North Stonington, CT
North Stonington, CT is situated north of Stonington. A farming town that reminds me of my hometown in rural Upstate NY/Pennsylvania. Whenever I get homesick, I find myself going for a drive around North Stonington. It is beautiful with all the farmlands and there are some historical homes to appreciate!
Here are some suggestions of what to do in North Stonington:
Wheeler Library
A beautiful historical library established in 1908. The upper level is GORGEOUS, with the wood everywhere. There are also many busts around, it reminded me of Trinity Library in Dublin, Ireland. The basement is where the year-round book sale is! Always a wonderful selection, I almost always leave with 6-8 books each time!
The Tin Peddler
A market and cafe with local sourced food. I love how their focus is on supporting the local farmers. Naturally, with my stance of supporting local farmers, I had to check them out shortly after they opened the doors back in 2020. It quickly became a favorite spot. The cafe offers sandwiches, soups, salads and more. I love their roasted turkey sandwich with the bacon-cranberry jam. It’s so delicious! Gluten free options. I also love how easy it is to order online and pick up at their drive thru window. The staff is always super friendly.
Hike Hewitt Farm
Hewitt Farm is 104-acres with fields, wetlands, rivers/ponds and trees. There are some historical houses (but please respect the privacy of the homeowners) to admire too. The hiking trail is just over a mile long with visible markers. The map also can be found on this website here. It’s a beautiful area to enjoy the outdoors!
Farm stands
There are a few stands selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, etc. If you drive around on the back roads, you’ll come across them. Kady’s Farm Stand is easily found at the intersection of Norwich Westerly Road and Main Street.
Terra Firma Farm
It’s a worthwhile to mention that this North Stonington based farm sells delicious milk. Seriously, they have the BEST. I loved chocolate and coffee. They also offer yogurt, eggs, meat and more. You can order their products online and get delivery if you live within a 30 miles radius of the farm. Over the summers, they host summer camps for kids. I was fortunate to get a tour there twice for field trips when I worked at the school. The farmer, Brie is very educational and informative about farming. Contact her first if you want a farm tour, or have questions. For those visiting from out of town, you can find some of their products at McQuade’s Marketplace in Mystic, CT.
North Stonington Fair [July]
The fair season is one of the best parts about summer! I’ve been a long time fan of the North Stonington Fair. This 4-days long fair occurs annually in mid-July. The small community ambiance is one big reason why I love it there. It’s noticeable that North Stonington residents have a lot pride by the hard work they put into hosting the fair. Each day has a schedule of different activities, competitions, shows and events. It is posted on their website here. I love checking out the agriculture shows - especially cows and goats. They also make a fun subject to photograph when I walk through the barns! Often the farmers are there and can be available to talk with if you have questions. Another favorite event that I never miss are the tractor pulls. A motor sport event where tractors (or vehicles) are modified to pull set weights. Whoever travels the furthest usually wins. I always find it so fascinating. Especially how people work on their tractors/vehicles year-round to win these competitions! The fair has all the typical rides, games, baking contest, princess/queen show, quilt show, food concession stands and more. It’s always the best time at North Stonington Fair! 2022 North Stonington Fair is happening July 14-17.
It’s amazing how a town that I’ve never worked or lived in could hold a piece of my heart, but it truly reminds me of my hometown. I love the pride of the residents and the beauty of nature to make North Stonington a beautiful town to visit! It always does my soul good to take a drive through the countryside.
