We make it a habit to drive down to the Historic District in Westerly and walk around, enjoying the…read moreold building styles, stopping by the farmers market, eating in the many restaurants, strolling through Wilcox Park. This town is a wonderful reminder of the old towns New England was once filled with. The center of the historic district is the monument at the intersection of High Streets and U.S. Rt. 1, just near the Westerly Library. There is on-street parking available throughout the area. This is the place to begin your visit by walking the streets, lined with one-off store fronts, small 'mom and pop' restaurants and beautiful old architecture. It really makes a fun morning adventure. Once you have satisfied your curiosity there, follow the river south along Main Street, to the Farmers Market near the intersection of Union Street. It runs June - October, 10am - 2pm on Thursdays. Check out the state's DEM website for updated info. After picking up some farm fresh foods for lunch or dinner, follow Union Street up the hill back toward Wilcox park and there is a nice brick tower on the left. I'm not sure what the building is used for today, but from the look of the stone foundation, it's quite an old edifice. Continue straight on, across the street into Wilcox Park for a nice stroll under trees. Maybe picnic on the food you purchased at the farmers market, enjoy the magnificent old trees or sit by the pond. There are signs around the park telling the history of the area. If you live in state, try to stop by throughout the year to see it in all it's seasons. If you are visiting the state, be sure to make it one of your stops while visiting the area. Be sure to check out all the spots to visit in town here on Yelp.

Stonington Point is one of those rare places that reminds you just how lucky we are to live in New…read moreEngland. Approaching it by boat is hands‑down the best way to experience it--the harbor opens up into a postcard‑perfect view, with calm water, historic homes, and that unmistakable coastal charm that feels both timeless and effortless. The natural beauty here is stunning. On a clear day, the water glows, the sky stretches wide, and the shoreline looks like something out of a painting. Whether you're cruising in, dropping anchor nearby, or just drifting past, it's the kind of spot that instantly slows you down and makes you appreciate where you are. There's a peacefulness to Stonington Point that's hard to describe until you've seen it from the water. It's serene, scenic, and uniquely New England in all the best ways. For locals, it's a reminder of how spoiled we truly are. For visitors, it's a must‑see glimpse into the coastal beauty we get to enjoy every day. A 5‑star destination for anyone who loves the ocean, the shoreline, and those perfect quiet moments that make this corner of the world so special. Enjoy

This little peninsula juts out into the ocean: If you look to your left (SSE) you may be able to…read moresee the tip of Watch Hill, RI (or due east, all the way right, Sandy Point Island, CT) and if you look kind of straight out (SSW), slightly right, you'll see the tip of Fisher Island, NY. Big, open, lovely views of the water. It is often windy here. Basically, Stonington Point is a sandy lot where you can park your car. There is a sea wall around the point to prevent further erosion (light house used to be closer to this location), a flag pole with memorial and a cute little beach area with stone jetties on either side to the west side of the point. This is where we park when visiting the Stonington Light house which is just past the beach on the right hand side (walking north). Water Street is the only access to Stonington Point, and although a two-way thoroughfare, cars are allowed to park along the curb, making it one-car wide in many places. Be prepared to 'pull over' temporarily where possible to allow cars to pass. There is not too much traffic this far away from the main town areas but enough to use caution. If you are a walker, Cannon Square is a five minute walk north (0.3miles). There you will find two cannons and memorials to the soldiers who defended Stonington from the British in 1814. This area is mostly homes, no little shops or cafes and the sidewalks are not shaded. Enjoy!

Located on Boston Post Road on the grounds of the Public Safety Complex (between Tiffany Avenue and…read moreSummer Street) is this 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides. The marker is in poor condition with accelerated failure on both sides in the form of extensive fading and peeling of the blue background. Things I learned from the Waterford marker: 1) The town covers 36.7 square miles 2) The native Indians belonged to the Nehantic and Pequot tribes, before they were "displaced" by the English colonists 3) A sawmill was built here way back in 1653. The full inscription reads: Waterford Incorporated 1801 English colonists first harvested crops on Fog Plain and Mamacoke in 1645, gradually displacing the native Nehantic and Pequot Indians. Farm lots were allocated to individual colonists in 1651 and in 1653 a sawmill site and house lot were designated on Hunts Brook in Quaker Hill. The Jordan area was first mentioned in 1663 and Jordan Schoolhouse in 1737. Waterford gave thousands of acres to help form East Lyme in 1839 and two square miles were taken for New London by legislative action in 1899, leaving the present area of 36.7 square miles. Erected 1975 by Town of Waterford, the Waterford Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 160 CT towns done, 10 to go

Can confirm the first review's report that you can't see either this lighthouse or the one that's…read moreon land in Fenwick unless you own property in the immediate vicinity or are the guest of someone who does. We thought we would drive up to visit the nearer lighthouse like we did with the lighthouses in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but there are signs telling you that access is restricted. We decided not to flout that but can verify that the golf course looks very nice. Stars awarded for the history of the lighthouses.

A light that's hard…read moreto see The Old Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse was completed in 1888 and was built to replace the much older lighthouse at Lynde Point. It's a very typical lighthouse for this period and stands 48 feet tall and is constructed of brick and cast iron. These lights are frequently called bug lights, coffee pots of most commonly spark plugs. Strong and cheap to build they can survive just about anything, including massive hurricanes and ice and freezing cold. The one was automated in 1958 and recently went up for sale in 2013. It finally sold for 340,000 dollars but the price is somewhat misleading. The owners are responsible for maintenance and the Coast Guard still owns the land that the light sits on. This lighthouse isn't a particularly easy one to get close to. It's in the very expensive and exclusive area called Fenwick and they aren't very fond of people walking around there. The best way to view it is by the water or by kind of landing a yak on a beach in the off season and they walking down the breakwater up to the light. Just hope nobody sees you. This is a classic Connecticut lighthouse and is even featured on the CT license plate. The money for the special plate goes to hope preserve Long Island Sound. A cool little light that everyone sees while crossing over the Connecticut River on I-95 but one that very few people get to see up close.

