Photographed on March 27, 2025 when Charles W. Morgan was moved to the shipyard at Mystic Seaport Museum for routine maintenance in Mystic, Connecticut.
Mystic Irish Parade 2025
A fun tradition in Mystic, Connecticut! I look forward to the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. This was captured during the 2025 Mystic Irish Parade. Please make request here for a free copy of photo(s) of yourself, your loved one or your pets.
Mystic Irish Parade 2024 gallery
Things to do during Spring in Mystic, CT
Happy Spring! I’m thrilled that the warmer weather will be here (we already had some ‘teaser’ days!) and we can enjoy the outdoors more. I’m also excited for all of the flowers to bloom across Mystic. I love that Mystic is an ideal town to visit year-round. Here are some suggestions for things to do this spring:
DAFFODILS @ DENISON HOMESTEAD MUSEUM
The unofficial kick-off to spring in Mystic starts with 10,000 beautiful daffodils blooming at Denison Homestead Museum! It usually starts in late March/early April. The field is directly in front of the house, which is visible from the road. It is open to the public from dawn-dusk. Stop by, enjoy them and take photos! Also a head’s up - the field can be muddy so be sure to wear rain boots! Don’t miss the Daffodil Festival usually held in the first week of April where you can tour the historical house, there are craft activities for kids and enjoy food/drinks. Extend your visit to the daffodil field with a hike on 10+ miles of trails at Denison Nature Center located across the street. Read more about it here.
LENTEN FISH FRY
Every Friday during Lent, there are several locations that fry up delicious fish and chips! Open to anyone of any faith to enjoy. Stop by:
Portuguese Holy Ghost Society in Stonington Borough from 11am-7:30pm
Mystic Fire Department at Hoxie House from 5-8pm
J&R Seafood Market from 11am-7pm
St. Edmund’s Retreat at Enders Island starts at 6pm
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
One of the best days in Mystic! The parade is one of the region’s largest held on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. The parade route starts at the south parking lot of Mystic Seaport, goes to Broadway, Main Street (Downtown Mystic) and ending at Mystic Art Museum. It usually draws 30K visitors to enjoy the festive event so be sure to arrive early to find a parking spot! Read more about St. Patrick’s Day in Mystic on a previous blog here.
TAKE THE MYSTIC PIZZA TOUR
You know that movie with Julia Roberts? It really was inspired by Mystic Pizza right here in Mystic, CT! The pizza restaurant may not be the actual filming location but there are many nearby in Mystic, Stonington, Pawcatuck, Noank and Westerly, RI. Take a spring day road trip to check out the locations! The addresses of the locations can be found on this blog: Mystic Pizza Tour.
VISIT MUSEUMS/AQUARIUM
Mystic has plenty of things to do and see, which includes museums and aquarium!
Mystic Museum of Art - a small museum with beautiful curated art works. Opened year around with free admission (unless there is a special exhibition) but donations are appreciated. Don’t miss out on the waterfront views from the back of the museum.
Mystic Aquarium - the aquarium is one of the largest in the United States. It’s easy enough to spend an entire day there. I always look so forward to the sea lions show as well visit the penguins and the whales.
Mystic Seaport Museum - this 19th century seafaring village is one of my favorite spots in Mystic. There’s always something to photograph and I also enjoy walking around the grounds with my pup! I suggest waiting until April 1st when the full museum is opened (only half is opened right now).
SHOP AT OLDE MISTICK VILLAGE
Opened year-round, this colonial 18th century village has over 50+ unique shops! The village consists of a luxury movie theater, restaurants, unique shops and more. There is something for absolutely everyone. Don’t forget to bring your fur kiddos as it is dog-friendly too!
ABBOTT’S OPENING FOR THE SEASON
Mark your calendar for the opening day of Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank, CT in the first week of May! Read more about Abbott’s on a previous blog here.
DOWNTOWN MYSTIC
Enjoy a stroll around downtown where there are plenty of local shops and restaurants to support. Mystic River Park is also a wonderful spot to relax, sit in one of the many benches and watch all the activity around the park.
Mystic holds a lot of charm and I love how it is an ideal spot to visit year-round. I hope you find this spring guide helpful and enjoy your visit. Pop over to my Instagram @knotsoloud and see more of Mystic on my feed. I would love to hear about your visit to Mystic!
Connecticut Maple Weekend in Hebron, Connecticut
It’s time of the year for maple! I consider myself a maple syrup connoisseur. My love for maple started as a kid living on the border of New York/Pennsylvania. I would hop over to Pennsylvania to this tree farm that would sell maple flavored cotton candy. When I moved to New England, I noticed that many states do a maple weekend so naturally I had to go see what a maple weekend was like!
Last year, I visited East Hampton and Hebron. It also colluded with the annual Hebron Maple Festival so there were even more activities to do. While I didn’t get to see what the festival offered because I wanted to focus on touring the open houses of several sugar houses.
If you plan to go to that area, I recommend this list (in order):
RICK’S SUGAR SHACK 69 COLLIE BROOK RD EAST HAMPTON, CT
I’m so glad that this was the first stop because Rick, the owner was VERY informative! I never seen the process of a sugar house so Rick really explained the process, showed a lot and was willing to answer questions. There was a small store offering maple syrup, maple flavored cookies and brownies, maple candy and more. Don’t miss the tasting room where you can sample the products before purchasing them!
WENZEL SUGAR HOUSE 522 EAST ST HEBRON, CT
The sugar house was similar to Rick’s Sugar Shack, but instead of collecting the sap in bags they used tubing system. I learned more about that process. This location was known for their maple pudding cake too, it looked delicious (but I couldn’t enjoy it because of my allergies unfortunately!). They also offer maple syrup for purchase.
WOODY ACRES 80 CONE ST HEBRON, CT
Here, I learned more about the amount of sap needed to collect to make one small tin of maple syrup. It is fascinating how much goes in a pint! Maple syrup and maple candy are also available to buy here.
WINDING BROOK 254 SKINNER LANE HEBRON, CT
The biggest sugar house, with a bigger machine to produce 300 gallon of maple syrup (other sugar houses produced 60 gallon). The machine used oil to operate, while the other machines I saw used wood stove. I learned more about the differences of the machines. Maple syrup was available for purchase, and you could taste them beforehand.
