A Very Connecticut Christmas: Stonington’s Lobster Trap Tree

When the holidays roll in, Stonington’s Lobster Trap Tree is a must-see! Built from lobster traps and decked out with buoys and lights by the fishing docks, it’s a festive, fun coastal showstopper.

It takes hours for the volunteers to set up the tree and to hang the buoys! This is my favorite part — the buoys are a community involvement project. Each buoy had been hand painted by Connecticut and Rhode Island artists. These buoys are sold off in an auction on the website. Other buoys are painted by children and sponsored by local businesses.

The Stonington Lobster Trap Tree was first erected in 2021. It became so successful that it returned every season since then. The amount of buoys grew over the years, the tree even got taller! Many proposals also have happened here — I personally witnessed one during 2025 season!

Every season I have enjoyed walking around the tree looking at each buoy (remember, there’s hundreds of them!!). The variety of artist skills always is amazing. There were many buoys dedicated to the fishing village with paintings of specific fishing boats that you normally see at the docks. Most often you’ll recognize the popular landmarks from surrounding area such as the Stonington Lighthouse, Downtown Mystic drawbridge and the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI.

Did you know you can go inside the tree? The view is amazing on the inside at sunset hour or at night with the lights on. I do have to warn that there are long lines every weekends. The people wait to take their photos inside the tree by one of the many volunteers.

The lobster trap tree is magical to see. I always visit it several times during the season — it never gets old. I also almost always see something new each time. I strongly recommend you to visit around 4pm, when you can see the buoys in day light then watch the lights come on around 4:30pm. It stays on until 9:30pm daily. If you don’t feel comfortable being around many people, it’s almost always empty during the daylight hours during the weekdays. 

The tree is located at the park right next to the fishing docks. You can’t miss it. FYI families, there is a playground right by the tree. There is a public parking lot near the tree — it can be limited when it’s crowded. If there aren’t any spaces right by the tree, there are plenty of side street parking surrounding the park or on the Main Street in the borough.

I love how the community rallied together to make this tree happen. A lot of help, monetary donations, time, volunteering went into this! Thank you to all who were involved to make this wonderful and magical tree! It’s a favorite holiday tradition that I can’t miss!

More information can be found at their website here: Stonington Lobster Trap Tree.

A guide to visiting Groton, Connecticut

Did you know that Mystic is considered a village that is part of Groton, Connecticut? If you’re on the right side, that is. The downtown where Sift Bake Shop and Mystic Pizza are - that is the Groton side. If you cross over the bridge towards Whaler’s Inn and Mystic River Park, you’re in Stonington.

Groton was nicknamed “Rotten Groton”, but there’s nothing rotten about it! When I moved to Connecticut, I learned about its rich military history. Groton is known as the submarine capital of the world. If you’re looking for an easy short day, look no further than Groton.

A painted sub that was part of a town-wide submarine trail in 2016. Some subs can be spotted in the wild to this day.

Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park is a Revolutionary War era battlefield that sits next to the Thames River. It’s across the river from Fort Trumbull in New London, CT. Fort Griswold is a 17 acres battlefield with old cannons, memorials and monuments. There is a 135 feet obelisk monument dedicated to lives lost during the battle. I had the opportunity to walk up the 166 steps to the top and see the river view! It was gorgeous sunny that day when I went up. Next to the monument, there is a small museum (in the old caretaker’s house) with historical artifacts. The museum and monument are open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The battlefield is open year-round. It’s fun to explore and walk around the battlefield during any season. The river view is always amazing (here’s a tip, this is one of the best spots for sunsets!).

Entrance to Fort Griswold.

Rocky path down to the open field (there are other paths that aren’t as rocky, but may be steep climb).

One of underground bunkers at Fort Griswold.

The view of Thames River from Fort Griswold.

Submarine Force Museum / USS Nautilus has an amazing collection of the submarine history. The museum is managed by the U.S. Navy. You can also tour the USS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine. The tour is usually about half hour long, and definitely not for those who are claustrophobic! It was a challenge for me, but I did it. I have EVEN more appreciation for our Sailors, I can’t imagine being confided in a tight space for months! There are two submarines on display out front of the museum as well. There’s so much to look at inside the museum, it’s worthwhile to explore this museum!

