Accommodations & Attractions
Take a rejuvenation-vacation in beautiful Westport, Connecticut. Dr. Ellen Mahony's clients walk from her offices into this charming New England community nestled between the Long Island Sound and the Saugatuck River. Just 47 miles from Manhattan with easy access to Westchester and LaGuardia Airports and major expressways, Westport is a bustling, eclectic community. The one-time historic farming village is now a compact and picturesque modern town, offering visitors an abundance of stimulating cultural and recreational activities, as well as, sophisticated shopping along its quaint Main Street, and your choice of Zagat-rated restaurants.
You can plan your stay at the historic Inn at National Hall located in the National Hall Historic District along the west bank of the Saugatuck River. The Inn, a stately red brick Italianate landmark building, was built in 1873 and meticulously restored as a boutique Inn fashioned after Europe's elite manor houses. Each of the 16 individually decorated and designed guestrooms and suites will treat you to unparalleled luxury. Across the street from the Inn you can dine on the Saugatuck River at Napoli sul Fiume, featuring fine Northern Italian cuisine in a romantic, cozy setting. Or if you prefer fully organic but chef-designed American fare (with an astonishing wine list), try Paul Newman's The Dressing Room.
After dinner, stroll through town over the flag-festooned bridge and catch the evening breeze. On the water below, egrets, swans, and other waterfowl dine at sunset, and you may see Westport's nationally ranked rowing crews cut the still water. Then browse the varied and fashionable shops on Main Street, stopping for an ice cream or a cappuccino.
Continue along to The Westport Country Playhouse completing your evening with an award-winning play such as Our Town that starred Paul Newman, or possibly a concert or even a silent film with full orchestra. With Joanne Woodward at the helm, The Westport Country Playhouse, in its newly renovated red barn, is not only a Connecticut cultural landmark, but is taking its place as one of America's finest professional theatres.
With a reputation as a Mecca for "creatives" in the world of theatre and the arts, familiar residents have included Robert Redford, Bette Davis, Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward. Martha Stewart got her start in Westport, and filmed her TV show, Martha Stewart Living from Westport studios.
Add to this mix 5.5 miles of beach along scenic Long Island Sound and it is easy to understand why Westport is called the Gold Coast of Connecticut. During the summer, you have easy access to the sand and surf of Westport's clean beautiful beaches at the Compo Beach-Longshore Complex; "the gem of Westport" offering calm waters, picnic areas, barbeque facilities and snack bar. The Longshore Complex also includes one of America's best kept (and sometimes challenging!) public golf courses, along with tennis, sailing, kayaking, swimming pools, and a bathing pavilion.
Night life can begin at the beach with a drink overlooking sunset on Long Island Sound at Splash, an Asian-Fusion restaurant with live music on the patio Saturdays and Sundays. In the winter the patio overlooks the ice skating rink – join in the fun. Or, have a drink or dine in center of Main Street at the cozy Tavern on Main, a historic tavern with exposed beams and an original fireplaces. In the summer do some people watching as you relax on its breezy stone patio.
There is much more! You can't leave without shopping. Main Street is known as the Rodeo Drive of Connecticut. You can shop for art and antiques at its many galleries and for the latest fashions in clothing, shoes and accessories and even jewels at Tiffany's famous blue building. In the summer, the town opens its streets to an Art's Festival, and the open-air Levitt Pavilion offers an eclectic range of music and movies. Adjoining the Pavilion is our state-of-the-art Westport Public Library, one of the nation's finest public libraries, perfect for quiet browsing, reflection, writing, or viewing the rotating art exhibition.
Enjoy your day, all within steps of Dr. Ellen Mahony's office. Plan your destination vacation now.
For more on Westport click links:
History
Westport Historical Society
www.westporthistory.org
Getting There
Westport is just 47 miles north of Manhattan with easy access to the Ct Turnpike (I95) and the Merritt Parkway (15). It is a half an hour from Westchester County Airport and one hour from LaGuardia Airport. For transportation take Teddy's Limo. TeddysLimousine.net (888)454-4153.
Lodging
The Inn at National Hall
www.innatnationalhall.com
Built in 1873 and transformed into a luxury hotel in 1993, The Inn at National Hall was selected for inclusion in The National Register of Historic places in 1994, just one year after its opening. The Inn has earned the coveted AAA 4 diamond award since 2001. The Inn, a stately red brick Italianate landmark building was built in 1873 and meticulously restored as a boutique Inn fashioned after Europe's elite manor houses. Each of the 16 individually decorated and designed guestrooms and suites has fanciful trompe l'oeil and carved cherry woodwork. A unique combination of luxury, comfort and whimsical adventure.
