ADVENTURE MENU:

Hiking, Snowshoeing and Cross Country Skiing in Connecticut

In Our Backyard......Guided Outdoor Adventures in the Nutmeg State

In response to inquiries by our guests in Connecticut and nearby New York we offer local four season outdoor adventures, including hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  We provide a trail lunch, historical/cultural information, a visit to local attractions, and a professionally run guided adventure in a beautiful setting.  Food for the body, mind and spirit, and the company of like-minded nature lovers for a recession-proof price tag.  Not bad, if we do say so ourselves.  Please email us at info@bredeson.com or call us toll free at 1-866-533-4361 with questions or to set up an outing for your friends or family.  We hope you will join our celebration of things local.

Snowshoe and Vineyard Visits:

Saturday, February 4, 2012 (McLaughlin Vineyards): Beginner/Intermediate

Saturday, February 11, 2012 (Haight-Brown Vineyard): Intermediate

Additional Custom Outings Also Possible

Bredeson Outdoor Adventures hosts outings in Connecticut that combine a day of snowshoeing with a vineyard visit for winetasting. We have two destinations with which we partner for these outings:  McLaughlin Vineyards in Sandy Hook and Haight-Brown Vineyard in Litchfield.  We explore the beautiful trails of White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield or Al's Trail in Sandy Hook, interspersed with a lunch and a vineyard visit for an optional wine tasting.  We provide lunch and hot tea and cocoa,snowshoe rental or information on where to rent snowshoes, brief instruction and a day of winter fun.  We also provide tips and lists for what to wear, bring and do to enjoy a safe cold weather outing.  You supply the adventurous spirit and the desire to get out and savor an active, crisp winter's day in the company of other nature lovers.  Enjoy the frozen ponds and streams, stone walls, beaver lodges, fields and woods of the 4,000 acre White Memorial Foundation in the Litchfield hills or the beautiful Housatonic River and surrounding perserved woods in Sandy Hook, where bald eagles spend the winter, accompanied by your guide Deborah Lewis.  If there is no snow, we'll enjoy a day of winter walking with all the same pleasures, minus the white stuff.

We are offering a combined beginner/intermediate snowshoeing outing at McLaughlin Vineyards on Saturday, February 4, and an intermediate snowshoeing outing at Haight-Brown Vineyard on Saturday, February 11. Additional custom outings are also possible for your family or group of friends.

Highlights

• A day of moderate snowshoeing (approximately four miles total) in beautiful Litchfield or Sandy Hook, Connecticut under the leadership of an experienced and enthusiastic guide
• A visit to Haight-Brown Vineyard atop historic Chestnut Hill in Litchfield, arriving by snowshoe “over the river and through the woods” or the charming McLaughlin Vineyards in the midst of an historic farm and next to the Housatonic River.
• Trail lunch and hot drinks
• Brief instruction for first-timers (learning to snowshoe is easy: in fact, it's a shoe-in!)
• Information on where to rent snowshoes;  we also have a limited number of snowshoes available for rent
• Tips and lists:  what to wear, bring and do in order to enjoy a safe cold weather outing

Itinerary

10 a.m. meet in Litchfield or Sandy Hook
10-12:00 snowshoe to Haight-Brown Vineyards or McLaughlin Vineyards
12-1:00 lunch and optional wine tasting
1-3:00 snowshoe back to starting point

Price and Inclusions

$50/person price includes lunch, hot cocoa or tea, a guided snowshoe to the vineyard and back to the starting point, information on where to rent snowshoes, and historical/cultural information. Price does not include: optional wine tasting; snowshoes (available for rent for $10 -15); transportation (participants will provide their own transportation). Lack of snow in will convert this outing to a beautiful winter’s walk. This event is snow, rain or shine, and is non-refundable. If a Bredeson Outdoor Adventures event is cancelled you will receive a full refund. Please let us know if you'd like to pay by check or credit card. Payment is required to guarantee your slot.

Trip Rating

February 4/McLaughlin Vineyard Outing:  All experience levels: no prior snowshoing experience is necessary. You will enjoy this outing if you are in good health and able to snowshoe 3 miles or hike 4-5 miles. This outing is adults only (21 and over).

