Our New Life in Connecticut Forever: PART THREE

And by part three I mean week two! This isn’t confusing at all.

Our Summer in Connecticut

And also, YES this is in Friday Flotsam’s spot. I know! I’m sorry. We were all achingly tired yesterday, so I gave myself the day off and violently shoved yesterday’s post into today’s slot and man it feels good to be a gangster.

So week two! We’re all settled. In a rhythm. Feeling adventurous. Up for anything. TAKING IN THAT SEA AIR.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Like these clowns. ^

That Monday we ate through two strawberries.

Wait, that’s not it.

That Monday, the weather was sunny and bright, so we spent the afternoon down by the swimming dock raft thingy. It’s this tiny wooden platform with no sides that serves zero purpose but to send my anxiety into overdrive.

But I’m fine. It’s fine.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Lots of people have asked about these bikes, and when I say they’re Public bikes, I mean the brand. Not that we rented them from the city. Ha! The brand is actually called Public, which I’m sure in hindsight they’re like, CRAP. People are like, “Ohhh okay, public bikes.” And I’m like, “No no, Public! They’re ours. Never mind.”

And yep, they’re balance bikes. Which at first I thought was loco, but Aaron pushed for it, and now they glide around uphill and downhill like no bigs and remember that anxiety thing I mentioned above? Right.

Our Summer in Connecticut

That evening we went to Engine Room in Mystic! L O T S of you recommended this place, and I totally forgot to get a photo because we were outside and the sun was directly on the food and it would have been blown out and you would have deleted me from your life.

But! If you go, get the hush puppies. OMG, the side butter was this rosemary MAPLE butter and I wanted to make the rest of my life about it.

Our Summer in Connecticut

The next day was overcast and foggy, so we strolled around Stonington Borough, dipped into little shops here and there, zigzagged through the neighborhoods and gawked over the houses that oooooze all the New England charm.

Hideous place, this is.

Our Summer in Connecticut

The fog was so intense and moody and I was like, “I KNOW YOU’RE HERE, NICHOLAS SPARKS.”

Our Summer in Connecticut

You know me and feet photos.

Just love.

Our Summer in Connecticut

This is basically what every house looks like here. White picket fences, vibrantly-manicured window boxes, timeless, intricate details in the windows and doors.

In other words, WAAAAAAAAAH.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Oh! Found the most incredible chipotle black bean soup at The Coq & Co, right there on the Borough. UNREAL. We took a pit stop at this tucked-away park to let the kids run around while Aaron and I split this spicy, warm cup o’ black bean bliss. It is now my life mission to recreate this soup for you. You’ll cry forever.

Our Summer in Connecticut

We kept meandering through the beautiful streets, looking for Mystic Pizza locations (IT’S WHO I AM, OKAY), and stopping along the way to smell the water, breathe in the hauntingly-thick fog, and of course to imagine the very worst scenarios in which my family accidentally falls over that stone ledge to their demises.

. . . It was time for wine.

Our Summer in Connecticut

They agreed.

So we popped on over to our second vineyard of the trip, this time landing at Stonington Vineyards. CUTE place. Charming and lush and right out of a dang movie.

Also, wine.

Our Summer in Connecticut

WHAT, Will. You’re getting milk, okay?

Our Summer in Connecticut

The next day the sun came out with a vengeance, so we decided there was no other direction for our life than a LOBSTAH CRAAAAWL!

And by crawl I mean two places because I got full and sleepy.

Of course we started with Ford’s! WORLD FAMOUS and downright fabulous. (AND MYSTIC PIZZA WAS SHOT HERE.) (Remember the scene where the gal rides her scooter down that hill, holding a giant pizza, and she gives it to her mom and coworkers right there on the water, working the lobsters?) (THAT WAS RIGHT HERE!) (I’m fine.)

Our Summer in Connecticut

The whole scene right there in Noank is too cute for its own good. And get this, the locals don’t even drive to Ford’s in the summers. They take their freaking boat across the water, pull right up and the servers come down to take their orders. THIS IS A NORMAL THING HERE.

Also, it’s BYOB. So everyone stops at the Universal Package (also known to the locals as “the Packey”), picks up their beer and wine and lives their best life.

Our Summer in Connecticut

And the lobster? INSANE.

Can’t even put it into words. Hot and buttery, freshest lobster flavor, UUUUUGH.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Next up! Abbott’s in the Rough. Another incredibly-famous joint right there in Noank. Just a hop, skip and jump away and you’ve found yourself in another la-la labstah land. This scene is waaay more picnicky. You order up front at a huge, festive counter, and they call your number just a few minutes later.

Our Summer in Connecticut

I WILL say, we were confused by this lobster “roll,” as it’s clearly a round bun. Theeeen I heard later on that the cold lobster rolls are the subs, and the hot rolls are round buns. Is this right, locals?!

I LOVED the lobster, however. Even more buttery than Ford’s, and still boasting that fresh, sweet, luxurious ocean flavor.

I think OVERALL I preferred Ford’s lobster, but I totally appreciated the kid-friendly vibe at Abbott’s. Both 1923829482932% worth a visit.

Bring your boat.

And your beer.

Our Summer in Connecticut

After our lob lob (<—omg no.), we kept driving until we found another charming New England town – Niantic. We popped into a few local shops, walked the farmer’s market for a second, and found THE BOOK BARN. Highly recommended from a crap ton of you – this place was incredible. A book shop, like ALL OVER THIS LAND. They even had a playground and GOATS. As in, alive goats on a small patch of farm-like land.