The Submarine Force museum.

Submarine coming home - Halloween 2017.

February 2018.

June 2021.

The reason why Groton is known to be the ‘submarine capital’ is because of U.S. Navy base (which is located right next to the museum) and General Dynamics Electric Boat. Electric Boat is the primary submarine builder for the U.S. Navy. If you’re lucky, you can spot a submarine going up or down the Thames River. Usually the best point of views is at Eastern Point Beach.

At Eastern Point Beach, you can see Thames River connecting into the Long Island sound. You can see many boats (ferries included) coming in and out. During the off season, parking is free for anyone. Many people go there to take in the beautiful coastal views. Again, this is another good spot for sunsets. From there, you can see two lighthouses - Ledge Light and New London Lighthouse. During summer, the beach can be a busy place to be!

View of Thames River from Eastern Point.

Eastern Point Beach.

UConn Avery Point is near by to Eastern Point Beach. There is a walking trail that is open to anyone. It also has beautiful coastal views. This is the home to one of my favorite lighthouses - the Avery Point Light. I enjoy watching people fishing off the rocks here. The Branford House (a mansion modeled oof the Newport Mansions) is stunning. I’m always amazed by its details, it seems like I find a new one every visit. Many weddings have occurred here, so if you’re here during summer on the weekends chances are very likely that you will see one. I love the panoramic ocean view from the balcony!

Branford Mansion at UConn Avery Point.

Avery Point Light. My pup couldn’t get in the festive mood with me!

A lot of photo opportunities here!

Avery Point Light in the dark - the green light is on every night.

Groton is also home of the BEST pasta ever. Where? Paul’s Pasta Shop. It is a gem. The pasta is made fresh daily right there in their shop. When I first moved here, it quickly became a favorite. So much that I became a regular there. I’ve celebrated many milestones there. Paul’s Pasta is the coziness of Italian restaurants, friendly staff and amazing food. It is a very special place! The best part is that you can take fresh pasta home to cook another night!

Pesto pasta and lobster ravioli.

Whenever I need some quietness from the bustle of Mystic, I enjoy walking around Groton either at the battlefield or Avery Point. You can’t beat those coastal views! I love how you can see all 3 lighthouses from Avery Point too. I used to sit at the Eastern Point Beach parking lot early in the morning with breakfast and watch the ferry when I lived in Groton. It took me a while before I finally saw my first submarine! That went in my book as one of the coolest thing I saw!

USS Nautilus.

5 kayaking spots in North Stonington, CT

This summer I made some reels for the tourism account - Visit Eastern Connecticut on Instagram. Recently, I shared about the 5 kayaking spots in North Stonington. I thought I’d share them here too because I really enjoyed kayaking in North Stonington!

First of all, North Stonington is a rural agricultural town so I’d never guess that there were FIVE spots for kayaking there. There are several lakes and ponds hidden in the town.

Here are the 5 kayaking spots:

Billings Lake

This was probably the busiest spot - a lake big enough for boating and kayaking. There was also a large rock where many people were swimming near and jumping off of. On this lake, there are also many private residences.

Parking: The parking lot was very small, but luckily I found a spot that day. My advice for this one would be to go there EARLY!

I enjoyed kayaking on this lake, but I was uncomfortable because of the high activity with boaters and jet skiing. I can’t hear them coming from behind me (I’m deaf) so I had to be on high alert. The views were beautiful!

Anderson Pond

Anderson Pond is right next door to Billings Lake. A lot smaller pond with less traffic.

Parking: Small but not crowded. The launch area was C-shaped, this is 1 way only and allows drop off near the water. The launch was a little tough. There wasn’t any ramp, but pavement that goes into the water.

Anderson Pond was the most open pond, where you could see the entire body at once. The views were nice. I found this spot to be the most quiet.

Wyassup Lake

A large lake similar to Billings Lake. There are several houses by the water, a popular spot for fishing boats.

