Take a Drive Along the Connecticut shores
   
Welcome to Old Saybrook, Connecticut, where the Connecticut River Meets the Sound.  One of the oldest towns in the state, incorporated on July 8, 1854, with a long history dating back to 1635 when it began as an independent colony known as the Saybrook Plantation.  The colony was started when a company of English Puritans headed by Viscount Saye and Sele and Lord Brook, and led by one John Wintrhop, Jr. erected a fort to guard the river entrance.  This was the site of the Pequot Conflict (war) in 1636.  Yale University was founded in Old Saybrook as the Collegiate School for the education of ministers in 1700.  The Saybrook College of Yale University Seal is used as the Town logo on its letterhead and town-owned vehicles.
   
Old Saybrook offers beautiful shores, vistas, marinas and an eclectic collection of shops and restaurants on Main Street and nearby. Old Saybrook, located at the mouth of the Connecticut River, was the home of Algonquin Nehantic Indians for years before Europeans arrived. They were peace loving Indians who farmed in the area and had a village at Saybrook Point. Around 1590 the peaceful Nehantic and other gentle Algonquin tribes living in the Connecticut River Valley were conquered by the Pequots, a warlike tribe from the north.

The first European to sail up the Connecticut River was Adrian Block who, in 1614, was sent by the Dutch West India Company in New Amsterdam on an expedition to explore, map and claim the eastern coast of “New Netherlands” for the Dutch. In 1623, fearing English competition, the Dutch deposited a small group of Dutch men and women at Saybrook Point to establish a permanent colony. After a few miserable months, the settlers gave up and returned to New Amsterdam.

Old Saybrook is also nearby to many attractions such as the casinos, theater, Mystic Seaport & Aquarium, Old Sturbridge Village, just to name a few. 

Mystic Seaport
On the shoreline in southeastern CT and in the Mystic Area, there is always something to do anytime of year! Whether you're enjoying the multitude of summer activities on land or at sea ~ the vibrant fall foliage and scenic country roads ~ the area's eagle watches during the winter ~ walks on the beach and boardwalk as spring comes alive…or anytime of year, enjoy world class entertainment as well as excitement at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casinos ~ our location, on the water, near Mystic is the ideal vacation spot for your New England getaway! For more information visit: www.mysticseaport.org

Welcome to Old Sturbridge Village
At Old Sturbridge Village you will come face-to-face with the past and the events that shaped life from the late 1700s to early 1800s. The Village will catapult you into a country town, where everyday life was a series of struggles and triumphs. Be a part of history as you journey into rural New England and come away with a profound sense of the past each and every time you visit. Take the whole family for an outdoor experience that is sure to excite and astound them all.

Take Time to Visit Historic Museum’s
Mystic Seaport Mystic. 860-572-5315: The Museum of America and the Sea - the nation's leading maritime museum.

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration Mystic. 860-572-5955: World-class aquarium. Daily marine mammal demonstrations, gift shop, new waterfront cafe and home to Dr. Robert Ballard and his team of scientists and explorers with the Institute for Exploration. Swim with the Whales!

Florence Griswold Museum Old Lyme. 860-434-5542: Home of the Lyme Art Colony and America's best known center of American Impressionism.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum Mashantucket. 800-411-9671: Life-size dioramas, changing exhibits and live performances of contemporary arts and cultures create the largest tribal museum and learning center in the world. High-tech museum!

Historic Ship Nautilus & Submarine Force Museum Groton. 800-343-0079