A Day in Dog Friendly Stonington, CT
Stonington CT is the perfect place to visit, especially if you have a pup! I could not believe how dog friendly this beautiful seaside town was. We started our day at the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area hiking the easy 2.9 mile Barn Island Loop. Right away, the sweeping views of the tidal marsh leading out to the ocean, coupled with the cloud formations was incredible.
We took pictures for a bit before following the trail into the woods. This trail is great any time of year, but I recommend hiking it in the spring or fall to avoid bugs and wearing hiking shoes since it can get wet and mucky in areas.
TIP: If you walk past the parking area, the boat launch is a beautiful spot to sit on the dock by the ocean or even take out a kayak.
After hiking, we made our way to Stonington Point, the southernmost tip of Water Street, and found a scenic park with views of the ocean and Stonington Harbor. This was a great area to relax on the grass or ocean-side benches next to the picturesque Stonington Harbor Lighthouse. TIP: If you are visiting the lighthouse museum when it is open, you can climb the circular steps to get a view from the top!
Since we were within walking distance, we headed down Water Street to quaint Stonington Borough full of cozy waterfront eateries, unique antique, art and home accent shops and beautiful quintessential New England homes. Having Maisy, we thought it fitting to eat lunch at the Dog Watch Cafe where they promptly seated us in the “Dog Pound”-the outdoor deck where dogs and their humans can enjoy drinks and a bite to eat. Dog Watch Cafe was a winner in our book…great food, outdoor relaxed atmosphere on the water and a friendly dog-loving staff!
We had to check out at least one of the many vineyards in the area, but first we visited the Beer’d Brewing Company. Given that this microbrewery was tucked inside the American Velvet Mill, we were shocked to find they welcomed Maisy to sit with us in their dog friendly nook called “The Dog Den”! In just a matter of hours we found ourselves in both the Dog Pound and Dog Den…and loved it!
The highlight of the day for me was our final destination-Saltwater Farm Vineyard-housed in a beautifully renovated WWII-era hangar. The vineyard has both indoor and outdoor patio/deck seating options, but we chose to enjoy our wine with Maisy on the lawn adirondack chairs overlooking the acres of grape vines that lead down to the water.
TIP: If you have a large group, I would recommend bringing your own picnic blankets/chairs. Also, the vineyard offers a small assortment of snacks and hosts rotating food trucks, but guests are welcome to bring their own food as well.
We loved walking down the wide grassy landing strip to the Wequetequock River marsh for a peaceful view of the cove.
Relaxing with my sauvignon blanc and charcuterie board, listening to live music, surrounded by beautiful grounds was perfection! Such a great day in Stonington…so happy we could enjoy it with Maisy every step of the way!
