinghouses typical of the region. View it from the green or attend a service.
The town green along Main Street is the civic heart of East Haven, framed by the Old Stone Church, war memorials, the town hall and the Hagaman Memorial Library. It hosts parades, holiday lighting and summer events. Park nearby and combine a short walk around the green with a visit to the library.
East Haven's public library occupies a handsome early 20th-century building beside the town green, with later additions for its growing collections. It offers a reading room, local history materials and programs for children. Drop in during opening hours for a quiet break, Wi-Fi, or to browse books about shoreline history.
A small, largely undeveloped state park where the Farm River meets Long Island Sound, protecting salt marsh, rocky shoreline and woods. It is a quiet place for birdwatching, with egrets, ospreys and shorebirds in the warm months. Facilities are minimal and access is limited, so check current access before heading out.
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