MORE SUGAR HOUSES IN THE AREA:
BRIGHT ACRES FARM 46 OLD KINGS HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT
BUELL’S DRAGONFLY FARM 105 OLD GRIFFIN HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT
GOSHEN HILL MAPLE 1040 GOSHEN HILL RD EXT LEBANON, CT
There were a few more sugar houses I planned to go, but time ran out for me. I plan to return and visit them as well see more of the Hebron Maple Festival! It’s a fun weekend to celebrate our local farmers and the hard work they put in to providing us delicious maple syrup!
shoreline photography: mystic’s best views
Living in Mystic, CT has inspired my passion for photography to make a comeback. I got into photography when I was a teen. I majored it in high school then first year of college before I decided I wanted to keep it as a hobby. I feared that doing it as a job would make me lose the fun I have while photographing.
During the pandemic, I was talking a lot more of walks around different neighborhoods in Mystic that I normally don’t walk through. I wanted to see more of the town and I had that extra time! As Mystic draws many visitors to the town, I thought I’d share my recommendations with photographers who desire to find the best photogenic spots in Mystic.
Mystic is blessed with it all — shoreline views, beautiful historical homes, wildlife, sunsets and more! My recommendations for the best photography spots are:
Downtown Mystic — you can’t go wrong with the historic drawbridge. If you’re visiting between spring-fall, you will be able to capture it in motion. The best views of the bridge would be on the Stonington side (Whaler’s Inn) from Mystic River Park. You also can walk around Downtown, I highly suggest getting up early in the morning (7-9am) before downtown gets busy.
River Road — this is the ideal spot for wildlife photographing. If you drive down near Peace Sanctuary, there will be some parking area off the side of the road. If you walk towards the overpass bridge, you’ll see several nests.
Pearl St x Starr St — the best view of Mystic Seaport lighthouse. I suggest going there for either sunrise or sunset, I always get amazing colors with the lighthouse!
Gravel St — a scenic route right by Mystic River. You can capture a lot from there from boats, birds, water activities and more. If you happen to be in town during full moon, I've captured my best photos of it from this location.
Mystic Seaport Museum — you’ll need an admission fee to get inside but I always get countless photos from there. I’ve photographed the visiting boats (Wooden Boat Show in June!), many close ups of nautical items, the water activity on Mystic River, the sailing classes with the bright colorful sails, the landscape of the historical village, it goes on and on!
Coastal accesses — there are so many of them along Mystic River with beautiful views. I’ve complied a list of them on a separate blog here. I’ve captured photos from all of them.
Holmes St to Bay St — another scenic route by the Mystic River. This is a favorite spot during fall for foliage photographing.
Historical homes — there are many of them around Mystic. I would suggest these following streets because they are very walkable: Willow Street, Gravel Street, Elm Street, Pearl Street, West Mystic Ave.
Hope you enjoy photographing the beautiful coastal town of Mystic! I always love seeing different perspectives from other photographers. It’s amazing how many different ways we all see Mystic!
celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Mystic
"St. Patrick's Day is a day to celebrate our green heritage. The ancestry of Ireland. It is a day to celebrate what it means to be Irish and of Irish descent." -Anthony T. Hicks
The knotty shamrock made by Mystic Knotwork.
Mystic, Connecticut has the region’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade every year on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. The parade route starts at the south parking lot of the Mystic Seaport and running through Broadway to Main St (Downtown Mystic). The end of the parade is at Mystic Art Museum, which is close to Sift Bake Shop. The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation (MIPF) always does an EXCELLENT job of organizing the parade every year to celebrate the Irish heritage for everyone! Can you believe that MIPF is completely volunteer driven and a nonprofit organization?!
Westerly Fire Department in St. Patrick’s Day parade 2023.
The parade itself is very impressive with over 2,000 participants and drawing 30,000 speculators every year. The usual participants are the fire departments (love how Mystic firefighters always sports the green gloves!), local organizations, antique cars, Mystic Aquarium, St. Patrick’s Church, the bagpipes bands, marching bands and the Guinness truck. It was a memorable year in 2018 when the Budweiser Clydesdales marched in the parade. I was especially excited as a (crazy) Dalmatian mom to see Barley the Budweiser Dalmatian!
Budweiser Clydesdales marched in the parade in 2018.
It can get crazy packed in the downtown area. I suggest you to get parking at least couple hours before the parade starts. The town police will close off routes across the town. If you want to be in downtown, there is parking at the Mystic Art Museum. If you want to be on the other side near Mystic Seaport Museum, there will be parking at Olde Mistick Village but it’s a trek! Most probably you will have to hunt for a spot on one of the many side streets along the parade route.
Mystic Highland Pipe Band in the parade.
Downtown Mystic gets VERY festive for St. Patrick’s Day with storefront decorations, Irish themed food/drinks, shamrocks everywhere and the tricolor Ireland flags waving throughout the town. I may live in the area, but I definitely think it is worth the drive to come here for the Irish weekend! The best part is there’s plenty to make a weekend out of it. If you are in town on Friday night, the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. (near the Mystic train station) hosts their annual fish ‘n’ chips dinner from 5-8 PM. They have one of the most delicious fish fry in the region! Mystic Irish 5K will be happening on the Saturday before parade day. On parade day, the Mystic Hook and Ladder Fire Company hosts their annual breakfast. They will be serving an all you can eat with eggs, home fries, corned beef hash, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and toast. Coffee and orange juice will be available.
The local businesses in downtown Mystic also get into the celebrations! The Black Dog always have St. Patrick’s Day themed clothing and hats. Sift Bake Shop rolls out their green croissants filled with Bailey Irish Cream! Mystic Knotwork made a green shamrock out of rope which is visible on the Mystic Drawbridge as well as their retail shops. Known for their handcrafted recycled sails tote bags, Sea Bags has shamrock themed bags! Looking for some Irish whiskey or Irish cream? Spencer & Lynn has all of the necessaries!
Young buns doughnuts [no longer in business] used to roll out fun St. Patrick’s Day themed donuts!
I can’t write this post without mentioning Harp & Hound Pub. It’s a necessity to stop in for a pint when you’re in Mystic. It is one of the most authentic Irish pubs I’ve been in. The owner is from Limerick, Ireland. The pub is filled with dark wood decor and roadway signs from Ireland as well patches from first responders. They also serve sandwiches and traditional Irish entrees for lunch and dinner. Every time I’m missing Ireland, I just go to the pub and reminiscence the memories!
Westerly FD in the parade.