To live in a…read morelighthouse Latimer Reef Lighthouse is a 49 foot tall, brick lined, cast iron light that was build back in 1884. It is the oldest cast iron lighthouse that is still operational in the east and his area was so important and treacherous that reports indicate that the first small tower was place here back in 1804. This is a typical spark plug type of light that became popular at the time because of it's relatively inexpensive construction costs and durability. The light and surrounding reef was named after James Latimore, the revolutionary war hero. It originally had a 4th order Fresnel lens but the lens was moved to another lighthouse in Delaware when Latimer was modernized. In a bid to say money on maintenance costs the light recently went up for sale. Private bids that started at 10,000 were accepted. Sounds like a pretty cool idea to buy a lighthouse and my first thoughts were that it would make a great little place to entertain, relax and enjoy the water. However there is a catch and a rather big catch at that. The interior of the light of these spark plugs is actually tiny and Latimer will remain an active light. That means the lights stays on and the horn keeps blasting twice every 15 seconds day and night. The horn almost blows me off my kayak from hundred feet away so I suspect that actually being on the light isn't exactly relaxing. Plus the all maintenance must be keep up and paid for by the new owner and the light must keep all historically features. Not an insignificant cost but the light did finally sell for 225,000 dollars a short time ago. No word about why the new owner bought the light or what he or she is going to do with it. There are still several lights for sale in the area but the maintenance arrangements are the same. You aren't just buying the light, but also the responsibilities of maintaining it. Owning a lighthouse would be cool but for now it's enough just to admire them from a distance.

Great wines, homemade sangria is a must! Variety of merchandise to buy; decorative wine corks, wine…read moreholders, magnets, small home "sprucer uppers". Wine tasting is reasonably priced! Great scenery outdoors Live music during the summer! Great outdoor, patio and indoor seating. They also offer a wine tasting paired with yoga class. This was very cool for a group of friends to enjoy outdoors, yoga and wine.

As you drive into Middletown on Route 9, you can't miss seeing it. It rises overhead in a majestic…read moresteel arch across the Connecticut River. It's Connecticut's largest bridge- a 600 foot metal truss bridge that lifts Route 66 and Route 17 over the river, connecting Main Street in Middletown with Main Street in Portland. It carries about 34,000 cars every day. It was built between 1936 and 1938 for $3.5 million. With its sweeping steel arches, it's become quite the local landmark, in fact it was named the country's "Most Beautiful Steel Bridge" in the large bridge category in a 1938 competition sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction And who is it's namesake? Charles J. Arrigoni was a state legislator who was an advocate of building the bridge. There are plans on the drawing board right now to light up the bridge with a lighting system that can change colors. So maybe if you were driving to Middletown on a beautiful July evening, you'd see this iconic bridge tricked out in red, white, and blue. I'm sure Charles would be proud of that!

New London was a tough place to live - attracting "men of hardihood and valor". Thousands of them…read moreflocked here to join the whaling industry rocketing New London's growth as it became "one of the largest whaling ports in the country". Located on a strip of grass at Town Hall is this 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides. The marker is in fair condition with damage on both sides in the form of fading, spotting and peeling of the blue background. The full inscription reads: New London New London was founded in 1646 by John Winthrop, the younger, who chose this shore-ringed "plantation" for its excellent harbor. This land, with its great natural assets, attracted men of hardihood and valor and became one of the largest whaling ports in the country in the mid-19th century. As this industry waned, manufacturing flourished, bringing an influx of foreign labor which contributed immeasurably to the enrichment of community life. The history of New London may be said to be concentrated in its seal, adopted when the city was incorporated in 1784... a full-rigged ship with all sails set and the motto "Mare Liberum," meaning "Freedom of the Seas." Erected 1976 by The City of New London and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 161 CT towns done, 9 to go

This is exactly what the name applies, a scenic overlook. Located off 95N, like me you've probably…read morepassed by this hundreds of times. Today I finally checked it out. Nothing fancy, just a small view of the mystic waterfront. No binoculars, no vending machines, no picnic tables, no restrooms or porta potties, no information, and only 6-8 spaces to park. It's as simple as it gets. Yet it serves its purpose. There's no landmark or oddity in the sitelines, but it is a calming oasis off the highway. Would I make a trip to see this? Heck no. If you're traveling 95N in the area is this worth a 2-5 minute stop ti check it out? I'd lean towards yes. It's not going to blow your mind, but happiness comes in small doses and this does the trick.

Perched atop a modest rise off I-95, the Hoxie Scenic Overlook offers panoramic vistas of Long…read moreIsland Sound and Mystic Harbor. Historically, the overlook's name traces back to the Hoxie family, whose legacy is woven into the fabric of Mystic and the greater New London area. Benjamin Franklin Hoxie, a prominent 19th-century businessman and civic leader, helped shape Mystic's development through shipbuilding, commerce, and public service. He founded the downtown fire department and built several notable structures, including the original Hoxie House in 1861. Though the overlook itself wasn't part of his holdings, its name honors the family's enduring imprint on the region. On a clear day, it's the kind of view you would expect to see painted and hanging in a museum. And since it's free, I'm a fan. One tip - be aware of your surroundings and question anyone walking towards you. [Review 1067 of 2025 - 120 in Connecticut - 24621 overall]