The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
SOUND SIGHTS: Norwalk cruises return with restrictions
Mike Reilly loves being on the water. And seeing a lighthouse up close, well, that makes it even more special. “It’s just so peaceful, especially in today’s world,” he said.
Reilly, president of the Norwalk Seaport Association, said if you do nothing else this summer, be sure to come out on a cruise to see the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, and bring your camera, because the views are stunning.
The 152-year-old Sheffield Lighthouse isn’t open now, because of the pandemic, but it’s still “an amazing place and a great piece of history,” Reilly said. “When people go out on the boat and see it for the first time, it makes them feel like they’re someplace far away, yet it’s right here.”
Both the Seaport Association (seaport.org) and the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk (maritimeaquarium.org) offer guided cruises that take passengers by Norwalk’s three lighthouses. Masks are required and there’s ample space for social distancing, as the boats are limited to half their normal capacity.
Another option for getting out on the water is via the GetMyBoat app. You can rent a boat or book a water experience with a captained charter in a few clicks. Nearly 80 boats are available in Connecticut.
Janet Serra, of the Norwalk Seaport Association, said the Seaport’s two-hour cruises are fun for all ages, although families with kids seem to show up more for daytime excursions, where you get “crystal-clear views of the lighthouses and nesting sea birds.” People have been known to bring a bottle of wine on the sunset cruises because, she said, noting, “It’s nice to have a glass of wine and watch the sun go down.”
Between the views and gentle breeze, it’s a delightful experience, but this journey also includes some fascinating history. Serra said passengers get to hear the tale of how Native Americans shared the joy of eating oysters with early English settlers, a Norwalk specialty still enjoyed today.
The harbor area was busy with commercial shipping in the 1700s, when sloops sailed to places such as the West Indies. Every journey was filled with danger, as Norwalk’s waters once teemed with pirates. In the 19th century, manufacturing companies lined the banks of the channel. Today it serves water-dependent commerce and recreational marinas.
Passengers also get to see two sparkplug lighthouses, named so because of their shape and water-tight structure made of metal. One is Peck Ledge, built in 1906; the other is Greens Ledge, built in 1902. Legend has it the latter was named after a pirate who sailed with Captain Kidd, and that he was executed and tied in chains to Greens Ledge as a warning to deter marauding buccaneers.
That’s just one of many stories you’ll hear on this cruise. (While we’re on the subject, did you know Capt. Kidd was first appointed by the British authorities to tackle piracy, but later switched sides?)
A highlight of the cruise is when it passes by Sheffield Island Lighthouse — an icon of Connecticut’s maritime heritage. The Victorian-style structure has an octagonal light tower in the gable. You’ll also see the McKinney Stewart Wildlife Refuge and a quaint lightkeepers’ cottage.
Reilly says the real bonus of these cruises is they get people “out of the house, in the fresh air and on the water. It’s a chance to unwind and re-energize in the scenic beauty of Long Island Sound that extends in every direction.”