We know you love eastern Connecticut, but if you’re visiting the Mystic area it would be a shame to skip a border crossing into Westerly, Rhode Island. Westerly is next door to Stonington, and it’s another must-see place on the New England list. If you like artsy, quaint, cute and fun, you’ll love this downtown area. You’ll find galleries, shops, antiques and great food here – your choice! From Thai to Mexican to Chinese or plain old American, there’s plenty to eat while you stroll the delightful streets.

If you’re visiting in the summer and want to hit the beach, Misquamicut State Beach attracts a lot of people with its half mile of beach front, fun for kids, activities and gorgeous water. The area is chock full of nightlife too so be sure to check out the website for goings on while you are visiting.

Right next door (a short drive) is Watch Hill, a quieter spot than Misquamicut, and a bit more upscale because of the mansions that surround it and the yachts that come and go from the Yacht Club. There are two smaller beaches here, East Beach and a Town Beach. The one closer to town is great for small children. You need to pay to get in but you can use showers and restrooms while you are there.

Food (including ice cream and Dels Lemonade) and shopping are within a few steps of the beach. Watch Hill also boasts the Flying Horse Carousel, the oldest in the country and a favorite for kids – it’s really beautiful!  Bring your camera for some magical smiles. There are size and weight restrictions for these beauties so anyone over 10 might not be able to ride.

If you need a place to stay, try the beautiful Villa at Westerly for its proximity to the beaches. And do keep your ears and eyes open for posted events around town: weekly fireworks, outdoor concerts, movies on the beach, really cool bonfire events, farmers markets, classic cruise nights – the list goes on!

Photos provided by www.westerlychamber.org.

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