Parking: A decent sized parking lot with a nice launch ramp. There were many off-road parking on the side of the road directly across from the parking lot.

Wyassup Lake was gorgeous. I really enjoyed kayaking here. I wasn’t as stressed about the boaters as it was very spacious. Many boaters were anchored and fishing.

Long Pond/Lantern Hill Pond

In the reel, I mis-labeled it as Lantern Hill Pond, it actually is Long Pond. Both Lantern Hill Pond and Long Pond are located right next to each other.

Parking: Lantern Hill Pond had the trickiest parking area/launch. I was unable to launch the kayak into Lantern Hill Pond because it was covered in lilies and weed. Long Pond had more accessible launch and a huge parking lot! I wouldn’t have to ever worry about finding a parking spot at Long Pond.

I don’t recommend Lantern Hill Pond for kayaking. Long Pond is another quiet place for kayaking, but big enough to explore! I enjoyed watching the wildlife here, there were plenty of geese and birds.

Lake of Isles

There is a pond in the middle of the golf course at Foxwoods! It is the most shallow pond. This seems to be the most popular spot for kayakers.

Parking: This one had the best parking lot. A spacious and paved parking lot. There were a lot room at the launch ramp, where there’s even a dock.

Lake of Isles was the most fun spot for kayaking. A lot to see with the golfers golfing, golf carts passing over the lake via a wooden bridge, the shallow water allowed you to see the seaweed/turtles/etc. There were many kayakers there the day I went.

THE VERDICT:

My most favorite was… Lake of Isles! Wyassaup Lake was a close follow up. Overall, all lakes and ponds were gorgeous for kayaking. All of them are surrounded by trees so I kept thinking how stunning they all will be in October during the foliage!

Hope you enjoy kayaking there!

Stonington Coastal Accesses

Recently I shared about coastal accesses in Mystic here and Noank/Groton here. In this blog I will feature those in Stonington. Stonington is another town that I frequent and enjoy all the shoreline views from there!

Here are some coastal accesses opened to the public to enjoy in Stonington, CT:

• Stonington Point - past the Stonington lighthouse, this public parking lot is where many people come and sit to take in the views. During warmer months, people will walk along the rocks. There is a small grassy area with a few benches. DuBois beach is located here, during summer there is a fee to get in the beach.

• Stonington Commons (Water St at Cannon Square) - this is one of my favorite pathways. If you walk towards the waterfront on the sidewalk from Stonington Commons sign. Turn left towards the white gazebo. The path will start there. Another point to enter/exit is the path across from Trumbull Street. Whenever I dine at Breakwater restaurant nearby for dinner, I walk on this path to see the sunset!

• Wayland’s Wharf (Church Street) - there is a small parking lot here. A small park with a gazebo. This seems to be really popular spot for dogs! It is not far from the Stonington fishing docks.

• Stonington Fishermen Dock - a small dock where you often see people fishing, there also is a memorial for lost fishermen. This is the best spot to watch the fishing vessels come back or leave. You can also walk through the dock as long you respect them, their equipments and vessels. There is a public parking lot on site.

• Northwest St x Cross St (Stonington Small Boat Association) - there is a short path to an overlook area, there are benches where you can sit and enjoy the waterfront views.

• Dodge Paddock / Beal Preserve - located at end of Wall St. There is a trail taking you through the marshes, meadow and along the coastline. If you enjoy oyster shells hunting, this is the ideal spot depending on the time! It is dog friendly too. There is a small parking lot right at the entrance to the preserve.

• Barn Island - Located on the border of Pawcatuck/Stonington, there is a 5.1 mile loop trail through the tidal marshlands. Very popular spot for birdwatching and biking. Barn Island is over 1,000 acres so there is plenty to see! There are several parking spots. There is a large paved parking lot near the boat launch.

There are plenty more along Connecticut shoreline! You can look up via Google to see more coastal accesses in specific towns. A reminder to please respect the locals while exploring the coastal access points. I can’t imagine what I’d do without them! It’s a great way to enjoy the CT shoreline.