The Inn at Longshore
www.innatlongshore.com
Situated on the Long Island Sound, this historic Inn is part of the Longshore golf and recreational complex. The Inn has lodging and fine dining in its lively restaurant Splash. The restaurant commands an uninterrupted and breathtaking view of the Long Island Sound and has just been awarded by The Food Network "best of" New England waterfront dining. Outside dining and patio bar. Live music on the patio Saturdays and Sundays.
Dining
Acqua
www.acquaofwestport.com
A Tuscan villa overlooking the Saugatuck River and conveniently located in the center of town. Featuring fresh seafood.
Blue Lemon
www.bluelemonrestaurant.com
Bistro setting featuring American cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian influence.
Live Jazz, Thursday evenings, summer.
The Dressing Room
www.dressingroomhomegrown.com
Michel Nischan chef, cookbook author and avid proponent of healthy, sustainable and culturally significant food and social causes, has teamed up with like-minded actor and philanthropist Paul Newman to open Dressing Room - A Homegrown Restaurant, located on the grounds of the Westport Country Playhouse. The restaurant is designed to reflect the feel of living in the Connecticut countryside and features a fieldstone fireplace, exposed reclaimed barn board walls, and heavy-timber wood columns and beams - all of which create a warm, updated country setting.
Napoli sul Fiume (Naples by the River)
www.napolisulfiume.com
Located in a historic building in downtown Westport, Connecticut, flanked by the Saugatuck River. The restaurant is at the corner of the Post Road (Rt. 1) and Riverside Avenue, also called Wilton Road and Rt. 33, and offers diners not only extraordinary Northern cuisine, but also provides valet parking, and as the weather turns to spring and summer, will open its famed outdoor patio that overlooks the Saugatuck River. Napoli sul Fiume provides fine Northern Italian cuisine.
Tavern On Main
www.tavernonmain.com
Westport's Tavern on Main offers palate enticing and stomach warming dishes in a Federal style building that began its life providing food to Westporters in the 18th century. Today you can share that ambiance and tradition while being surrounded by exposed beams and original fireplace or in summertime relaxing on a breezy stone patio. A refreshing blend of American and European cuisine.
Entertainment
The Westport Country Playhouse
www.westportplayhouse.org
A Connecticut cultural landmark, taking its place as one of America's finest professional theatres. Now operating year-round, the Playhouse is an artistic beacon, annually staging eight theatrical productions, two reading series, a vibrant education program, concerts and films.
The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts
www.levittpavilion.com
Every summer for the past 33 years, people throughout Fairfield County and beyond have come to the Pavilion with picnics, blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the high quality, free-of-charge evening's entertainment. The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts is a non-profit, open-air summer festival where a variety of entertainment is presented virtually every night in the beautifully landscaped amphi-theater, located on the banks of the Saugatuck River.
The Movies at Bowtie Royal 6
542 Westport Avenue, Norwalk, CT, USA - (203) 846-8797
Recreation
The Compo Beach-Longshore Complex offers calm waters, an expansive playground plus picnic areas, barbeque facilities and snack bar. Long Shore has a golf course, tennis, sailing, kayaking, a pool, a bathing pavilion and snack bar.
Earthplace
www.earthplace.org
Earthplace is located in the woodsy interior of Westport is a 62 acre sanctuary with interconnecting trails, natural science museum and aquarium. There is a live Animal Hall, an Exhibit Hall with Connecticut flora and fauna dioramas and hands-on learning.
The Rink at Longshore
www.wpalrink.com
Ice skating on the banks of the Long Island Sound.
Sherwood Island State Park
www.stateparks.com/sherwood_island.html
Sherwood Island State Park, public park, on the shore of Long Island Sound in Westport Connecticut, covers 234 acres of beach, wetlands and woodlands. People come to the park to hike, bike, ski, swim, fish, study nature, watch birds, fly kites, fly model airplanes, play volleyball, picnic, or just relax under the trees.
The Westport/Weston YMCA
www.westportymca.org
The Westport/Weston YMCA is located in a historic mansion in the heart of downtown, has 2 swimming pools, 2 gymnasiums, a fitness center and a complete program of health, sports and exercise programs.
The Westport Public Library
www.westportlibrary.org
The collection numbers over 180,000 books, audio-visual and reference volumes. Circulation is 471,115 and Library attendance is 396,000, over 1,100 people on an average day.
For the Dogs: Winslow Park is 29 acres of rolling lawn and trees located in downtown Westport. Known as "the dog park", this is a favorite place for residents and their canines to stroll, jog or talk (bark).
Relaxation
Pamper yourself with a choice of treatments from our Spas.
