We sat down with Madison Beach Hotel General Manager John Mathers to learn more about the local secrets of this beautiful seaside town.

How long have you lived in Madison?  I moved here in the spring of 2012 to open the Madison Beach Hotel.

What is the best thing about Madison? It is full of friendly people and has a laid back vibe.

Can you sum up Madison? Madison is an amazing community full of people that really love the Connecticut shoreline. Madison is a quintessentially quaint New England town. First settled in 1641, Madison occupies a central location on Connecticut’s Long Island Shoreline. Four beaches dot the coast: Hammonasset Beach State Park, the state’s longest public beach; the Surf Club Beach, the town’s major public beach; and two smaller beaches, the East Wharf and the West Wharf, which are open exclusively to Madison residents in the summer season and to the general public during the late fall, winter, and early spring.  The

The Madison Town Green is host to several musical performances throughout the year, as well as antique shows and a weekly Farmer’s Market during the summer. The intimate downtown area, consisting of the Boston Post Road and the adjacent Wall Street, features approximately 30 independent boutiques, offering items for the home, gifts, men’s and women’s clothing, and so much more. The Madison Art Cinemas features the latest in foreign films and independent cinema. Our local bookstore, R.J. Julia Booksellers, has been in business for 26 years and is nationally renowned for hosting presidents, famous authors, and novice first-time writers. A variety of restaurants, small sidewalk cafes, and coffee shops line our downtown streets, where locals and tourists alike gather to chat and exchange stories about news and local happenings.

What is a perfect day in Madison? A warm sunny day and a walk down Middle Beach Road, where motorists have to be very patient because the walkers and bicyclists don’t yield very readily!

What are the people like in Madison? The people of Madison are very friendly and welcoming. We value the arts and the well-being of one another. People make an effort to shop locally and support the local merchants. They’re also very generous and help those in need.  It’s a small town, so we have to create our own entertainment, like the annual Bed Races, holiday parades, and food festivals. There’s a lot going on for such a small town.

If your friends were visiting Madison for 24 hours what would you have them do? I would have them start with breakfast on the porch of the Madison Beach Hotel to enjoy the expansive ocean views, followed by a spa treatment at our Sounds of the Sea Spa. Then I would send them out to rent a bike from the Madison bike share program and tour all the unique shops in our quaint downtown. It is truly a walker and biker’s paradise. Next, I would recommend a drive up the shore to Clinton for a lobster roll lunch at Lobster Landing. After lunch, I would have them head over to Chamard Vineyards and taste a flight of their current offerings. Then I’d recommend they walk it all off on Hammonasset Beach, the largest beach in Connecticut. Finally, I would send them back to Madison for happy hour at Moxie, then a sunset dinner back on the porch of the hotel. This is a perfect day!