Mystic Irish Parade Foundation does a raffle drawing every year with 3 prizes. The 3rd prize is a $200 gift card to Taber Inn in Mystic. The 2nd prize is an iPad Air. The grand prize is a trip for two to IRELAND! It includes 7 days/6 nights accommodations, round trip airfare, and car rental. You can purchase the raffle tickets which are $5 at Harp & Hound Pub. You do not need to be present to win. It’s an annual tradition to enter myself in the raffle drawing hoping for the grand prize! Who wouldn’t want a free trip to the beautiful Emerald Isle?!
The Ireland flag in the parade.
Lastly, don’t forget to visit Irish Eyes at Olde Mistick Village. They have everything you would need - a shirt? They got it! A hat? They got it! Irish sweaters? They got it! I love the Irish jewelry selection - make it a memorable trip and get yourself a claddagh ring to remember the fun Irish weekend in Mystic!
explore the wonders of mystic aquarium
Mystic Aquarium is home to thousands of marine life from penguins, beluga whales, seas lions to fishes. It’s so easy to spend the entire day there. It’s no surprise that Mystic Aquarium was named one of the best aquariums in the United States.
The aquarium is opened year round as it has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The indoor exhibits include fishes, octopus, jellyfishes, sharks and many more! Another indoor exhibit is Dino Seas which is an interactive exhibit on the history of dinosaurs. The outdoor exhibits include beluga whales, seals, sea lions and penguins. There is also a marsh area where you can find turtles.
To make your visit more fun, look into the encounters with animals where you can interact with penguins, sea lions and seals. These experiences have an additional cost on top of admission cost. It will be worth it to have a memorable experience! I enjoyed my experience of feeding the stingrays — I was scared at first but then had fun!
What I love about the aquarium is the easy flow of the layout, I always start the visit at the beluga whales exhibit. Look for my friend, Juno. They are so fun and I love it when they are playful with the visitors. I head over to the penguins and watch them waddle and paddle! If I’m lucky, I enjoy watching them during feeding time. The sea lion show (indoors) is a must, it never gets old. The aquarium does a good job of switching up themes of the shows yearly. I tend to spend most of my time there at the outdoor exhibits. At the end of the visit, I always do a walkthrough of the indoor exhibits. It’s fascinating to watch the jellyfishes!
How I found out about the aquarium was through their Animal Rescue/Rehab Center. I attended a seal release in Charlestown, Rhode Island back in 2012/2013. I was very intrigued to learn about all they do for injured animals and how they get rehabbed for releases. They do several seal releases which I try to attend — it’s heartwarming to watch them go back in the ocean! To follow when seal releases happens, Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program post updates on their Facebook page here. I do have to warn, these events do get very packed! I suggest getting to the beach early.
If you get hungry during your visit at the aquarium, there is a cafe where you can order food. There are several tables inside and outside where you can dine. Don’t forget to stop in the aquarium shop located next door. Pick up a souvenir to remember your fun memorable day there!
You can purchase tickets online at their website. There are ways you can save on your tickets, through a membership, special discounts for Military, First Responders, UConn, Foxwoods, etc. If you’re a resident in Connecticut, many libraries provide a day pass for discounted tickets. All information about hours, pricing, discounts are available here on their website. Parking is free on site.
things you should never say to a deaf person
Interacting with people who have never met a deaf person can sometimes make an interesting encounter. I had to compile a list of questions/comments you should never say to a deaf person:
“Can you hear me now?!” (covers mouth and screams)
I can’t tell you how often this happens; more frequently when I was younger in middle and high school. I played for a co-ed soccer team which my dad helped coach practices. One day I had a male teammate that asked me if I could hear him now as he covered his mouth and screamed (my dad heard him). I stood there puzzled having no idea what he had even asked me. I’ve even had people come up to my ears and scream “Can you hear me?!”.
“I’m sorry.”
Why? This is the most awkward thing you could say to a deaf person. I don’t feel sorry. This is my life. This is all I know. I can still do normal things. I can play sports. I can read books. I can travel. I can write. What’s there to be sorry about? When someone says that to me, it makes me feel weird and I never know what to say back.
“Can you drive?”
Why do you need your hearing to drive? “What about the firetrucks and ambulances?" I can SEE them! Some first responders don’t use the sirens, but use the lights. Deaf drivers are statistically proved to be safer drivers than hearing drivers because of high alertness and quicker motor reflexes. I can spot a flashing light from an emergency vehicle probably a mile behind or ahead of me, quicker than others. I have pulled over so many times with people around me not realizing that emergency vehicles were coming.
“You don’t look deaf.”
How can I look deaf? The hearing loss is inside my ears.
“I know ASL!” and flips the bird.
This is pretty old… I have gotten this reply so many times that it’s just [eye-rolling].
“Where are you from?” (accent)
This may be my favorite. I love it when people think I’m from another country. Sometimes I do have fun with this one, saying that I’m from (whatever country I feel like that day). Sometimes I would just say Upstate NY (where I am actually from) and people give me a strange look.
“I don’t know how I could live without music if I was deaf.”
I don’t know what I’m missing out on with hearing music. I still can enjoy music in a different way so it’s not missing from my life just because of my deafness. I went to a Flogging Molly concert last spring and wrote about it here. This comment is no different than saying that you don’t want my life. I happen to love my life!
“Tell her I said (this and that)” (Talk to my interpreter/friend/family like I’m not standing there).
I’m standing right there. You can ask me directly, look at me and whoever is with me will help to communicate. You can ask “How are you?” and they will sign “how are you” to me. If you say “Ask her how is she?”. They will sign “ask her how is she?”. It’s just confusing.
“Can you lipread?”
Almost always I want to reply “Can you read my sign?”. Read here.
“Why didn’t you get cochlear implants?”
People always think cochlear implants is an easy fix but it’s a huge decision. I wrote about my reason why I didn’t get them here.
“Wow! You can talk.”
Some deaf people talk. Some deaf people don’t. It’s a personal choice if they want to use their voice. I learned speech/talking first before sign language. Still, when I get that from people, it makes me cringe. I feel like it’s one of the more degrading comments you could say to a deaf person. We have the ability to do anything but hear.
“What’s the sign for (swear/dirty word)?”
One of the most annoying questions that I frequently get. When I meet a person who asks me that, it makes me feel like they’re not really interested in getting to know me as a person. I’m not your walking personal dictionary. Look it up yourself.
“I want to learn sign language.”
