In the center of Moodus village, on a street with sidewalks and streetlamps, this private upstairs suite occupies the second floor of a Greek Revival home built in 1840. High ceilings, historic architectural detail, and warm lighting carry the character of the house through every room.
The library, coffee shop, pizza shop, grocery store and ice cream parlor are a short walk away; the Goodspeed Opera House is about eight minutes by car, and Gillette Castle State Park about eleven.
“The property is within a short walk to a great coffee shop, grocery store, and ice cream parlor.”Michael, Baltimore · Airbnb guest
The second floor, room by room
01A queen bed, cotton linens and extra pillows.
02A queen bed and dark wood furniture.
03The electric fireplace, a deep sofa, a record player and games.
04Stocked for real cooking, with a gas stove and dishwasher.
05A chandelier over a long table, for slow dinners.
06A separate room with a door and a desk.
07Wicker seating, under cover, for coffee or a quiet evening.
08A private entrance to the suite, with its own keypad code.
Also yours: a full bath and a half bath.
The little things
The small comforts that make a weekend feel like yours.
The puzzles, games and records are all yours while you’re here. Help yourself.
— Tracy“Before we even got there, Tracy was reaching out to let us know she would be providing some treats during our stay… all from local businesses. … She is by far one of the best hosts and has a very welcoming personality and home.”Michelle, Lancaster, PA · July 2026 · Airbnb guest
Your stay begins with thoughtful local provisions, selected from the farms and makers we love around the Connecticut River Valley.
Provisions vary by season and may include additional local touches selected for your stay.
A growing series introducing the farms, roasters, and small Connecticut businesses behind the provisions you'll find waiting for you — where they're from, who makes them, and why we chose them.
Pick up something beautifully prepared on the way in, then settle for the evening without going back out.
A full grocery and deli right in Moodus, good for stocking up on staples. The breakfast sandwiches and quinoa salad are worth the stop.
Another good source for staples, with a seafood counter worth exploring — picked lobster, big shrimp, and prepared foods throughout. The edamame dumpling is an unexpected favorite, and they carry a good selection of Arethusa Farm products.
A French-style bakery and café in Centerbrook, with seating for breakfast or lunch. The chicken salad is a favorite, and everything in the bakery case delivers — the tarts and full cakes especially. Typically closes in the afternoon — check current hours.
A gourmet marketplace in Centerbrook — prepared meals to pick up and take home, not a sit-down spot. Weekends bring prime rib with mashed potatoes and a full spread of sides; weekdays, rotisserie chicken and breakfast wraps. Plenty of gluten-free options, and the rose yogurt tucked in back is worth seeking out.
Chef-prepared meals and excellent healthy salads at the Old Saybrook location — several built without lettuce, like the winter squash salad. The guacamole is worth grabbing too.
Everyone leaves with the lasagna — regular or eggplant — but there's a wide menu beyond it, including some great appetizers, in Old Saybrook.
“The spacious two bedroom unit has both historic charm and modern amenities, particularly in the kitchen and living room area. There is also a lovely covered balcony with comfy seating. The beds are very comfortable as well.”
“Very clean and comfortable! Beautiful hardwood floors and a cozy porch were standout features! We were welcomed with a charcuterie tray featuring local delicious cheese, local coffee and local cream. … Would definitely stay here again!”
“A truly wonderful experience and the perfect place to create precious memories. We absolutely loved this beautiful, cozy space! The host was incredibly sweet, hospitable, and highly attentive to our needs. … We highly recommend staying here.”
“Before we even got there, Tracy was reaching out to let us know she would be providing some treats during our stay… all from local businesses. … She is by far one of the best hosts and has a very welcoming personality and home.”
All aboard
The Essex Steam Train's holiday ride runs up the river valley with Santa, hot chocolate and pajamas encouraged.
Tickets are sold online only, and they tend to sell out. Book early.
About twenty minutes away · Essex, Connecticut
Tickets at essexsteamtrain.comOn stage
The Goodspeed is celebrating fifty years of Annie with an anniversary production on the riverbank stage, now extended through January 2.
Book a weekend, walk to coffee in the village, then cross the Swing Bridge for an evening at one of the prettiest theaters in New England.
About eight minutes from the house
Tickets at goodspeed.orgOut walking
The grounds of Gillette Castle State Park stay open every day of the year, 8 a.m. to sunset, with no admission fee and wide views over the river.
The castle itself has opened decorated for holiday tours in recent years. Check the park's calendar before you go.
About eleven minutes away
Park hours at ctparks.comOne letter a month on what's coming up along the river.
Get the next editionFrom river cruises and landmark theaters to historic houses, state parks, working farms, and the places we actually stop for dinner, some of the best of the Connecticut River Valley is within an easy drive of the house. These aren't every nearby attraction — they're the places we think are genuinely worth your time.
Scenic Connecticut River cruises aboard the historic Lady Kate, departing from Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam. Seasonal — check current schedule.
Vintage steam locomotives paired with a Connecticut River cruise — one of the valley's classic excursions.
Maritime history on the Essex waterfront, including a full-scale replica of the Turtle, the first submarine used in combat.