What?

No, it’s true.

Our Summer in Connecticut

That evening Aaron decided to, oh you know – DIG UP DINNER.

What is this life?

Our Summer in Connecticut

Saturday morning we made the 5-minute drive (EVERYTHING IS SO CLOSE HERE) over to Mason’s Island for breakfast. Kitchen Little is this ooooooold-school, quick-paced diner right there on the water. Thick, northern accents welcome you as you wait for a table (it’s um, popular), and the food was classic, comforting and fresh.

Our Summer in Connecticut

I got the Mystic scramble (I THINK that’s what it was called), and it was seriously crazy delicious. Fresh crab meat and the softest cream cheese are are tucked into the fluffiest scrambled eggs and I bawled for an hour.

Oh, that mound of soggy paper towels to my right? Yeah, Will decided to dump his entire ice-cold water right in my lap.

It was n’awesome.

Our Summer in Connecticut

After breakfast we made our way over to the Stonington Farmer’s market for kale, a handmade linen candle, fresh scallops and Italian ice. Then we strolled over to these boats because the man who sold us the scallops said to go check out the two blue boats because those are the literal boats that brought up our scallops and we should know where our FOOD COMES FROM.

Did the kids even rightly care?

You tell me.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Look at this unbelievably-cool random rainbow in that cloud? How perfect is that?

Our Summer in Connecticut

Remember the whole anxiety thing?

I SWEAR THIS POST IS ALMOST OVER.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Father’s Day! Aaron ventured into Mystic and picked up some deeelicious goodies from Sift Bake Shop.

It is now my life mission to eat a ham and cheese croissant every day until I die.

Our Summer in Connecticut

After breakfast we took the 20-minute scenic drive (EVERYTHING IS SO CLOSE HERE) back to Watch Hill for a spin on the famous carousel, and some much-needed beach time.

Our Summer in Connecticut

I didn’t get in.

. . .Just love.

Our Summer in Connecticut

They actually ASKED to be buried in that hot sand. I don’t understand this at all.

Our Summer in Connecticut

Once we started to feel crispy and weary, and headed back to our neck of the woods to clean up and head back to Saltwater Vineyard for some oysters and WINE. Because wine and Father’s Day and let’s pretend it’s Mother’s Day again.

First up though, we stopped in at the Sea View Snack Bar for a cold (AND SURPRISINGLY AMAZING) lobster roll and fried clams. We have eaten our weight in fried clams on this trip and I could not be happier about it.

Our Summer in Connecticut

The view here is perfection. Two adorable shack-like huts next to each other, one serving ice cream, and the other, fried clams. And food. Lobster. All of that.

Our Summer in Connecticut

THAT IS A SHIP BACK THERE.

Guys.

Our Summer in Connecticut

And that was week two!

So much food, so much fun, so much sand.

Like, SO. MUCH. SAND.

Also, thanks for humoring me for what felt like 45 months just now.

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49 Responses to Our New Life in Connecticut Forever: PART THREE

  1. theotherjennifer June 22, 2018 at 10:22 am #
    Best.Vaca.Ever
  2. Claudia June 22, 2018 at 11:25 am #
    Bev I am astounded by how you get the most unbelievably artistically perfect photos of your kids. The one of them dumping their bikes and running toward the water is perfection.
  3. Becky Embree June 22, 2018 at 11:36 am #
    I love seeing your CT posts!! You've done more with your kids in two weeks than I have with my kids ever...and I live in Niantic :) We loved seeing you visit here (and my store-it meant the world!!). I really want a TSwift sighting
  4. Karen B. June 22, 2018 at 11:37 am #
    I want to visit this place. You could represent the Chamber of Commerce, you make everything look incredible! I love lobster, must have a taste of the cold and hot lobster roll. Karen
  5. Tobi June 22, 2018 at 3:54 pm #
    Your photos are amazing and it looks like you all are having the most wonderful life plus food. Adopt me?
  6. Candace June 23, 2018 at 3:58 pm #
    It's just such a shame that you're not having any fun. (Joke.) What's so great is having the vicarious fun with you, except not getting the lobster roll sensation when I lick the screen, why is that? Looks like a beautiful summer in Connecticut!
  7. K~ June 23, 2018 at 7:39 pm #
    I like the way you write and your personality. You make me miss the NE.
  8. Amanda June 24, 2018 at 9:48 am #
    Obsessed with your writing style and your photographs. Love how I can't make it through a paragraph without a big cheesy grin on my face or literally laughing out loud. How you can make me want to drop everything and somehow figure out how to head over to BFE CT blows my mind... I don't even like lobster and I have to try those rolls!!
  9. Kylie June 24, 2018 at 10:15 pm #
    OMG, you are making me so jealous. I'm in Sydney Australia and it's winter and all I want to do is board the next plane to CT. This place looks incredible and your writing and photos are amazing. I also grew up with Mystic Pizza and I've told my friends your posts are a must read.
  10. Jane June 25, 2018 at 4:08 pm #
    Love, love, love these posts!! Can you do a new city every month?? Every other month?? HAA! What a great adventure for your family... thanks for letting us tag along!
  11. Peg June 26, 2018 at 2:03 am #
    Hello! I live in California.....my sister and I discovered Mystic CT 18 years ago! We now go and stay 2 weeks each summer. No family, we just love the area! we go to all the places and more! Thank you for the smiles❤️
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