Bethany (Connecticut)
Bethany is a small town in Connecticut and one of three that compose Amity. It is rapidly growing as a town because it is set back from the rest of the surrounding areas but is in the middle of New Haven and Waterbury, two cities within CT. Although it contains both a High School and a Middle School, the Middle School is shared with Woodbridge and the local High School is a single one, located in Woodbridge for all of Amity.
Get in
By car
- New Haven
Follow Rt. 63 (Amity Rd.) directly into Bethany.
- Waterbury
Rt 8 South onto 63 into Bethany.
By plane
- Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN IATA), 155 Burr Street, Phone: +1 203 466-8833, . Served by American Airlines. Find 63 and take it through Woodbridge into Bethany.
- Bradley International Airport (BDL IATA) in Windsor Locks (near Hartford), from which I-91 leads straight to New Haven, then take 63 into Bethany. It is about an hour away and a half away.
- Laguardia Airport in nearby Queens. It has flights nation and worldwide, and is about 1 1/2 hours away. Follow 95 from New York City into New Haven, then 63 into Bethany.
By train
- Metro North Railroad provides service between New Haven, New York and intermediate points. Take a car/taxi down 63 into Bethany.
- Amtrak provides direct service from Virginia to Boston and stops in New Haven. Simply take a car/taxi down 63 into Bethany.
Get around
Bethany is a small town without any centralized concentration of buildings, the only major roads are 63 and 69. A car is highly advised.
See
There's horse farms. And some vegetable farms. And someone has geese. You can drive around and see the various farm animals.
An old run down air field off 63 which has frequent farmer's markets, horse shows, and once a year a carnival.
In fall there are leaves. Colorful ones. Lots of trees on the side roads so it's a very tranquil drive.
There are many historic settings throughout the center of town, mainly the old church and surrounding. All of it is free to view.
Do
- Bethany West, It's a pond. You can fish or swim. There's a big hill to sled down during winter, just don't hit the fence!
- Indoor Golf/Tennis, Located on a small road behind Teddy B's.
- Whitlock's Book Barn, 20 Sperry Rd. (Off Rt. 69, near the Woodbridge town line), ☎ +1 203 393-1240. Tu-Su, 9-5. The oldest used bookshop in Connecticut, "The Book Barn" (est. 1948) has over 20,000 used and rare books, from 10-cent novels and children's books to antiquarian collectors' titles.
Eat
- Teddy B's, Open 7AM - 10PM, 136 Amity Rd (Rt 63), +1 203 393-1525 It is a small Italian/Greek restaurant.
- Country Corner Diner, Directly off of 63, a small family owned diner.
- Steve's Deli & Grocery, open 5AM - 9PM, 710 Amity Rd (Rt 63), +1 203 393-9111, It is primarily known for sandwiches but also has an assortment of dinner specials varying by the day of the week.
- Billy's Ice Cream, open 11AM - 10PM, 742 Amity Rd (Rt 63) +1 203 393-3294 A small ice cream parlour.
- Bethany Restaurant & Pizza, open 11AM - 10PM, 696 Amity Rd (Rt 63) +1 203 393-0700 If you want to eat there you have to go in the back, the front is only for pickup.
Drink
- Town & Country Liquors, 696 Amity Rd, ☎ +1 203 393-0069. (Rt 63), There are no bars in Bethany but there is this package store.
Sleep
There are no hotels in Bethany. Or bed and breakfasts. The nearest ones are in New Haven, Waterbury, or Orange/Milford (on the Post Rd)
Go next
New York is about an hour and a half away (depending on traffic). Simply take 63 into New Haven and get on the Merritt Parkway.
More immediate is New Haven (20 mins) which is kind of cool. It has museums and places to eat. Just don't go near the 95 entrance (Yale Ave), there's always construction.