This is the most overused phrase that deaf people get. It's flattering when people are serious about wanting to learn sign language. Unfortunately, the majority of people who have said this to me ended up not doing it. Learning sign language is a commitment, so don’t say that unless you really mean it.
I do understand that most of time when those things are said to me, it’s not people’s intention to offend me. I’m hoping this list helps everyone to think about what they ask before meeting a deaf person for the first time.
Now here’s a list of responses I’ve got from people once they found out that I’m deaf:
“I’m so sorry, I will pray for you.”
“Oh, so he’s your hearing aid.” (referring to my family member).
“Have you tried antibiotics?”
“Haha, yeah right, you’re pretending to not understand me.”
“Can I try on your hearing aids?”
“Wow, your family is hearing? How is that possible?”
“Are those radios in your ears or something?”
All opinion in this blog are my own. It does not reflect the opinions of other deaf members.
Snow Day in Mystic
Hooray for some snow! Mystic, Connecticut always looks magical with the snow so I headed to Downtown to capture the scenes. These photos were taken on February 9, 2025. Please make request here if you would like to purchase any images.
USS Virginia homecoming 12/20/24
USS Virginia returned home from their deployment on December 20, 2024 to Groton, Connecticut. I’ve photographed several homecomings — there’s something special about each one of them. This was first holiday homecoming and the spirit was high! The sailors got in the holiday spirit as there were a couple who dressed as Santa and Buddy the Elf.
This homecoming also got to me when I saw the sign saying “Welcome Home Hailey”. I’m assuming Hailey to be a female. It was only recent that females were allowed to go on submarine deployments. As I have a family member actively working for U.S. Navy here in Groton. Knowing that my loved one had a part in making that happen and to see the results was something I couldn’t explain. In one word, proud.
I’m always grateful to everyone who serves for our country. Wishing the sailors and their loved ones a very Happy Holidays!
A Christmas stay at Harbor View Landing
December always bring out all of the fun festivities in Mystic, Connecticut! As a local I love to check out all what Mystic has to offer including accommodations. I’ve heard a lot about Harbor View Landing over the years. Once it was used as a filming set on Hallmark’s Mystic Christmas, I was even more intrigued to check out Harbor View Landing! The hosts were gracious and gifted me a night stay after I reached out to them.
ABOUT HARBOR VIEW LANDING
Located in West Mystic, Connecticut right on the banks of Mystic River. Harbor View Landing is a compound on 2 acres consisting of cottages, houses and even a riverboat! The coastal retreat offers you amazing waterfront views within 1 mile driving distance of Downtown Mystic. There is a parking area for all the resort guests. During warmer months, there are kayaks and bicycles available for the guests to use.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION
The road leading down to Harbor View Landing is mostly private so the whole compound is isolated from rest of the neighborhood. I was in awe of how beautiful all the cottages and houses were! I loved how each house had a coastal themed symbol on it such as lobster, whale, etc. Walking up to my unit — The WATERFRONT views! Wow, it was gorgeous and stunning. The day I went was overcast, I only can imagine how beautiful it is on a sunny blue sky day! The inside of the unit was beautiful. I knew it would be after seeing it on the Mystic Christmas movie and various photos on Instagram from others who have stayed there. I loved the coastal theme through out the unit, from the art on the wall, to doorknob details, and the shades of coastal blue. The kitchen was so cozy and cute!
MY STAY
I had the first floor of the Bluff House during December for a night. It was a chilly wintery day, so I had to turn up the temperature (I easily get cold!) And I was impressed with how quick the unit heated up. It was very cozy in the living room with the waterfront views. I enjoyed sitting on the couch watching TV and looking out at the water! The bedroom was large and spacious. There was an extra room off the bedroom with a daybed/couch. I thought it was a cute corner for reading a good book. I spent some time in the kitchen recreating a scene from the Mystic Christmas movie — frosting sugar cookies. It was a fun time, especially being in the actual filming location for that scene! The first floor also had a wrap around patio that had chairs you could sit on to enjoy the water views. If only it was warmer for me to do so! I did get to see the full moon from the patio the night I stayed there. I thought the unit overall was just the perfect size — not too small, had enough space.
GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT HARBOR VIEW LANDING
The unit I stayed in didn’t have a stove. It wasn’t an issue with all of the restaurants nearby in Downtown Mystic. Mystic Market West is also a 5 minute walk — where you can get sandwiches, sides, salads, groceries, etc.
If you’re coming to have a Hallmark Christmas stay — Mystic Christmas was filmed on the first floor of the Bluff House and the Nantucket Cottage.
Great communication from the hosts! I had an issue with the unit and texted them. Within minutes, I heard back from them and they resolved the issue.
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT HARBOR VIEW LANDING
It’s a perfect spot for weddings, a family reunion, birthday party or a retreat. I’m amazed how this is located in Mystic — it feels like a vacation resort. I had to catch myself a few times remembering that I’m still in Mystic. If it caught the eyes of Hallmark production to film there, you can understand why it’s a beautiful setting for your stay!
BOOKING INFORMATION
Fall scenes at Whittle's Farm
Whittle’s Farm is truly a gem in Mystic, Connecticut. I’ve been pumpkin patchin’ here for over a decade. I love to come back during a quiet hour without people around to capture everything FALL. There is never a shortage of pumpkins!
FireFighter returns to Mystic
Photographed on October 28, 2024 when FireFighter returned to Mystic Seaport Museum from maintenance work in Rhode Island.
A stay at Farmhouse Mystic
One thing about me is that I love to see how people decorate their homes. In Mystic, there are several Airbnbs and it’s always so interesting to see how the owners tie in Mystic into the theme of the home decor. Farmhouse Mystic was no expectation. I’ve followed Michelle, the owner of Farmhouse Mystic, for a couple years (Farmhouse started in 2022) and I’ve admired the beauty of the house through Instagram. Needlessly, I was thrilled to finally have the chance to stay there. Michelle graciously gifted me a two nights stay in the Farmhouse.
Farmhouse in Mystic, Connecticut.
ABOUT FARMHOUSE
Farmhouse is located in Mystic, within walking distance of Mystic Seaport and Downtown. A historical farmhouse built in 1876 with 3 bedrooms (4 beds) and 2 full bathrooms. It can welcome up to 8 guests who book for a minimum of 3 nights. A beautiful coastal farmhouse style is decorated throughout the home. The house has a sunroom, front porch, back patio, spacious yard with a bonfire pit and a private driveway.