Groton/Noank Coastal Accesses

In another blog here, I shared about some coastal access points in Mystic. Now I will be sharing even more that you can visit in Noank and Groton. I’m very grateful for public coastal accesses! It’s so fun to see all the various angles of the water!

Here are some coastal accesses opened to the public to enjoy in Noank, CT:

Riverview Ave x Palmer Ct - this is one of my favorite spots for sunrises. There is a small beach that is open to the public. The nearest parking is at the Town Dock park on Main Street so you will need to walk. From the Town Dock, walk up Riverview Ave past Ford’s and up the steep hill. You’ll see the coastal access sign right next to the street name sign.

Town Dock and park - at the end of Main Street past Carson’s Store, there is a small park with a dock overlooking the water. This is the best spot to watch all the boats passing by. Bring some lawn chairs and snacks/drinks! There is a small parking lot.

Tanglewood Park / Haley Farm State Park - Tanglewood Park is around the corner from Haley Farm on Seneca Drive - a small park with a playground. There is a small beach overlooking the cove. There is parking lot at the top of the hill. Haley Farm is an old shoreline farm with several paths. I haven’t really walked far into Haley Farm to see if they have coastal views but I would assume so since it abuts Palmer Cove! There are bike paths too if you have a bicycle!

Spicer Park - A small park overlooking Beebe Cove. This is the location of Noank Rowing Club and their boathouse. Naturally seeing how my Instagram is central around the shoreline living, I love photographing the rowing boats there. The view is very beautiful and there are picnic tables near by the shoreline. Parking lot is across the street from the park.

Here are some coastal accesses opened to the public to enjoy in Groton, CT:

Esker Beach - a small beach that is free to the public year-round. There are several picnic tables with grills for cook outs! There is a small path that takes to you to a small overlook with a bench. From there, you can see the iconic Morgan Point lighthouse (Noank) across the water. There is an on-site parking lot.

NOTE: A movie crew was in town doing a Christmas movie at Esker Beach so that’s the reasoning behind the decor!

UConn Avery Point - there is a walkway path on UConn Avery Point. The waterfront views is amazing from here especially at sunset! You can see all three lighthouses (Avery Point, New London and Ledge Light) from here. A lot of ferries passes by through this area. There is an overlook dock. A lot people fish on the rocks below. Parking is available on campus.

Bluff Point - a popular park for cyclists, dog walkers and hikers. There are a few paths throughout the park. It’s fun to watch people shellfishing in the water here! Also from here, you can see airplanes taking off and landing at Groton-New London Airport across the water. There is an on-site parking lot. Plenty of picnic tables and several portable potty available.

Poquonnock River Walkway (65 Depot Road) - This is a beautiful path, especially when the beach grasses thrives during the summer. The park is right before you enter Bluff Point so look for the Poquonnock Park sign. You’ll see a small playground and a paved walkway with a small parking lot.

Calf Pasture Overlook - located at 770 Shennecossett Rd, a small overlook off Baker Cove. There is a single bench. Two parking spots (one is reserved for handicapped).

Hope you enjoy exploring and appreciate the beautiful shoreline views we have here in Southeastern CT. A gentle reminder to please respect the locals as some of these coastal accesses are near private residences. If you want to explore more, read about Stonington coastal accesses here.

Why the Blessing of the Fleet Is So Special in Stonington, Connecticut

Last week I shared the guide to visiting Stonington, CT. One of the annual July events, The Blessing of the Fleet was this past weekend. The Blessing of the Fleet has been happening for 60+ years in Stonington borough. A tradition to honor our fishermen and their families as well as remembering the ones we lost. Read more about it here.

This year was the first time that Town Dock hosted an Open House on Saturday. I attended and got a peek inside of the fishing vessels that I often photograph. I didn’t realize that I’d be walking away with an expanded knowledge and even MORE appreciation for our fishermen!

I toured two different type of fishing vessels:

F/V Tradition

This boat goes out for 2-4 days. If they catch squids, then it is shorter trip because squids doesn’t stay fresh for long. This crew is usually 2-4 people. The captain even sometimes goes out alone! The boat is a lot smaller compared to the scallop boat.

