Our favorite salt water launch site. Plenty of parking spaces and the dock is nice, clean, and…read moresecure. Plenty of cleats to tie on. Deep ocean is just a few minutes away with no - no wake zones. The drive to the launch has an interesting castle to look at. The owner has dozens of statues, gargoyles, and perfectly trimmed topiaries. Lots of people kayak from here. Some bring their dogs for a stroll. I've done some fishing and crabbing here. But honestly there are sooooo many mosquitoes and horse flies here and they're relentless! We mostly just use this place to launch our boat- away from the vicious bugs!!

A great place to…read morestart Barn Island in Stonington is one of the best places to launch a boat in Eastern Ct. It has a huge parking lot but since it is so popular it frequently fills up so people park on the side on the road. No one seems to mind but it does make for a long walk back to your vehicle. The ramp is steep but the water usually deep so it's easy for even a relatively large boat to get under way. Once you are in the water you have several great options. If you are in a kayak you can go north up the Wequetequock river, or south out to Stonington, Long Island Sound, Sandy Pt. or Napatree Point. This whole area was absolutely hammered by the 1938 hurricane and a beach in the area used to be called Kitchen Beach because appliances ripped from cottages were found buried in the sand for decades after the hurricane. Fortunately no hurricanes have hit in a while and the area around Barn Island is called Little Narragansett Bay and is usually quite calm. If you want more excitement in your yaking you can paddle out to Napatree Pt and old Fort Mansfield where rocks, old fishing piers and heavy wind and waves can conspire to give you a near death experience if you desire. Pretty good surfing out by Napatree also. For something less exciting you can go over to Watch Hill and get ice cream and some good seafood or just land on a isolated beach on Sandy Point Island. This was actually a part of Napatree but the hurricane literally tore the spit of land away and is now a rolling island. If you go east you can explore the very cool town of Stonington. Barn Island is a great place to launch no matter what your intentions are or abilities are. Just make sure you get there early during the summer weekends or you just might be in for a long walk to get back to your vehicle.

A wonderful place to walk around, see giant trolls, an old airfield from WW2, coves/beach…read more Our daughter lives nearby and wildlife conservation biology is her 'thing', so walking around the trails at Ninigret was a fun & informative experience. Rhode Island has 5 giant trolls in various parks, and Ninigret has 2 of them: Greta Granite & Erik Rock. We stayed to the main paths as there are a lot of ticks around. And we saw a couple of fat turkeys who are probably feasting on the ticks. There are tennis courts, picnic area, a playground, observatory & senior center on the grounds. And plenty of parking.

It's been on my bucket list to check out these wonderful giant trolls out myself. Spent the…read moreafternoon in Rhode Island as an excuse to go exploring for the troll hunt which is gaining popularity, there is five giant trolls hidden across the RI state. Created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, these massive sculptures are made from recycled materials and aim to promote conservation. The trolls can be found in various locations. I got to see only 2 of them that I can cross off my mapping for troll's list. * Charlestown's Ninigret Park is home to the Erik Rock and Greta Granite. It's accessible via trails and wooded paths. * Erik Rock lounges beside Little Ninigret Pond. * Greta Granite is located further along a wooded path marked by clues. It's a lot of fun to get on the mapping of the trolls and hunt them out all over the world when you're visiting the areas. It's amazing to experience these pieces of art created and designed by Thomas Dambo.

This is one of the best tackle shops in Washington county. They have everything from saltwater bait…read moreand tackle , to freshwater trout fishing supplies, to flies and so much more. When I need local squid for fluke season, this is where I go, when I need clams for spring tautog and seabass fishing, this is where I go. I've purchased the vast majority of my rods and reels through them, and they always have the best prices. This is your one stop shopping spot whether you are driving in from CT or NY or you are fishing anywhere in South County. They are located right in downtown westerly. Stop in and see Brothers Mike and Doug Wade .

I urgently needed a quality replacement rod and Mike had the perfect one for me within a short…read moreperiod of time. Mike also gave me some tips on where to look for stripers and when. I'm really happy to have this resource close to home.

Really nice spot to take a short walk and stretch the legs while in Westerly. I love how it's also…read morean arboretum and all the trees are marked with plaques denoting their common and scientific names. There are also a number of interpretive signs that convey some of the history and current uses of the buildings. There are a number of war monuments and some cool sculptures. We especially enjoyed the sculpture "The Runaway Bunny" by Margaret Wise Brown. Love that the park was founded by a woman, Harriet Wilcox. Opposite the park, there is a nice mural with her image and apparently a quote by her "The People Shall Have Their Park". Respect. The park is open dawn to 9pm. Street parking.

Wilcox Park is one of Westerly's best kept secrets. Probably not for locals, but for out of towners…read morelike me I adore this place. I go at least a few times a year. It feels to me like I am in in a European park, with fountain, statues, and carefully sculpted ponds, with bench seating throughout. It's a large space with winding walking paths. Much nicer in the summer when everything is in full bloom but even in the winter or early spring on a sunny day it still has a lot to offer a nature buff like myself. You can park on the street for free and access the park at different points. Definitely worth a visit particularly in the warmer weather.

I definitely forgot to write a review for this place over a year ago, but I was scrolling through…read moreYelp and the front photo on this business is my ex who I went fishing with. I guess I have a few more photos to add to here. Worker at the establishment was incredibly kind, not only providing us good items to purchase, but also good advice for fish (porgy) in the area. The value here is actually pretty good. I don't know how to put one of those $ out of five ratings on here, but I would give it 2/5$ I have no idea who wrote a review stating that this place closed down 30 years ago, it's still real in the year is 2024. Quit lying with your fake ahh Time Machine!

I visited this shop on vacation a couple weeks ago, not knowing too much about fishing in the area…read more The lady who works there told us everything we needed to know about what was in the channel and how to best catch it. She hooked us up with some free weights and also gave us some cool free magnets. Prices were very fair and the bait was fresh. And as it turns out, my parents bought their fishing rods twenty years ago on their honeymoon at this shop - and the rods still work perfectly. If you're going fishing in the area, you have got to stop at this place first. We owe our great experience to them!

My brother in law has been chartering half day trips with Mataura for years now and every time I've…read moregone it has been a great time. Captain Tom is fantastic and will do his best to make sure we're catching fish though, hey it's still a crap shoot. However, even though we may not catch many or may not be able to keep all we catch it's still a great time on a great boat. The first mate Amy also do a spot on job of handling the bait and tackle and even if you have ZERO experience fishing, she's awesome at taking care of everything and giving pointers. If you are able to keep your catches, she will also filet and bag it for you to take home. Can't go wrong with a good time on Mataura!

From the owner: Provide the best possible fishing experience on a spotless and friendly boat . We have 38 years…read moreexperience in getting the job done.

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center serves as a fantastic alternative to the other animal-based…read moretourist attractions in the area of Mystic, CT. Though I am quite a big fan of the Mystic Aquarium, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center is a fantastic getaway from what can sometimes be a very jam-packed and overwhelming institution. I visited in late January, which admittedly is probably not the best time to be visiting here, but a five star review should tell that even in the colder months, this place still was as warm and as welcoming as one could expect. Though you're not going to be seeing anything huge, the live animals on display are very exciting still. Collections of herptiles, such as Painted and Spotted Turtles, New England Wood Turtles, snakes, and one of my personal favorites, the Diamondback Terrapin all call this institution home. In addition to that, the Nature Center also has a robust Bird-of-Prey collection, with Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Broad-Winged Hawks, a relatively rare species in captivity around here. Many of these birds are permanently injured I believe, or unsuitable for release, and it is the job of the nature center to care for them, which they do fantastically. I understand the general public might see these as "cages", but I've been to a multitude of animal facilities across the United States and I was very impressed with the level of care that these species receive. While the live animals are quite interesting to look at, dead ones are too! The nature center has a huge assortment of local species in taxidermized forms, showcasing the incredible wildlife that we have in our very own backyards in New England. It allows you to get a closer look and a deeper appreciation for some species you typically don't get to see up close. I have a background in sociology and one of the things that my professor has turned me onto is the sociology of bathrooms and how they're presented, so I tend to take a picture of every bathroom at every institution I end up going to. Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center did not disappoint. I thoroughly loved the tiling on the walls of native wildlife. A very good touch. The entire facility is filled to the brim with education on the native wildlife habitats and species you can find around Mystic. It's very good. For birders, this place is a fairly decent way to find more native species. Red-Bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpecker, tons of sparrows, and my friend has even spotted a Belted Kingfisher here in the warmer months. Overall, this place is fantastic. The front of desk lady was extremely helpful and kind. I only had wish I had gotten her name, she made this experience a memorable one. If you're in the area in the future, whether it's looking for nature trails or even visiting the aquarium or the seaport, please find some time to check out this location. It's a quick stop but absolutely worth it to learn a lot more about the nature around us. I look forward to stopping by once again in the warmer months. I am hoping that they take proper precautions with the oncoming Avian Influenza however.

Must see if in mystic. The owls were so cool and learning about rehabilitation makes you want to…read morebecome a conservationist. Even if the building is closed, you can still enjoy the trails. Don't forget to donate to keep this place going.

Tranquil and well-marked loop trail, this preserve is bordered by the Pawcatuck River. It will…read moreonly take a half-hour or so to complete this easy loop (and some side trails) but it's very enjoyable and lovely. The trailhead is in a residential area and while there's only enough parking for officially one vehicle, hopefully, the residents won't mind you parking on the side of the road too much. Speaking of which, how lucky are they to be able to walk this preserve daily and take some "alone time" at various benches and picnic tables available within the park? Fortunate indeed!

Jack is a truly amazing captain. The experience on his boats are incredible and fun and full of…read morehistory as well! We have been out with Captain Jack 4 times now over the past 10 years and would do it every day if we could! He is a great captain and teaches you so much about the history of the area (and even if you think you don't like history, he will make it fun and interesting). We cannot say enough amazing things about Jack. On top of it all, he is really an amazing human being. Do NOT go to Watch Hill without going on a boat with Jack Spratt!

Awesome history and 7 lighthouse tour of Fishers Island Sound!! Out of Mystic Seaport, Capt…read moreSpratt's knowledge of the nautical and land history held us spell bound for 3 hours! The harbor seals were an adorable addition.