City Guides: Things to do While Boating in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, located between Stamford and New London, overlooks Long Island Sound where the Quinnipiac River flows into New Haven Harbor (eventually joining Long Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean). Home to Yale University, the Connecticut city sits on the southern end of the state and offers a wide array of cultural attractions, parks and museums to go along with the waterways of the river, harbor and sound.
Today, we’re going to explore a few things to do while visiting New Haven from a hotel, marina or private boat dock rental.
Yale Peabody Museum
Photo: Wikimedia
The Yale Peabody Museum is the place to go for dinosaurs and skeletons of all shapes and forms. Founded in 1866 by George Peabody, it’s one of the world's largest and oldest university museums. Check out anthropology, botany, entomology, paleontology, minerals, mammals, birds, science and technology exhibits. You’ll find everything from ancient pottery, sculptures and meteorites to skeletons, plant fossils and the world’s oldest cookbook (thanks, Babylonians).
Lighthouse Point Park
Photo: Wikimedia
Lighthouse Point Park is popular with birdwatchers, swimmers and outdoor enthusiasts. Situated on 82 acres on Long Island Sound, there’s a splash-pad area for the kids, nature trails, a bird sanctuary, picnic areas and an antique 1920s carousel. Amenities include restrooms, a bathhouse and a boat launch, which is an excellent feature for those trailering a boat from a private boat slip for rent.
While no longer in use, the 1847 New Haven Harbor Lighthouse (sometimes called Five Mile Point Lighthouse and known as Morris Point in the Colonial era) is a fun photo op within the park. It’s located at the eastern end of New Haven Harbor. At 97 feet tall, it’s made of brick and sandstone in an octagon shape, which is a trademark among Connecticut lighthouses.
Yale Center for British Art
Photo: Yale Center for British Art (Facebook)
If you’re feeling artsy, hop off the private boat slip rental and head to the Yale Center for British Art. It features the largest collection of British art outside of the U.K. Peruse 16th to 19th-century art by prominent artists such as George Stubbs, Tobias Stranover, Peter Paul Rubens and Thomas Lawrence as well as more modern artists like Marc Quinn, Steve McQueen, Richard Long and Rachel Rose. Galleries are filled with paintings, drawings, watercolors, photography, film, rare books and manuscripts. The museum was founded by Paul Mellon in 1966.
East Rock Park
Photo: Wikimedia
Looking for an outdoor activity near private boat lifts for rent? East Rock Park has got you covered. It's located in the East Rock Mountain area and offers 427 acres for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, picnicking and boating on the Mill River. Rock climbing and swimming are not allowed. Visit the Pardee Rose Garden and Greenhouse or play a game of tennis, basketball, football or baseball. On the National Register of Historic Places, the park’s historic structures include a covered bridge, the 122-foot 1887 Soldiers and Sailors Monument, a brownstone 1890 Whitney Gate, a 1900s Colonial sheep barn and a Queen Anne barn.
Hopefully, you’ve gathered some new spots to add to your New Haven to-do list the next time you’re anchored at a private boat dock for rent. Let us know your favorites!