F/V Furious

The scallop boat goes out 6x a year, for 5-15 days at a time. There is usually a crew of 5-6 people. This boat was HUGE, close to 60 feet long. We started the tour on the deck, where the scallops first comes on board. They go through a sorting process (weeding out baby scallops, rocks, etc). Meanwhile, they only have 50 minutes before the next net of scallops comes in! The scallops are then brought into a room inside the vessel where they’re dumped into a trough. In there, the scallops are cut out of the shells and washed. 50 pounds of scallops are put into a bag that goes down a chute to the chilled storage space below the deck.

Another surprising fact that I learned was that the captain actually helps with this process WHILE piloting the boat from that room. That room is in the back of the boat so there is no direct view of water in the front. This processing room does have a GPS/spotter that the captain uses to navigate.

After learning the processing of scallops, we saw the gallery and kitchen. I watch too many TV shows, so I always thought fishermen doesn’t shower while they’re out on the seas. I can confirm that F/V Furious DOES have a shower! The fisherman also shared that they bring about $3K worth of food for their voyage. They work in 6 hour shifts. Every day they must report about their catch: how many they got, what trip and even the location, all this information goes to the regulatory committee.  It is important that the scallops, and all other seafood, are not over fished.

F/V Furious also can be limited to where they can fish on the water, which is why the regulatory committee also need to know their location. While we were touring the piloting section of the boat (called the wheelhouse), they answered any questions that people had.  We were told one story about a recent gas fill up that ran over $40K. The crew is not paid a salary, instead each crew member is given some portion of shares of the profit, so unfortunately they all feel the pain of raising supply costs.

I always had an appreciation for our fishermen, but this tour allowed us to ask all the questions and learn more in depth about their trips. Obviously I never knew all of the behind-the-scene details - how long they leave for, how much things cost them, how long their shifts are, etc. This tour showed how they truly work hard to bring amazing fresh seafood to our shoreline town. I’m really glad that the Town Dock hosted the Open House this year!

Please support them by purchasing LOCAL seafood. There is a Sea Well right there at the town dock. The seafood is in a freezer and it is a honor system, you pay for what you get (there’s a price list in the window). See more retailers (and restaurants!) that has Stonington Fresh seafood here.

Please inform me if I got any facts incorrect as it was a verbal tour. I didn’t think to take notes as I did not expect to have my knowledge expanded as much it did!

Slow Down in Stonington, Connecticut: A Local-Style Travel Guide

A hop over from Mystic, visit the quintessential New England historical town of Stonington. The borough quickly became a favorite place of mine when I first moved here. I was drawn to the beautiful homes lining the main street. Stonington is the oldest village in Connecticut, established in 1649. It’s the perfect destination during any season, I love to take a stroll around the borough!

Here are some suggestions of what to do in Stonington:

Shop the local businesses

There are a variety of shops up and down the main street from clothing, floral, jewelry, antiques, art galleries, boutiques and more.

Walk around the borough

There are several routes in Stonington. There is a short coastline trail in front of Stonington Commons, if you walk down the paved path from the Yacht Club to the gazebo - the trail will start there. Another route is inside Dodge Paddock/Beal Preserve. Go down Wall Street and you’ll find a small lot to park in. The trail is through the marshes with views of the harbor.

Visit the locations of where movies were filmed

See the Mystic Pizza blog here. Many of the locations were filmed in Stonington. Another movie, Hope Springs starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones also was filmed in Stonington. You will recognize the yellow house near the Cannon Square as ‘the therapist office’ in the movie. A few Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movies also have been filmed here.

Stonington Fishermen Dock

I enjoy coming here a lot to photograph the fishing fleet. It is open to the public from dawn to dusk. Please respect the fishermen and don’t touch or use their equipments. I do have to warn, the seafood smell can be STRONG so if you don’t like the scent, this is not the place for you! There is a small lot near the overlook where you can enjoy the views (and sometime watch people fish!). Nearby the dock, you can purchase frozen seafood from Sea Well Seafood to bring home.

