Dave Durrenberger and Elaine Carpino, owners of Essex Paint and Sip, first fell in love with the town of Essex aboard the historic Steam Train, where they were able to soak up the views of the Connecticut River, Colonial-style houses, and lush greenery whose leaves turn bright red and orange in the fall. Inspired by the natural and manmade scenery of the small Colonial town, the two knew it was the perfect place to inspire others to create beauty, and that's when Essex Paint And Sip was born.

Here, guests can produce their own works of art while guided by the skilled hands of one of the many local artists on staff. As aspiring Da Vinci's paint scenes of lakes, flowers, or their own pet, they can enjoy a wide selection of wines and beer available during each session. Afterwards, guests can leave with a work of art in-hand and the knowledge that their leftover paint won't destroy the picturesque Essex community—that's because the staff use a special paint separation system to separate flocks of dried paint to leave clean, recyclable water.