Checking in!
The upstairs living room.
Beautiful natural light.
One of the three bedrooms.
The living room downstairs is well stocked with books!
MY FIRST IMPRESSION
It was easy to find the house. I was greeted by Michelle, who always greet every guest that stays at Farmhouse. She showed me around the house and made sure that I knew where everything was. She also explains about the attractions of the Mystic area to out of town visitors. She left me coffee/milk/cream, alcohol (beer/wine), and a seasonal treat! I don’t know if Michelle realizes how addicted I am to maple syrup but she left me maple flavored popcorn.
I was blown away by the beautiful details she put into this house. I saw a lot of Mystic throughout: books, wall prints, products from local businesses, and many more. I also loved the coastal farmhouse theme. I was in love with many objects around the house that I took notes for my home!
The house is very clean and well organized as things are labeled throughout the different rooms. Michelle makes herself available if her guests run into any issues.
Having dinner in the kitchen on the first night!
Artistic painting of Farmhouse.
The wrapped sunroom.
MY STAY
My favorite parts of the stay was the huge bathtub, the upstairs living room and the kitchen. I spent a lot of time eating in the kitchen and enjoying the beautiful natural lighting (no matter what time of the day). I took advantage of the bathtub both nights I was there for — Michelle even left a bottle of bubble bath! The living room upstairs is so beautiful that I was in awe of the decor. I enjoyed a good book at the end of the day on the cozy couch.
It was also difficult to pick which bedroom to stay in because they all were beautiful and inviting! Michelle showed me where the sun rises and sets, I picked the bedroom where the morning light would come in. During my stay, the full moon made its appearance so I fell asleep under it shining in, then woke up to the peaceful morning light!
I had some down time to look through the Farmhouse History Book. It contained the history of the house including property deeds and past owner through the years. There was also some historical information about the area and its notable figures. I loved that!
Always checking out the books selections!
Morning time with news and coffee.
Prepping for a bonfire.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT FARMHOUSE
During my stay at Farmhouse, I took a peek through the guest book (I always love to see what others have to say about their experiences!) and there was a common theme of: charming and quaint house, amenities it has to offer, comfortable place to relax, the details in the house. Many families have stayed here for college graduations (UConn Avery Point, Coast Guard Academy and Conn College). There were also many girls weekends/bachelorette weekends. One family even celebrated Thanksgiving there!
Endless compliments about the host! Michelle leaves personalized gifts for the guests. I read in the guestbook that she did a dinosaur hunt for a family with kids, put up holiday decors for a family who stayed there during the holidays and even had Coast Guard Academy cupcakes for a graduate’s family!!
On the Airbnb listing, the Farmhouse is highly ranked in the top 1% of homes based on reviews, ratings, and reliability. On VRBO listing, there’s a rating of 10 for exceptional. It is a guest favorite and one of the most loved homes in the Mystic area!
Enjoying the maple popcorn the host left for me!
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT FARMHOUSE
The location of Farmhouse is in an unbeatable location in Mystic. While it is close enough to Downtown, you still have space away from the bustle. It is in a quiet neighborhood. You have the choice to drive or walk to Downtown, it is about 6-10 minute walk (depending on where specifically). It’s also close to Mystic Seaport Museum where you can easily spend an entire day there.
Mystic is known for the restaurants. There are many nearby Farmhouse. If you enjoy Chinese, you’re right around the corner from Wokery in Mystic. A short walk to Lis Bake Shop for breakfast/coffee, Engine Room or Anthony J’s Bistro for lunch/dinner.
Michelle is the ultimate host (direct words from a guest’s comment). She truly has thought of all the amenities you would need for your stay. She goes beyond to include many little things you would’ve not thought of. I always have to travel with a lint roller (dog owners, if you know, you know!) and I do not recall ever seeing them in other stays that I’ve been to. With the bonfire pit in the backyard, there’s even s’mores kit (marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey chocolates, Reeses cup and rice Krispies treats). The house didn’t have just the basics, but everything! That’s why it feels truly like home away from home.
Looking at the weather outside to decide what to wear for the day!
Morning in the kitchen.
One of products from local businesses in Mystic in the house.
I really enjoyed my stay at Farmhouse and it was hard to leave! I will look back at this stay as a great memory. I badly wanted to share about the stay WHILE I was there. I never do in real time due to safety reasons, but that’s how excited I was to share all about the Farmhouse! Thank you Michelle for being such a gracious host. All opinions are my own.
Got to see one of the most beautiful sunset from the front porch!
Cod-tober is my favorite season: Fall trip to Cape Cod
I’ve gone to Cape Cod for a few summers now and I knew I’d want to come back to see it during fall. I made the trip during a long weekend in October 2024. This is what my weekend looked liked:
Day 1
Chatham is my favorite town to walk around on the Cape. The downtown was festive with pumpkins decorated everywhere - the church had an adorable pumpkin patch too! I came across the Witch Paddle at the nearby beach which was a fun surprise!
When I stay on the Cape, I’m in Brewster and minutes away from the beach. I’ve always gone to the beach for every sunset. This particular sunset was amazing with the golden hour light AND my pup was welcomed to be on the beach (usually no dogs allowed during summers).
Day 2
Chatham Fish Pier is probably my most favorite spot in Chatham. I had to go there at sunrise. There’s always something to photograph. The fishing vessels, the low tide, beautiful colors of sand/water in the distance, and even the seals! It never fails to see something amazing there.
General stores on the Cape are adorable! I particularly love Brewster General Store and Pleasant Lake General Store in Harwich. Both towns are lovely to drive around. There are plenty of antique shops in Brewster.
It’s a tradition with every visit to the Cape, to do a beach bonfire. You are allowed to do a beach bonfire on Cape Cod National Seashore beaches with a special permit you can get from the Visitor Center (over phone or in person). The seals always make an appearance during the bonfire — it’s so cute!
Day 3
It rained all day so it was a low key day indoors until sunset. The clouds started to break at sunset so I ran over to Brewster Beach in hopes of a colorful sky. I didn’t get one but it was pretty to capture the stormy mood at the beach and I was surprised with plenty of piping plover birds everywhere!
Day 4
Before departing Cape Cod, I had to see a sunrise so I drove over to Bank Street Beach in Harwichport. I was not disappointed! Gorgeous colors in the sky. I’ve never ever seen this amount of horseshoe crabs in my life. There were several piping plovers again.
