Scranton Seahorse Inn is a place of lodging that is located near the edge of the ocean in Madison, Connecticut. The property is open year-round and offers eight units for reservations. Two of these rooms are pet-friendly. The property is located near the center of town, making many of the attractions and restaurants in the city, as well as the beach, within walking distance. The house was constructed in the early 1800s and was home to Sereno Scranton, who became a state legislature for Connecticut. Breakfast is served every morning by Mike, the owner, who has experience as a pastry chef. Mike offers cooking lessons to those that would like, whether they have a reservation at Scranton Seahorse Inn or not, though priority goes to those who are staying at the inn. The peak season for the property tends to be between May 1st and November 1st.
The building that makes up Scranton Seahorse Inn is two stories tall, with living arrangements found on both floors. The common areas in the building include a library, gift shop, and dining room. The library offers a variety of books that can be checked out, has a fireplace, a number of games and puzzles, and DVDs that people can rent and take to their rooms. The gift shop, which is on the second floor, sells cups, mugs, bathrobes, and more. Also available for purchase are soaps and shampoos that are made locally.
The rooms are all individually named and decorated. Guests can choose from The Madison Getaway, Seaside Garden, Long Island Mist, Sunlight Serenade, Ocean Dreams, Sereno's Retreat, and The Town View. The most popular room tends to be The Madison Getaway due to the fact that it has an oversized jacuzzi tub and a fireplace. Each unit has a private bathroom and access to WiFi. A coffee and tea station is available at all hours of the day, free of charge, and guests can rent bicycles by the day. Also available to patrons are beach passes, towels, chairs, and various toys for water-related activities.
Breakfast typically consists of fresh fruit, juice, and homemade pastries, though the other courses change on a daily basis. In the past, they have had dishes like parfaits with homemade granola and yogurt and a mushroom, spinach, and goat cheese quiche. Mike, the owner of Scranton Seahorse Inn, explains that all of the produce, meat, and cheese comes from local farms in the area. The most popular dish that he serves for breakfast tends to be the pastries, but crab cakes and eggs Benedict tend to be popular as well. Due to his experience as a pastry chef, Mike cooks breakfast in the mornings. For those that have specific diets or allergies, Mike is capable of making a variety of dishes that comply with these kinds of needs.
The grounds that surround the house have several gardens. There are a number of different flowering bushes like hydrangeas and azaleas, and near the edges of the property line, evergreen and oak trees grow. One unique thing about the Scranton Seahorse Inn is that the second-largest Norway Spruce in Connecticut grows on the property. A gazebo can be found outside, as well as a fountain. The porch that is attached to the house has wicker furniture and is one spot where guests can sit outside, other places being at the gazebo and in the gardens.
Outside of the property, there are a variety of places that visitors can go for entertainment or sightseeing. The beach tends to be the primary reason for visiting, especially in the summer. Mike, the owner, explains that there are a few theaters and music venues in the city that he can recommend guests visit. For those that want to spend time outdoors, hiking is a popular activity as there are many different trails in the area. One of the more unique aspects of Madison is that it has the largest state park in the state, which is called Hammonasset Beach State Park. The state park has two miles of beach and boardwalk nature trails. The state park tends to be an ideal location for bird watching and seeing some of the local wildlife.
Scranton Seahorse Inn's owner, Mike, enjoys recommending restaurants to his patrons. Bar Bouchée is a French restaurant that is found down the road, east of the property. It is only a two-minute walk away from Scranton Seahorse Inn. Moxie is another casual eatery within walking distance. Moxie serves American-themed food and is only open in the evenings, Wednesday through Sunday, though they open earlier on Saturdays and Sundays. Finally, Mike likes to recommend Steamed, which specializes in Chinese food, found along the same street as the inn.
The owner of Scranton Seahorse Inn, whose name is Mike, has a goal is to make his guests feel like they are at home with friends and family. His own personal goal is to be as interactive as the visitors would like. Mike explains that he does his best to be personable with his patrons, trying to make himself available as much as possible, but if guests would prefer to be alone, then he will not bother them. One way he tries to create a welcoming atmosphere is to spend time with the patrons, typically after breakfast. When breakfast is over, Mike likes to sit down with some of the visitors and get to know them better. He remarks that it is his most ideal time to interact with people that are staying at the inn.
Smoking is not allowed inside the building or on the grounds. There is also a policy that excludes children under the age of twelve. Pets are allowed in two of the rooms, The Madison Getaway and The Seahorse, though they are not allowed anywhere else in the building. The Madison Getaway and The Seahorse have private entrances, allowing guests to come and go with their pets without disturbing other patrons.
The property hosts a number of events and also allows visitors to hold their own if they would like, as long as they are not too big. One particular event that the property does with their patrons is a beer and cheese pairing, where they will introduce people to some of the beers and cheeses that are crafted in the area. During the winter, there are wine dinners that are held in the dining room that are exclusively for those staying at the inn. Cooking classes led by the owner himself are available in the winter as well, giving guests one more thing to do during the cold season. Some people come specifically for the cooking lessons, and they are open to the public as well. The property has hosted weddings in the past, but they are a bit more limited in space, so Scranton Seahorse Inn is only able to host small groups of about 20 people or less.
Breakfast tends to be one feature that guests like the most. One unique thing about the property is that it is the only inn where people can walk to the beach or the restaurants and attractions in the city. The owner explains that the location is ideal for those that would like to walk to restaurants and attractions in the city. In reviews, people tend to mention the breakfasts, as well as the quality of care provided by the owner and the cleanliness of Scranton Seahorse Inn. The location is also mentioned, with some people saying that it is a reasonable distance to many notable places, both inside and outside of the city. One person who recently stayed at the inn writes, "Our host was communicative and made check-in a breeze. He is an amazing cook, and the breakfast was exceptional. The room was clean, and I loved how the common areas were decorated for Christmas." The typical demographic of guests are between the ages of 30 to 65, and usually, they come as couples or solo travelers. The owner explains that summers tend to be the best season of operation due to the weather and accessibility of the beach.
Mike, who is the current owner of Scranton Seahorse Inn, is also the original owner and has been running the edifice for about 15 years. Mike was led into the industry because he and his mother often traveled when he was a child. It had been a dream of his to own a lodging place, just like the ones that he and his mother would stay at when they traveled. Mike decided to purchase this building due to its location, being in the middle of Madison and in close proximity to the beach, which is one of his personal favorite features of the property.
While Scranton Seahorse Inn has only been around since 2006, the house that is used for the business was built in 1833, almost 200 years ago. The original resident of the house was a man named Sereno Scranton, who became a state legislator and raised his family at this place throughout the 1800s. Before the current owner bought it, it had been a private residence. The owner named his business Scranton Seahorse Inn to honor Sereno Scranton's legacy.
Renovations have been made to the building to make it more ideal for housing multiple residents at a time. The owner has added bathrooms in all of the living arrangements, turned spare rooms into bedrooms or other common areas for guests, and renovated much of the exterior and interior. Each room has its own thermostat, allowing patrons to change the temperature to whatever suits them, which is a feature that was added when the owner purchased the building.
818 Boston Post Rd.
Madison, Connecticut 06443
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Mike Hafford