A small general aviation airport on the river, home to Goodspeed Seaplane's scenic tours, from a quick 20-minute local flight to longer coastal routes.
The oldest public golf course in Connecticut, laid out right along the water.
Broadway-caliber musical theater on the banks of the Connecticut River, in East Haddam. Historic theater tours are also offered — check current scheduling.
A 450-acre artist residency with sculpture trails through the woods, open to the public during scheduled Open Studios and Open Trails days.
Goodspeed's second stage, in Chester, dedicated to developing brand-new musicals before they reach Broadway.
Believed to be the first continuously operating summer theatre in the country, staging productions since 1911.
The historic home of the Lyme Art Colony and American Impressionism, with galleries, gardens, and a riverside nature trail.
An intimate 285-seat theater and museum honoring Katharine Hepburn, Old Saybrook's most famous resident, with music, theater, comedy, and film year-round.
A stone castle above the Connecticut River, built by actor William Gillette — the architecture, theatrical history, and setting make it extraordinary, with hiking trails on the grounds.
An 1816 Federal-era home right across the street from Connecticut Cottages — visible from the front lawn. Now a house museum run by Connecticut Landmarks; touring the interior is by appointment only.
The preserved one-room schoolhouse where Revolutionary War hero Nathan Hale once taught, right in East Haddam.
Local exhibits and archives dedicated to East Haddam's history, just up the road.
A newly rehabilitated 1913 swing bridge, now with a pedestrian walkway across the Connecticut River — river views, Goodspeed, and historic East Haddam from the middle of the water.
A working ferry crossing the Connecticut River since 1769, with Gillette Castle on one bank and the village of Chester on the other. Seasonal — check current schedule.
Believed by long local tradition to be among the oldest bells in the New World, cast for a Spanish monastery in 815 A.D. and brought to East Haddam in 1834 — a good story, even by the church's own careful telling of it.
A Connecticut Freedom Trail site and the final resting place of Venture Smith, who was captured and enslaved as a child and later purchased his own freedom and that of his family — an important part of East Haddam's history.
One of East Haddam's architectural landmarks, this remarkable 1794 meetinghouse is considered America's oldest Federal meetinghouse. Step inside if the church is open, or stop to see the historic building and cemetery grounds.
Pick-your-own fruit, an estate winery, and the Yankee Cider Barn taproom next door — a good half-day out, depending on the season.
A genuine working local farm with a small farm stand, good for picking up local staples on the way home.
Time with horses and rescue animals on a working farm — some experiences require booking ahead, so check before you go.
Our favorite ice cream stop, and worth the drive. Pick your flavor and eat it outside by the little barn.
Worth the longer drive — 45 holes of golf, pick-your-own fruit, and the Apple Barrel Farm Market, with hayrides, a sunflower maze, or pumpkins depending on the season.
Our pick for flowers — we think they make the best bouquets around. A family-run garden center and florist on a historic East Haddam farm, with seasonal plants, trees, and shrubs alongside the floral shop.
A few hours on Moodus Reservoir — kayak, canoe, and boat rentals, a grill for food and drinks, and even camping on-site.
A hands-on animal experience kids tend to remember — check current visitor hours and whether booking ahead is needed.
An easy round of mini golf, good for an afternoon with kids near the water in Old Saybrook.
Riverside dining directly across from Goodspeed Opera House, with a wraparound porch over the water.
A neighborhood grille just steps from the Goodspeed, filled with local history and memorabilia.
A cozy local coffee house just up the road, good for a slow morning.
The local roaster behind your welcome coffee, right in Moodus.
An easy local spot for thick crust, cheesy pizza — no fuss, just good.
The best Chinese food around, in East Hampton — worth the drive.
Home to Chapman Falls, a 60-foot cascade, plus miles of hiking trails and a classic New England covered bridge.
Quiet trails and river overlooks close to home, known locally for the rare seismic activity that gives Moodus its name.
A tranquil stretch of water for paddling, fishing, and quiet walks along the banks.
An easy, flat rail-trail for walking or biking, following the route of a historic railroad through the Connecticut countryside.
Connected to Machimoodus by trail, with frontage on the Salmon River for kayaking, fishing, and quiet picnicking.
Riverside hiking trails along the Connecticut River, with sweeping views from the landmark Split Rock overlook.
Self check-in with a keypad — no keys to juggle. You'll receive two codes by message shortly before check-in: one for the main entrance, and a second for the private door of your suite.
Nothing complicated here. Treat the home the way you'd want your own treated, and enjoy yourselves.
The guest suite is upstairs and reached by a single interior staircase. There is no elevator.
This is a historic house, and guests may occasionally hear normal activity from the first floor.
No. Your suite is the entire second floor, with its own private entrance. The first floor is the owners’ private space.
The living room has an electric fireplace that guests are welcome to use. The tiled fireplace in the bedroom is decorative and not in use.
There’s no washer or dryer in the suite. For stays of seven nights or longer, complimentary concierge laundry is included.
A quiet corner of the river valley, a historic home, and a stay built around the small things that make it feel like more than a place to sleep.
Check Dates and Availability