It was such a memorable weekend! The Cape is truly beautiful during any season. I got a lot more of time on the beach during the fall trip because my pup was allowed. I enjoyed seeing more of the sunrises/sunsets on the Cape. Until next time!
All photos are available for purchase. Please make request here.
Deaf + Mental Health Access
September is Deaf Awareness month. It also is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
I’m going to talk about an important topic that combines of those two themes… Deaf and Counseling. Many of Deaf/Hard of Hearing people are still struggling to this day to find appropriate help. The issue is… accessibility.
Let’s go back to my childhood. I grew up in a rural Upstate New York community. I struggled a lot being the only Deaf student in my mainstreamed school. From Kindergarten to Grade 4, I was in special education with other Deaf students that also had more disabilities. When I was going into Grade 5, I transferred to the local elementary school. I was the only Deaf student. I wanted to go to same school as my brother and my neighbors. To this day, I don’t regret that decision but it was a very isolated life for me as a Deaf student.
That was a big change in my life so my parents took me to see a counselor. There had been no Deaf counselors available in my area. The counselor I was taken to see was hearing with no background/experience in the deaf world. So a second person, an interpreter, was brought in. Which again, happens to be the same interpreter that was with me at school daily. I lived in a small town, it was impossible to find more interpreters. Imagine the awkwardness of having someone you see daily at your counseling appointments. My interpreter and I had a very close relationship, it was like having a family member sitting in the sessions with me. I recall only talking about the typical drama with my friends, never really opened up about deeper feelings related to my challenges/frustration with being deaf. It also wasn’t only because of my interpreter being there, but why would a hearing person understand my life as a Deaf person?
My parents tried to find a Deaf counselor. My dad even wrote a letter to someone. It didn’t work out because back then, without computers and video conferencing, it wasn’t feasible. I didn’t continue with the counselor for too long. I didn’t have a counselor during my middle school years. In my high school years, the isolation got even worse. I was still the only Deaf student. I no longer had the same friends. It was tough for me to make new friends. The closest Deaf kids that I knew of were at least an hour away. I struggled a LOT during high school. I definitely felt depressed. I didn’t feel like I had a normal high school experience like everyone else. I felt lonely. All I thought about was getting through high school to that light at the end of the tunnel.
That light was Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). I had attended a summer camp in Rochester the summer before my senior year in high school. The camp was for Deaf kids my age so I left there with MANY new friends. During senior year in high school, I came home and spent a lot time online talking to those Deaf friends. All I thought about that year was my future life in Rochester. Once I was in Rochester, I felt like I belonged. I was finally home.
Despite “being home”, it didn’t take long for the depression to kick in again. It was challenging for me to figure out my Deaf identity, accepting who I am on top of academic goals. I had spend 18 years of my life in the hearing world so switching to the deaf world wasn’t as quick as flipping a switch. It got overwhelming. I had hit a low point in my life during second year. Luckily, RIT offered counselors, a few were Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH)! I scheduled my first appointment with a Deaf counselor. I was so nervous about seeing a counselor that also saw many other Deaf students including some of my friends. I didn’t want to run into them in the waiting room. I knew it was necessary for me to talk to someone. I ended up seeing that counselor for rest of my college years until graduation. It was the best decision I made. It was amazing to communicate to her in my native language. She understood the challenges we go through as a Deaf person. She also had grew up mainstreamed and mostly in the hearing world until she came to Rochester too. We could relate a LOT. I quickly opened up to her! She helped me so much. It was extremely hard to leave her when I graduated.
When I moved to Connecticut, I had fun exploring a new area. This also was the further I’ve ever been from my family (Rochester was only 2 hours from my hometown so I could visit on the weekends). It was whirlwind of emotions and changes which unfortunately stirred up depression again. Especially when I wasn’t finding a job after a year and a half of trying. I had missed the deaf community in Rochester terribly, it was all I talked about… going back there someday. With that distraction, it was hard to fully be in the present and enjoy my new life in Connecticut.
The hunt began for a Deaf/HOH counselor… again. I found a counselor who was a CODA (Child Of Deaf Adult[s]) in a town a hour away. We took turns with driving to each other. I only had 4 sessions with her. She found out that I worked at the deaf institute up in Hartford, CT as mentioned in this blog. We had an awful experience working at the school so she ranted about it during EVERY session. I stopped scheduling appointments with her.
It took another few years before I found another one. I even tried to reach out to the college counselor and see if it was possible that she could still have me as a client. I contacted the college, begging them to allow alumni to be able to access counseling services.
Four years later, I finally found a Deaf counselor 20 minutes away! I couldn’t believe my luck. When I met her, I found out that she had worked at the same deaf institute and also had an awful experience. My fears from the previous counselor stirred up again but luckily she didn’t rant about that in our sessions. Still, I found myself not being able to fully open up to her. Why? I have finally found a good Deaf counselor. At this point, I had gone so long with no interactions with a Deaf person. I was lonely. I missed having Deaf friends. I found that we had a lot in common with hobbies and our mainstreamed background. I enjoyed going to counseling only because of our interactions. I wanted to be friends with her outside of the office. I didn’t open up because I didn’t want her to be turned her off from being friends with me in the future. Eventually one day, I told her I was ready to move on.
I went a year until my grandpa passed away. It was first close family death that I had to deal with. I tried to go as long as possible to handle it on my own. I knew I had to reach out to her. I felt sad because I felt that the chance of being friends with her was getting low. I started seeing her again until the pandemic hit. The pandemic forced us to do the sessions virtually. I disliked that so much! The sessions would freeze a lot and prior to the pandemic, I’ve found it difficult to really open up over video-conferencing. I fell out of touch with her.
It’s interesting to compare the experiences with all of the counselors I’ve seen. My life as a Deaf person has a LOT to do with my identity, the experiences in my daily life, the way I think, the way I do things and the challenges. I was so frustrated that I should feel lucky to find a Deaf counselor but I realized it didn’t work because I didn’t grow. I didn’t vent. I didn’t get what I needed. I was so lonely that I ruined it with the last counselor, I should have not been limited to only her. I should have many options like hearing people do. There needs to be more Deaf counselors available for all Deaf people, not just me. My experience is just one example of what other Deaf people go through in finding the help that they need.
