Halfway between Boston and Manhattan is the charming borough of Stonington, Connecticut. Encompassing the Village of Mystic, this quaint New England town is an underrated getaway from Boston.
The town of Stonington encompasses four separate villages: Old Mystic, Mystic, Pawcatuck, and Stonington Borough, Connecticut’s oldest continuously operating borough dating back to 1803.
Yankee Magazine ranked Stonington among the top 10 “prettiest coastal towns in New England.” Here are some of the best things to explore in this Connecticut borough.
Home of America’s oldest lighthouse museum
Settled in 1752, Stonington is a town spanning just 42 square miles. Stonington Borough is even smaller, a one-mile-long peninsula with approximately 1,000 residents.
The peninsula stretches into Narragansett Bay and Fisher’s Island Sound, the anchors of the village’s rich maritime history.
Stonington Borough hosts The Stonington Lighthouse Museum. The museum is the oldest lighthouse museum in the nation.
Visitors can tour the museum and head to the observation deck, with tickets. Erected in 1840, the stone structure became the flagship museum of the Stonington Historical Society back in 1925.
Just steps away is Stonington’s main beach, duBois, which features jetties for fishing and a shaded gazebo.
Water Street shops and Stonington Harbor
A historic borough, Water Street in Downtown Stonington is lined with antique shops and historical boutiques, plus, a spattering of independent art galleries.
Independent coffee shops line this eclectic street which runs parallel to the harbor. Connecticut’s last remaining commercial fishing fleets launch out of Stonington, meaning the village is brimming with fresh local seafood.
A historic peninsula just 90 minutes from Boston
Nestled along a mile of peninsula, Stonington Borough boasts 360-degree water views. There’s nearly 300 years of architectural history, with quaint streets and a historic lighthouse museum.
The town is just a 90-minute train ride from Boston, and Amtrak fares are cheaper than ever!
