From Antiques to Water Views, from East Haven to Old Saybrook

Antiquing in Branford? Then why not also visit the Medad Stone Tavern and the Henry Whitfield Museum in Guilford, just a few minutes away. Shopping in Madison and enjoying its Sculpture Mile as well? Why not extend the fine arts experience with gallery visits in Clinton and Old Saybrook? You're on the shoreline gazing out at the water. Want to go fishing, rent a boat, take an island cruise or lie on a beach? Visitors and residents alike can do it all-and without traveling more than 20 minutes.

Welcome to CenterShore, a cooperative effort among seven chambers of commerce from East Haven to Old Saybrook. As summer begins, the chambers have introduced their new brochure, "Visit the Shoreline." By its own definition, it is a listing of active adventures, arts and culture, rest and relaxation, history, and family fun. In short, it is a comprehensive yet simply organized compilation of what to see and do when visiting the shoreline.

"Our goal is to establish CenterShore as a tourist area," said Robert Hale of the Madison Chamber. "A few years ago the state lumped us in with Hartford as part of that tourism district. We chose to go our own way."

This section of the shoreline, after all, has a lot to offer. The chambers began their own grassroots effort and last summer produced an activities brochure that was well received. This summer they refined and improved their efforts. There are no paid ads, Hale said; only listings of scores of things to see and do.

Ellen Cavanagh, executive director of the Clinton Chamber, said the goal was to have visitors think of the seven towns as one. Activities and attractions in one town are only a few minutes away from activities in another town.

Eileen Banisch, executive director of the Madison Chamber, added, "Here there is a wide range of things to do and see that visitors wont find in other parts of the state and not just during the summer. We want people to think of this seven-town area as a destination."

What does the area have to offer? The brochure's categories include: antiques and flea markets; art galleries, exhibits, and open studios; attractions; beaches; dancing and nightlife; day spas; farmers markets, orchards, and wineries; learning experiences; lighthouses; museums and historic sites; nature-bicycle, hike, walk; on the water; sports and fitness; theater and entertainment; summer concerts; charity thrift shops; chamber member hotels, motels, and resorts; bed and breakfasts; scenic drives; shopping districts and malls; and visitor centers.

Guilford Savings Bank paid for the printing, but the rest of the work in compiling the brochure was undertaken by "ambitious voluneers," Hale said.

Banisch said Victoria Kolyvas of The Tidewater Inn and Darlene Briggs of the Westbrook Chamber did the brochure layout. Fifteen thousand brochures have been printed and will be available at visitor centers throughout the state as well as chamber offices, shops, retailers, and libraries.

From antiques to concerts to Shakespeare to road races, CenterShore is telling the rest of the state that it has much to offer.