I live in Connecticut which is more congested and busier than the rural community I grew up in Upstate New York. I do have access to a lot more here. I STILL don’t have what I need. I can’t imagine how much hard this would be on me if I remained in Upstate New York. Mental Health shouldn’t be a low priority for the Deaf community. Mental Health isn’t something to mess with.
I am also surprised (and also not) by the lack of counselors available online after the pandemic. All counselors had been forced to go virtual. This should’ve allowed more accessibility for Deaf/HOH people! It always was difficult even before the pandemic for us to find that help but you would’ve thought with everyone being remote, it would give us even MORE options!
What’s next for me? I don’t know. I still have my bad days, but I have found ways to cope with the support of my immediate family. Sometimes that isn’t enough but I find the strength to fight through those bad days. But… that is ME. Not every Deaf person has that.
Due to the lack of resources for the Deaf community, many of them don’t seek help. Self-medicating and self-help is common. Ironically the counseling center at RIT shares the building with the Substance and Addiction Intervention Services for the Deaf center. I was always embarrassed about that, wondered if the hearing people thought the majority of us had addiction issues. I quickly learned about the issues of providing care for the Deaf community, then I understood how important it was to have that center.
I hope my experiences of the difficulty of finding help shows how important this topic is… Mental Health within the deaf community. We need more work on providing resources and accessibility. Deaf people deserves better care!
Book Review: The Deaf Girl
As a long time Bachelor/Bachelorette fan, I was thrilled when there would be a D/deaf contestant for Matt James’ season. I do have to admit that I was disappointed when Abigail Heringer stepped out of the limo. She spoke and didn’t use sign language. I wasn’t disappointed with her as a person. The spectrum of D/deaf identities is so wide. A D/deaf person who can talk well and doesn’t use sign language often ALWAYS gets picked to represent the ENTIRE D/deaf community. It gives people the wrong assumptions about us.
That didn’t stop me to continue to watch the season. D/deaf people with cochlear implants still ARE a part of the D/deaf community. I rooted for Abigail! I really liked her authenticity, personality and the person she was.
When she announced that she was writing a book, I knew I’d be one of the first people to read it. It always intrigues me to read about the various life experiences of other D/deaf people no matter where on the spectrum they are.
Synopsis:
An inspiring story of hearing loss and hope from The Bachelor's first deaf contestant
Abigail Heringer made her television debut as an instant fan-favorite on season 25 of The Bachelor. Stepping out of the limousine, she approached her bachelor with a playful declaration: she would be staring at his lips all night for two compelling reasons—her profound deafness since birth and because he had some nice lips!
But Abigail's journey wasn't always marked by such confidence. Growing up deaf and introverted, she dreaded being the center of attention, fearing her disability would burden those around her. Among her hearing peers, she felt like an outsider, simply labeled as "the deaf girl." And after receiving a cochlear implant at the age of two, she subsequently struggled to find her place in the Deaf community too. Caught in between two worlds and grappling to define her identity as a deaf woman, Abigail felt like she belonged in neither.
Supported by her family, particularly her deaf older sister Rachel, Abigail has come to understand that while being deaf is part of her identity, it doesn't define her. Throughout her journey, marked by challenges and adversity, Abigail has grown into her own strongest advocate, discovering a new voice that is confident, fearless, and empowered—a voice that enables her to proudly reclaim the title of "the deaf girl" she once resisted and rewrite it as a testament to her resilience and strength.
Hopeful, vulnerable, and uplifting, The Deaf Girl shares Abigail's journey of navigating life with a profound hearing loss and her transformation from merely accepting her disability to embracing it wholeheartedly. This memoir serves as an inspiring reminder for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider or struggled to embrace their differences, showcasing that every voice is worthy of being heard.
Review:
Abigail being the first D/deaf contestant on the Bachelor was amazing, she’s educating people about her specific life journey with cochlear implants. That led people to be more interested about deafness/hearing loss. In this book, she talks a lot about her upbringing from her birth, school years, college, post-college and The Bachelor experience.
It was very interesting as we didn’t get to learn about the depth of Abigail’s life while she was on The Bachelor. I didn’t realize that she had an older sister who also was born with hearing loss and also got cochlear implants. It was tough reading about her mom’s reaction to the hearing loss as it was similar to my parents’ reaction. The fear of how to help your child without understanding deaf culture or knowing what the future will look like for them.
The perspectives of Abigail and her sister, Rachel were so different related to their hearing loss/cochlear implants. While Rachel adapted to cochlear implants easily, Abigail struggled with hers. They both processed them very differently. I loved how Abigail shared about this and was honest about cochlear implants as they are not one size fits all. She really educated well about what it is like to have cochlear implants, how it takes time to adjust to sounds, putting in effort to process sounds and more.
While cochlear implants are a controversial subject of the deaf community, there are also deaf people who are not accepting of them. I was sad to read about Abigail’s experience with her ASL teacher who was anti-CI. She was singled out in the class for having them. Abigail explained about the deaf activists who were against the implants but shared she was in agreement about the inaccuracy of cochlear implants being perceived as a ‘cure’ for hearing loss. I love Abigail’s maturity on this sensitive subject and that she understands that it’s not for everyone. Abigail is very grateful for her mom to make the decision that she did and she is appreciative of her implants.
I’m always learning about cochlear implants, and was amazed that I learned even more from Abigail’s book. I also was amazed that even through we had such a different journey (I never had cochlear implants), we experienced so much alike related to our hearing losses. It spoke to my soul when she talked about:
How much she tried to hide her hearing loss while in school. Me too, girl! I always tried to hide my deafness in school or in public.
Attending parties with her boyfriend and his friends who didn’t know her since they went to different schools. I always loved meeting people from other schools who didn’t know me as ‘that deaf girl’!
Being more open about her hearing loss in college helped her develop confidence in herself. I might’ve went to a college with a large deaf community but that’s exactly what helped me to develop confidence in myself - accepting my deafness.
I’m happy that Abigail wrote this book. There aren’t any memoirs to my knowledge of a D/deaf person with cochlear implants. On social media, I like to recommend a variety of deaf identities (as I mentioned, there’s such a wide spectrum) so I’m glad to add this book to that list. I throughly enjoyed reading about Abigail’s life story as well her The Bachelor experience!
D/deaf: The ‘uppercase D’ is used to describe those who identify as culturally Deaf and are active with the Deaf community. The ‘lowercase d’ refers to the physical condition of having hearing loss and don’t always have a strong connection to the Deaf community.
