Stonington Borough

A hop over from Mystic, visit the quintessential New England historical town of Stonington. The borough quickly became a favorite place of mine when I first moved here. I was drawn to the beautiful homes lining the main street. Stonington is the oldest village in Connecticut, established in 1649. It’s the perfect destination during any season, I love to take a stroll around the borough!

Here are some suggestions of what to do in Stonington:

Shop the local businesses

There are a variety of shops up and down the main street from clothing, floral, jewelry, antiques, art galleries, boutiques, pet supplies and more. Maggie Lee Designs is a jewelry studio with beautiful nautical inspired jewelry. I have been a long time fan ever since I purchased the wooden boat necklace many years ago at the Wooden Boat Show (Mystic Seaport). I always have to stop in Pup Stop with my pup for her favorite treats. A beautiful shop with more than just pet supplies and treats but local artisans and gifts as well.

Walk around the borough

There are several routes in Stonington. There is a short coastline trail in front of Stonington Commons, if you walk down the paved path from the Yacht Club to the gazebo - the trail will start there. Another route is inside Dodge Paddock/Beal Preserve. Go down Wall Street and you’ll find a small lot to park in. The trail is through the marshes with views of the harbor.

Visit the locations of where movies were filmed

See the Mystic Pizza blog here. Many of the locations were filmed in Stonington. Another movie, Hope Springs starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones also was filmed in Stonington. You will recognize the yellow house near the Cannon Square as ‘the therapist office’ in the movie. A few Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movies also have been filmed here.

Stonington Fishermen Dock

I enjoy coming here a lot to photograph the fishing fleet. It is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Please respect the fishermen and don’t touch or use their equipments. I do have to warn, the seafood smell can be STRONG so if you don’t like the scent, this is not the place for you! There is a small lot near the overlook where you can enjoy the views (and sometime watch people fish!). Nearby the dock, you can purchase frozen seafood from Sea Well Seafood to bring home.

Old Lighthouse

Built in 1840, it has a beautiful stonework on the exterior. Recently, the museum inside the lighthouse underwent a renovation, and it looks amazing! Very open and spacious. There is an admission fee of $10 for adults. This fee will allow you entry to the tower (top of the lighthouse), the views can be breathtaking! I often enjoy the grounds of the lighthouse with my pup, as well many other dogs.

DuBois Beach

Across the street from the lighthouse is a small beach. During the summers you will need a pass to enter. During off season it is open to the public. The parking lot gives you a 360 view of the harbor. You can see the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. One of the best spots for sunsets!

Dine in many of Stonington’s restaurants

There are several restaurants in Stonington that are really good! My favorite breakfast spot is Indulge Coffee and Sandwich Co. Indulge, a quaint neighborhood spot with delicious egg sandwiches, coffee and more. They have gluten free options! For lunch or dinner, I love Breakwater. You cannot beat the waterfront views during the warm months. The shrimp tacos are the best! Noah’s Restaurant is also a wonderful long time institution in Stonington (40+ years!). A true local’s spot. It’s always so cozy especially during the holidays. Dog Watch Cafe is another good one! They have a dock overlooking the water and the boatyard, which is a must during the summer.

Velvet Mill

A bit way out of the borough, but not too far, is a repurposed mill with many small businesses. A variety of artists studios, antiques, clothing, health services (massage, yoga, etc), tattoo parlor, bakery to restaurants. There’s even a brewery in there. Velvet Mill is a great hidden gem in Stonington. I love stopping in Zest for the gluten free goods. Woodfella’s Pizza and Wings also has been a long time favorite of mine, both pizza and wings are so good! The best part about Velvet Mill is that it’s dog friendly too!

There are so many events that occurs in Stonington. Here are a few that I’ve attended and really enjoyed!

Tulips [April]

In the spring there are thousands of tulips blooming all around the borough. The majority of them were around the green where Stonington Free Library is. It’s always so beautiful to see. I had read somewhere that there was 3,000 tulips planted!

Gardens by the Sea [June]

The Stonington Garden Club hosts this event in June. A walking tour of gardens in the borough, where some private residences open up their property to the public for a fee. It is a very popular event in the borough, and it always is packed that weekend! The tour tickets for this event can be purchased online (Stonington Garden Club website) or on-site.

Fourth of July Parade [July]

The parade and reading of the Declaration of Independence is a tradition in the borough on Fourth of July. The Stonington Historical Society hosts this event annually. It’s always one of the best times of the year in Stonington when the whole village is decked out patriotically. Small town living at its best!

Blessing of the Fleet [July]

An annual event I always look forward to at end of July. It is a weekend long event honoring our lobstermen and their families, as well remembering the lost ones. The weekend usually starts with a 5K through the borough. On Saturday, Stonington Holy Ghost Society hosts a gathering with live music and food. On Sunday, there will be a mass at St. Mary’s Church. After the mass, there will be a ceremony at the fishermen dock. The boats are usually decked out for the ceremony - very nautical! The vessels goes out in the water where they are blessed and lay a wreath for the lost fishermen. This year, there will be an open house at the fishermen dock where you can tour some of the vessels!

Village Fair [August]

A long time tradition going back to 1952, the fair consists of many vendors, games, music, food and many more. One of my favorite part, there’s a used book sale! It’s a great community event open to everyone! The fair is in the Wadawanuck Square.

Holiday stroll [December]

I regularly attend this every year. The main street is decked out in holiday garnish, the shops stays opened late, horse carriage rides, people milling around with friends, and there’s the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the square near the library.

Stonington Lobster Trap Tree [Late November-January]

New to Stonington’s holiday tradition, there is a lobster trap tree on the green in front of the fishermen dock. It is a stunning display with amazing community involvement. All buoys are hand painted by local artists. I enjoyed visiting this tree several times last winter and appreciated all the beautiful artwork/buoys. I am very much look forward to seeing it again this winter!