Cruise to Sheffield Island for Yoga On the Beach

Yoga can be translated to mean union and what better place to practice it than on an island where the sky, the sand, and the sea meet.  We all know how good yoga is for you, but what about yoga after a sunrise cruise to a private island on the beach?  At the Seaport Association, we know that yoga experienced this way is even better!  On Saturday, June 29, from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. the Seaport Association is offering a special morning cruise and yoga session with instructor Amanda Boe on beautiful Sheffield Island in the shadow of the historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

This relaxing excursion begins with an early morning ferry ride to Sheffield Island.  Early morning is one of the most beautiful and calming times of day to be on the water.   Once on the island, there will be a one-hour session with Yoga Instructor, Amanda Boe who has received her YTT certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.  Boe has also been a student of many yoga teachers from around the globe. "I believe that yoga is a great equalizer, and teaching yoga offers balance in a hectic world."  After the yoga session, participants will enjoy fresh whole fruit and water with the sun on their face soaking up vitamin D and breathing in the healthy salt air.

Research shows that being by the sea has many benefits: our stress levels drop, we get more creative and, in general, our health improves just by being close to salt water. Now add yoga to the mix: practicing on a beach means yoga’s effects on your body and soul are amplified. The sheer beauty that surrounds you from the historic Sheffield Lighthouse to the song of seabirds and the lapping of waves against the sand make this a very special yoga experience that only happens only once a year for 49 lucky passengers.

About the Morning Yoga Cruise

The Morning Cruise and Yoga Session is for adults only. It is open to all skill levels and to anyone looking to enjoy a serene ferry ride to Sheffield Island followed by an hour of yoga.  Fresh fruit, water and natural beauty will be provided.

The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse Dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in historic South Norwalk. Parking is available adjacent to the dock and the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Garage. 

Tickets are $40 ($42.39 with service fee) and may be purchased online by clicking here. 

Start a Family Tradition this Memorial Day Weekend - Take a Cruise to the Lighthouse

The Sheffield Island Lighthouse is an iconic symbol of Connecticut’s maritime history.  This historic lighthouse and light keeper’s cottage is located at the southern end of Norwalk’s necklace of islands on the west entrance of the Norwalk River in Long Island Sound. One of the best ways to kick of the season is to take a cruise on the C.J. Toth on Saturday, May 25, Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27. at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on all three days.  Tickets for this exciting excursion can be purchased in advance by clicking here or at the dock, space permitting.

Activated in 1868, Sheffield Island Lighthouse, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places was in service for thirty- four years before it was retired in 1902.  Today a visit to this historic Connecticut landmark gives visitors a first-hand experience on how important this lighthouse was to coastal and oceangoing shipping as these vessels plied their way on Long Island Sound, a major artery of communication and transportation.  A bonus is that once on the island visitors get to explore the historic 151-year-old lighthouse.

A highlight of this journey is the cruise itself.   The cruise allows passengers to experience the beauty of Norwalk from the water with wonderful views of the shoreline, islands and the harbor. The fresh sea breeze and birdlife are enjoyed in the comfort of the Seaport’s modern vessel on the way to and from the island.

Reaching the Island, passengers take a tour of the ten-room light keeper’s cottage and the lighthouse that is furnished in period furniture giving visitors a glimpse of what life was like as a lighthouse keeper.  If the day is clear, the New York City Skyline can be seen.  Make sure to save time to look for shells, play on the lawns, and unwind with a picnic lunch on your own private island before heading back. A new telescope on the Island is free to use and affords spectacular views all the way to New York!  This spring, visitors are also treated to a sneak peek of a brand new pavilion that is being built on the islands that will be available for parties and special events.  The Pavilion is expected to be completed by July 2019.

If you love nature and birdlife, don’t miss the chance to explore the Nature Trail that is part of the Steward B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge that is also located on Sheffield Island. There is a wide array of bird and wildlife to be seen here including nesting herons, wading birds, shorebirds, terns and many others.  A special viewing platform enhances the viewing experience. Don’t forget to charge your cell phone up and to bring your camera and binoculars.