How to learn American Sign Language
If you’re one of the people who have said “I’ve always wanted to learn American Sign Language but I never know how to start!”, you’re in the right place!
As a deaf person, I love to help people find the right resources to learn about deaf culture and/or community. Learning American Sign Language may feel overwhelming to you but if you find some time, you can do it!
It’s HIGHLY recommended to learn from Deaf teachers. You can’t get more authenticity from someone directly from the community. It’s no different for any other languages - you would want to learn Spanish from a Spanish speaking person, right?
There are many ways to learn ASL. You can find them on YouTube, Instagram, websites or in person. I’ll share some recommendations:
ONLINE CLASSES
Instagram
Sara Miller @languagepriority / @adventuresindeafed
Loni Friedmann @loni.friedmann
Stephanie Zornoza @theaslshop
ASL Spring (CODA owned, but deaf teachers)
Oklahoma School for the Deaf (FREE)
BOOK
“Learn to Sign with Your Baby: 50 Essential ASL Signs To Help Your Child Communicate Their Needs, Wants, and Feelings” by Cecilia S. Grugan
INTERNET
APP
The ASL App
Lingvano app
I will be continuing to keep this list updated as possible. Don’t hesitant to reach out if you need more help in finding resources to learn American Sign Language!
5 Free Things to do this Fall in Mystic, CT
Looking for something to do in Mystic, Connecticut but you’re on a low budget? No fear, I’ve got the scoop for you! As a local, I know all the best recommendations of what to do and see in the area!
Mystic Museum of Art
The museum is located in downtown Mystic. It is right on Mystic River so it has a great water view from the back patio/walking path! The museum itself is on the smaller side with usually 1-2 exhibitions, it is worth a look around! I’ve enjoyed several exhibitions that came in town. Do keep in mind that sometimes a special exhibition may require a fee so keep updated with their website here. While it is free admission, donations are greatly appreciated.
Ender’s Island
A remote compound located on Mason’s Island opened to the public from dawn-dusk. It is a Catholic retreat with a church, several residential buildings, offices, dining hall and more. There are beautiful gardens by the sea that you can enjoy. I’ve seen people picnic on the lawn, sit in the gazebo enjoying the waterfront views, artists painting the scenery, etc. This goes without saying, but please respect the property - keep it beautiful!
Esker Point Beach
It may not be warm enough for a swim but enjoy the locals summer at the beach! Go for a walk by the water, enjoy a cookout at the picnic area, read a good book on a blanket in the sand, or take photos of Morgan Point Lighthouse. Esker Point Beach is free to the public year-round.
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
There are several hiking trails at the Nature Center. You can find the map on their website here and at the center. Over 10+ miles of trails will take you through the beautiful wetlands! If you enjoy bird-watching, this would be a great spot for you to visit. Opened dawn to dusk.
Explore the Coastal Accesses
I love the coastal accesses on the shoreline. There are so many of them! I’ve included them in several guides by towns: Mystic, Groton/Noank, and Stonington. The best part? It’s free to appreciate the beauty of the shoreline!
Follow @knotsoloud on Instagram for more recommendations in Mystic, CT!
Southeastern CT Lighthouses
Today marks National Lighthouse Day! I have been fortunate to visit many lighthouses ever since I lived in coastal New England. Coming from a rural farmland in Upstate NY, I never saw lighthouses unless I went on vacation down south with my family. Now I get to see lighthouses daily! I thought I’d share some of my favorite lighthouses [in order]:
Morgan Point Lighthouse [Noank, CT]
My most favorite lighthouse. It is so gorgeous and located in Noank, CT. I’m lucky to see it every time I go out on my sailboat. Unfortunately, it is a private residence (lucky owners!). While you can’t see it on foot/on land (the road leading to the lighthouse turns into their driveway), you can see it from the water in Long Island Sound. I recommend a cruise on Argia out of Mystic, CT to see this gorgeous lighthouse. If you own kayaks, you can use the public launch at Esker Beach to paddle out there.
Stonington Lighthouse [Stonington, CT]
Located on the point of Stonington Borough, this historical lighthouse is open to the public to tour. You can walk up to the tower which gives you a panoramic view of the water. Check the website here for their hours as they are opened seasonally and admission tickets. I love the stone-covered lighthouse. I enjoy sitting on one of the few benches in the back overlooking the water, where you even can see Watch Hill, RI.
Ledge Light [Groton/New London, CT]
Located in the mouth of Thames River on the line of Groton and New London, you can see this lighthouse from various points. Some of them are: UConn Avery Point campus, Eastern Point Beach, Ocean Beach Park in New London, Harkness Park in Waterford, CT. If you want to get up and close, I suggest the Lighthouse Cruise with Cross Sound Ferry. More info here. *Note: Both beaches require a fee during in-season, but free to enter off-season. Harkness Park requires a fee for out-of-state visitors.
Avery Point Lighthouse [Groton, CT]
Located on UConn Avery Point campus, the public is welcomed to walk around on the waterside walking path. No admission fees, but you need to pay for parking. The lighthouse is located behind Branford House. While you can’t tour the inside, you can peek through the windows. It is the last lighthouse to be build in the state. Also from here, on a clear day you can see New London Light, Ledge Light and Race Rock Light.
Mystic Seaport Light
The lighthouse is located inside Mystic Seaport Museum so you will need an admission ticket to enter the grounds. It is a replica of the Brandt Point Light from Nantucket. You also can see it from across Mystic River in the area of Pearl Street x Seahorse Ln. A very photogenic lighthouse!
North Dumpling Light [Long Island Sound]
Located on its own island between Groton Long Point, Connecticut and Fishers Island, New York. Built in 1849, it is an octagonal tower on a house. Since it is out on the water, you can see it up close in your personal vessel (boat) or the Lighthouse Cruise I mentioned for Ledge Light. You can see it from Groton Long Point in the distance. I suggest you reading up on the tidbits of this lighthouse as there were some interesting drama behind it!
Watch Hill Light [Watch Hill, RI]
This may not be in Southeastern CT, but it is just a hop over the border. Located in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, you can walk around the lighthouse but there is no tours of the inside. It is a gorgeous waterside walk taking you through a maze of mansions to the lighthouse. There is time limited (2 hours, I think) free parking on Bay St and you can walk up Larkin Rd to Lighthouse Rd. Cars are not allowed on Lighthouse Rd unless you are handicapped.
That’s it for my favorites! Enjoy seeing those beautiful lighthouses!