We must hand it to the minds behind the Homestead Inn in Madison, Connecticut for their attention to detail whether from the morning breakfast offerings to the luxurious amenities, and from the whimsical décor to the desire to make each guest feel at home. An end of year “Christmas in Connecticut” adventure began a few days before our arrival when one of the Inn’s staffers called to confirm the stay and ask about food allergies or diet restrictions and inquire about the kind of music we enjoyed. The what?
The staffer repeated, “Music, what kind do you like?” Since each room has a record player, she explained, she’d go through their album collection and leave ones that matched our preference. It’s their intention to encourage guests to “unplug” from screens and turn on a turntable. We chose holiday jazz. That was just a start to the attention we would receive.
Guest Room at The Homestead (Photo Courtesy of The Option A Group)
In general, I didn’t know much about Madison, only that it was on Long Island Sound, between New Haven to the west and Saybrook to the east. That it was less than a two-hour drive from NYC made it a perfect weekend mother-daughter getaway before the end of the year madness was upon us. We were looking for some down time combined with some easy touring, good eats, and to park ourselves in front of a roaring fireplace. We got it all, and then some.
Madison, we soon learned, has one of those storybook main streets that was seasonally decorated with holiday lights that glistened, and provided a charming, traditional atmosphere. This Norman Rockwell-ish town offered everything from diverse restaurants to quirky gift shops, plus a two-story indie bookstore to wander through. The 5-minute drive from The Homestead made it our first stop on our weekend plans, and also hearing that the beach was no more than ten minutes away, we added a walk along the Hammonasset Beach State Park scenic path for the afternoon.
Top on our list of tours, however, was the town of New Haven. Not only for the museums at Yale University (we can now say, “we went to Yale,”) but to try what they claim is the best pizza. We knew this because in one of the bookstores, there was an entire section devoted to New Haven pizza souvenirs, things like hats, books, stickers and the like. And with such a bold boast, and since we are born and bred in New Yorkers raised on pizza, we couldn’t leave without trying some.
But first, Yale. While the campus was off limits due to the winter break, two museums were open and free of charge: The Peabody Museum featuring a staggeringly impressive natural history collection and ancient artifacts including what is considered the oldest book, written by a king in the time before Christ. And the Yale Art Gallery, which includes all sorts of works by masters in the arts like Van Gogh, to a coffee pot made by Paul Revere before the Revolutionary War. The buildings themselves, both inside and out, are architecturally dazzling.
Souvenir Station at New Haven Bookstore (Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff)
After our museum tours, it was time to investigate this pizza claim. Turns out their version, of “apizza” — as it’s locally called — is thin, baked in coal ovens, and has a smoky flavor. Back at The Homestead, we were given a few choices to consider and opted for Frank Pepe’s because it has been “crafting” New Haven-style pizza for 100 years. At noon on our last day, we arrived at the place already buzzing, and ovens cranking as paddles the length of a boat oar moved the pies in and out; this was serious. In the end, we are happy to report that the pie and its thin crust were tasty. So, no pizza war here – there’s plenty of room for all kinds.
Breakfast Options at The Homestead (Photo by MJ Hanley-Goff)
When not out touring, it was homey to R&R at The Homestead. There were cozy indoor activities to choose from like playing a round of Scrabble, browsing the shelves of books, or catching the big game on the supersized TV while munching on popcorn, freshly made and staying warm in the old-timey popcorn wagon. In the morning, the complimentary breakfast included locally sourced pastries and quiche, yogurts, oatmeal, fresh fruit. Coffee, tea and hot chocolate were available 24/7, as were the marshmallows, and a filtered water dispenser filled up our water bottles. And if we wanted one of the treats to go, our delightful concierge, Ray, would pack it up for us to take away.
The Homestead in Madison, Connecticut (Photo Courtesy of The Option A Group)
We could have used one more day to unwind and enjoy the quiet. But we have The Homestead on our radar and plan to revisit the area in summer to see the place in full bloom.
The Homestead features fifteen guest rooms, each one unique, and can serve families, or the solo traveler. Some have garden views, or outdoor seating areas, and some are pet friendly.
For more information go to the website for The Homestead, Madison, Connecticut.
Top photo by MJ Hanley-Goff
