Things to Do
Described as a "dream town" by Coastal Living Magazine, Madison, Connecticut is a charming and quintessential New England beachside community. With a picturesque historic green, a quaint and walkable main street, and a selection of well-kept beaches, Madison offers visitors a relaxing place to spend some time.
Let Beech Tree Cottages be your home away from home.
Hammonasset Beach, named CT’s best beach by Yankee Magazine, is just a stone’s throw away from Beech Tree Cottages. Walk or bike via the Shoreline Greenway Trail for free or drive into the park for a fee.
Go to link
Accessible from Beech Tree Cottages, enjoy a leisurely hike or bike ride along the Madison portion of the Shoreline Greenway Trail with entry north to Hammonasset Beach or south to Liberty Street.
The Town of Madison manages three beaches for residents, including East Wharf, West Wharf and the Surf Club. Beech Tree Cottages can provide guests with discounted day passes for entry any of these beaches.
Madison is host to a number of restaurants and cafes ranging from casual and family friendly to formal and fine dining. Nearby towns also offer some prime spots for good eating and drinking.
Madison’s town center provides shoppers with a selection of gift shops, dress boutiques and independent book store. Travel to the nearby towns for more wonderful options or name brand shopping.
To help plan your trip, please feel free to call our office and speak to our very helpful staff. Or visit the link to discover all that CT and the shoreline has to offer.
Go to link
Hammonasset Beach State Park - Hammonasset Beach, named Connecticut’s best beach by Yankee Magazine and the largest beach in the state, is just a stone’s throw away from Beech Tree Cottages. Take a walk across the street or borrow one of our complimentary bicycles to enter the park via the Shoreline Greenway Trail. Enjoy nearly 2 miles of sandy beachfront with facilities for swimming, picnicking, saltwater fishing, scuba diving, hiking and boating; plus an interactive nature center. For rates and information, visit: www.ct.gov/deep/hammonasset
Madison Town Beaches - The Town of Madison manages three beaches for residents, including East Wharf, West Wharf and the Surf Club. Beech Tree Cottages can provide guests with discounted day passes for entry into any of these beaches. Enjoy swimming or sunbathing at all locations, with concessions, playground and recreation sites available at the Surf Club.
Shoreline Greenway Trail - Enjoy a leisurely hike or bike ride along the Madison portion of the Shoreline Greenway Trail accessible from Beech Tree Cottages. Heading north along the trail, follow a winding path through shady trees to an eco-friendly pedestrian bridge crossing over marshlands for entry into Hammonasset Beach State Park. Heading south along the trail, follow a wooded peninsula with scenic views of Long Island Sound around a small sloping path to meet Liberty Street. The Shoreline Greenway Trail hopes to build a 25 mile path for walkers, bicyclists and hikers along the coast from New Haven’s Lighthouse Point to Madison’s Hammonasset Beach State Park through East Haven, Branford and Guilford. For more information, visit: shorelinegreenwaytrail.org
Dining - Madison is host to a number of restaurants and cafes ranging from casual and family friendly to upscale fine dining. Nearby towns also offer some prime spots for good eats. A listing of Beech Tree recommended dining options is available for guests upon arrival at the front desk.
Shopping - Madison’s town center provides shoppers with a selection of independent gift shops, dress boutiques and renowned independent book shop. Travel to the town greens in Guilford and Branford or head into the villages of Essex and Chester for more wonderful options. For name brand shopping, outlet malls in Clinton and Westbrook are less than 15 minutes away. For fresh and local produce, dairy, baked goods and sundries, we suggest visiting the farmer’s market held on Friday afternoons on the town green. During your stay, be sure to take a look around our gift shop, The Little Station.
Travel Information - To help plan your trip, please feel free to call our office and speak to our very helpful staff. To learn more about the local area, scenic drives and tourism in the state, we suggest starting with these websites: