But just five minutes down the road—literally one exit away on I-95—there is another village. It shares the same ocean, the same history, and the same charm, but it has none of the crowds. Skip the pizza lines and the drawbridge traffic. This year, head to the quiet peninsula that time forgot: Stonington Borough.
Stonington Borough sits on a quiet peninsula, offering historic sea captain's homes and harbor views without the commercial chaos of nearby Mystic.
The "Anti-Tourist Trap": Stonington Borough, CT
Population: ~900 (in the Borough) Vibe: A rich sea captain’s retirement village from 1850.
While Mystic feels built for tourists, "The Borough" (as locals call it) feels built for residents who want silence. It sits on a narrow finger of land jutting into Long Island Sound, meaning there is no through traffic. You only go there if you mean to be there.
The streets are lined with incredibly preserved 18th and 19th-century white clapboard houses. It is so historically perfect that Steven Spielberg filmed Amistad here. It’s walkable, salty, and incredibly peaceful.
Why Locals Go Here Instead
The real draw is the authenticity. There are no chain stores. There are no t-shirt shops.
- The Walkability: The entire village is one mile long. You can park your car and never touch it again. You walk from the coffee shop to the antique store to the beach.
- The Water: Because it’s a peninsula, you are surrounded by water on three sides. The Stonington Harbor is filled with actual fishing boats (it’s the home of the last commercial fishing fleet in CT), not just shiny yachts.
- The History: Visit the Old Lighthouse Museum. It’s small, climbable, and offers a view of three states (CT, RI, NY) without the massive lines you find at other maritime museums.
Affordable Luxury: How to Do It Right
Stonington offers a "Gold Coast" feeling without the pretension.
- Stay: The Inn at Stonington. This is the splurge, but it’s worth it. It sits right on the water with fireplaces in the rooms. For a more budget-friendly option, look for guesthouses in nearby Westerly, RI, just across the river.
- Eat: Dog Watch Café. Tucked away in the back of a boatyard, this is where the locals eat. It has the best outdoor deck in the state, overlooking the harbor. Order the "Stonington Bomb" (stuffed quahog) and a local beer. For something fancy, Noah’s Restaurant on Water Street has been serving scratch-made food for decades.
- Do: Walk to DuBois Beach. It’s a tiny, postcard-perfect beach at the very tip of the peninsula. It’s rarely crowded, the water is calm, and the view of the sunset over Watch Hill is unbeatable.
The Local Secret
Most tourists stick to Water Street (the main drag). But the real secret is the Velvet Mill.
Located just outside the historic village, this massive repurposed industrial mill is now a thriving hive of artists, bakers, and brewers. Inside, you’ll find Beer’d Brewing, one of the cult-favorite breweries in New England. It’s gritty, cool, and filled with locals on Friday nights—a total contrast to the polished silence of the Borough.
The Bottom Line: If you want an aquarium and a slice of fame, go to Mystic. If you want to pretend you own a whaling ship and live in the 19th century, go to Stonington Borough.