Round trip ferry tickets are $28 for adults, $16 for children 4-12,  and, children 3 and under are $7. The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in historic South Norwalk. Parking is available in the adjacent Norwalk Maritime Center Garage.  Be sure to wear comfortable, closed toe shoes.  For safety reasons, flip-flops are not allowed.  The capacity of the boat is limited to 49 passengers, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended by visiting the website or visit ticketing.

About the Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. 

The Norwalk Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands.  The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue which strives to increase awareness, appreciation and consideration for our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, the present and the future. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment and maritime heritage.

Norwalk Seaport Association Announces 2019 Season

This past winter, members of the Seaport Association in Norwalk has been hard at work planning the 2019 Summer and Fall season.  The events that the Association is offering runs the gamut, but they are all perfect for aficionados of the great outdoors, Long Island Sound, private islands, and historic lighthouses.  Some events are pure family fun and, others highlight carefully curated themed events and cruises for adults.

This year on Memorial Day Weekend, the Seaport Association is offering its' inaugural cruises to Sheffield Island on May 25, 26, and 27.  On all three days, cruises will leave the dock at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m.  In accordance with Coast Guard  Regulations, the boat is limited to 49 passengers, so be sure to book your cruise online early.  The tour includes the journey out to Sheffield Island, a tour of the historic 151-year-old lighthouse and the cruise back to the dock.  It is best to arrive about 15 minutes before the cruise departs in order to facilitate boarding.  For more info click here.

In June, the Seaport Association is hosting five very special events.  If you love birds, don't miss the three special Birding Cruises on  June 9,16 and 23, 2019 that depart the dock at 8:30 a.m.  On this National Geographic-like three hour birding experience you will learn about the importance of migratory birds and their behavior.  Keep your eyes peeled for egrets, American oystercatchers, herons, terns, gulls, cormorants at a safe and inspiring distance with a birding expert.  For tickets click here.

If you have dreamed of Yoga on a Private Island, the Seaport Association can make this dream a reality on June 29, 2019, with their annual Sunrise Yoga Cruise that departs the dock at 7:30 a.m. and returns at 10:30 a.m.  For more information click here.

If you love oysters, don't miss Docktails and Oysters on June 29, 2019. At this fundraiser event that takes place dockside @ Norm Blooms Oysters, you will dine on unlimited raw clams and oysters literally fresh off the boat as well as on a variety of delicious passed and tabled appetizers. For tickets to this popular event click here.

Once again, on July 20 and 2, 2019, pirates invade Sheffield Island where children young and old get a glimpse of the legends and lore pirates. Scallywags of all ages will step into the world of pirates on Sheffield Island and be entertained with a myriad of fun activities like hunting for treasure on the beach, sword fighting, and listening to tall tales of adventure on the high seas.  For more information click here.  

Another fun-filled event, that is quintessentially an American treat, especially on Sheffield Island is the Seaport's popular Island BBQ  taking place this year on July 27 with the boat departing the dock at 5:30 p.m.  For more information click here.  If you love Italian food, then the special Sheffield Island Isola Italiana Night on August 24 is not to be missed! For more information click here.

If wearing a costume just one day a year on Halloween is not enough for you, no worries, on August 3 and 4 the Seaport Association is hosting "The Haunted Lighthouse" event. At this fun-filled kid-friendly event the Sheffield Lighthouse is decorated in a ghoulish way to provide thrills, chills, and giggles for youngsters of all ages.  Stories and other activities round out the fun.  New this year is the Haunted Lighthouse, after dark for adults only!  For tickets click here.

Each week beginning in June, the Seaport Association offers Wednesday Night Acoustic Cruises (June 19-Sept. 18, 2019), Thursday Night Clambakes on the Island (June 13-Sept.19,2019),  and Friday Night Sunset Cruises (June 14 -Sept. 20, 2019).  The Seaport Association is also planning to host several specially themed Saturday Night Cruises.

This year the 42nd Oyster Festival, the crown jewel of the events organized by the Seaport Association is being held on Friday, Sept. 6, Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept.8, 2019.  For up to the minute details check the website here.