Old Lighthouse

Built in 1840, it has a beautiful stonework on the exterior. Recently, the museum inside the lighthouse underwent a renovation, and it looks amazing! Very open and spacious. There is an admission fee of $10 for adults. This fee will allow you entry to the tower (top of the lighthouse), the views can be breathtaking! I often enjoy the grounds of the lighthouse with my pup, as well many other dogs.

DuBois Beach

Across the street from the lighthouse is a small beach. During the summers you will need a pass to enter. During off season it is open to the public. The parking lot gives you a 360 view of the harbor. You can see the Ocean House in Watch Hill, RI. One of the best spots for sunsets!

Dine in many of Stonington’s restaurants

There are several restaurants in Stonington that are really good! My favorite breakfast spot is Indulge Coffee and Sandwich Co. Indulge, a quaint neighborhood spot with delicious egg sandwiches, coffee and more. They have gluten free options! For lunch or dinner, I love Breakwater. You cannot beat the waterfront views during the warm months. The shrimp tacos are the best! Noah’s Restaurant is also a wonderful long time institution in Stonington (40+ years!). A true local’s spot. It’s always so cozy especially during the holidays. Dog Watch Cafe is another good one! They have a dock overlooking the water and the boatyard, which is a must during the summer.

Velvet Mill

A bit way out of the borough, but not too far, is a repurposed mill with many small businesses. A variety of artists studios, antiques, clothing, health services (massage, yoga, etc), tattoo parlor, bakery to restaurants. There’s even a brewery in there. Velvet Mill is a great hidden gem in Stonington. I love stopping in Zest for the gluten free goods. Woodfella’s Pizza and Wings also has been a long time favorite of mine, both pizza and wings are so good! The best part about Velvet Mill is that it’s dog friendly too!

There are so many events that occurs in Stonington. Here are a few that I’ve attended and really enjoyed!

Tulips [April]

In the spring there are thousands of tulips blooming all around the borough. The majority of them were around the green where Stonington Free Library is. It’s always so beautiful to see. I had read somewhere that there was 3,000 tulips planted!

Gardens by the Sea [June]

The Stonington Garden Club hosts this event in June. A walking tour of gardens in the borough, where some private residences open up their property to the public for a fee. It is a very popular event in the borough, and it always is packed that weekend! The tour tickets for this event can be purchased online (Stonington Garden Club website) or on-site.

Fourth of July Parade [July]

The parade and reading of the Declaration of Independence is a tradition in the borough on Fourth of July. The Stonington Historical Society hosts this event annually. It’s always one of the best times of the year in Stonington when the whole village is decked out patriotically. Small town living at its best!

Blessing of the Fleet [July]

An annual event I always look forward to at end of July. It is a weekend long event honoring our lobstermen and their families, as well remembering the lost ones. The weekend usually starts with a 5K through the borough. On Saturday, Stonington Holy Ghost Society hosts a gathering with live music and food. On Sunday, there will be a mass at St. Mary’s Church. After the mass, there will be a ceremony at the fishermen dock. The boats are usually decked out for the ceremony - very nautical! The vessels goes out in the water where they are blessed and lay a wreath for the lost fishermen. This year, there will be an open house at the fishermen dock where you can tour some of the vessels! Read more about it here.

Village Fair [August]

A long time tradition going back to 1952, the fair consists of many vendors, games, music, food and many more. One of my favorite part, there’s a used book sale! It’s a great community event open to everyone! The fair is in the Wadawanuck Square.

Holiday stroll [December]

I regularly attend this every year. The main street is decked out in holiday garnish, the shops stays opened late, horse carriage rides, people milling around with friends, and there’s the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the square near the library.

Stonington Lobster Trap Tree [Late November-January]

New to Stonington’s holiday tradition, there is a lobster trap tree on the green in front of the fishermen dock. It is a stunning display with amazing community involvement. All buoys are hand painted by local artists. I enjoyed visiting this tree several times last winter and appreciated all the beautiful artwork/buoys. I am very much look forward to seeing it again this winter!