February 11/Haight-Brown Vineyards Outing:  No prior snowshoeing experience necessary but you should be able to snowshoe 5 miles or hike 6-8 miles.  This adventure goes cross country from White Memorial Foundation to the Vineyard. This outing is adults only (21 and over).

Questions and How to Sign Up

Please call or email us at dlewis@bredeson.com if you have questions about the appropriateness of this outing for you. We hold our outings to a maximum of 12 participants.  If you would like to sign up, please email us about availability and we will forward sign-up materials.  Payment is possible by check or by credit card through PayPal.

Come join the fun!

Here are few shots from our 2011 snowshoeing vineyard adventures.

Sample Hiking Itinerary:

Whistle Stop Walk on Redding Connecticut's Hidden Greenway

Overview

Bredeson Outdoor Adventures is offering a guided Whistle Stop Walk on Redding Connecticut’s hidden, unofficial greenway.  We’ll meet at the historic Branchville, Connecticut train station (arrive early for coffee at the Whistle Stop Muffin Company) for a short, scenic train ride to Redding, Connecticut.  We’ll then enjoy a 6.8 mile hike on trails that connect seven beautiful open spaces in Redding’s rural back country. We’ll stop along the way next to a pond for a picnic lunch.  Our secret is safe as very few people know about this hiking adventure right in Fairfield Country.  We’ll return on foot to the Branchville Train Station, conveniently located across the street from a little pub, appropriately named Little Pub, where we’ll enjoy cooling refreshments on the outside terrace.  A farmer’s market may also be taking place that day, a nice way to end a day in Fairfield Country’s secret countryside.

Highlights

• A rarity in the U.S.: a fun, short, scenic train ride to the start of our hike
• Meet early for coffee and muffins (optional) at the Whistle Stop Muffin Company
• 6.8 mile guided hike on trails that connect seven lesser known open spaces in Redding’s beautiful rural back country (Redding’s hidden greenway) back to the starting point of the train ride
• Delicious trail lunch and snacks
• A charming pub with outside terrace seating is conveniently located at the end of the hike
• Hike is accessible by train from NYC and Connecticut train stations for those that don’t have cars (meet us on the train!).  Free parking at train station for those who do have cars.

Itinerary

• 9:38 a.m. train departs Branchville, Connecticut train station and arrives 9:45 a.m. in Redding
• 10 – 2:00:  hike and trailside picnic lunch
• 2:00 optional pub visit

Photos from our 2009 and 2010

Connecticut (and Nearby Massachusetts) Adventures

Love/Haight Outings: Wintry Walks to Haight-Brown Vineyards

Snowshoeing in the Berkshires

Spring Hike and Fall Foliage Vineyard Walk

Sample Hiking Itineraries:  Give us a Call to Tailor the Perfect Custom Adventure for Your  Friends or Family

Ward Pound Ridge Reservation Guided Hike

We'll venture to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation for a history walk, and visit to the nature museum, wild flower garden and art gallery at that Westchester County, New York gem.  During the walk we'll learn about the Native American, colonial, and Civilian Conservation Corps history of the area.   Here are the details:

Depart Norwalk, Connecticut:  8:00 a.m.

Outing timing:  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Arrive back in Norwalk: 4:00 p.m.

Price:  $50/person.  Group rates are also possible.

Included in the price:  lunch, a guided hike in the Reservation, historical information shared informally during the hike, transportation, visit to other attractions in the reservation

Litchfield and White Memorial Foundation

We'll travel to Litchfield, Connecticut for a hike, historical town walk, vineyard visit and, if there is sufficient interest, a stop by the famous White Flower Farm.  Here are the details:

Depart Norwalk, Connecticut:  8:00 a.m.

Outing timing:  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Arrive back in Norwalk:  4:00 p.m.

Price: $50/person.  Group rates are also possible.

Included in the price:  lunch, a guided hike in White Memorial Foundation, a visit to the nature center in White Memorial, historical/cultural information, a walk in historic Litchfield , transportation, a vineyard visit (tasting is extra), and potentially a visit to the White Flower Farm.

We hope you'll join us on an adventure in beautiful Connecticut!  

Contact us toll free (U.S.) at 866-533-4361 or

+203-840-0295 (outside the U.S.)

info@bredeson.com