The Quiet Fishing Town In Maine That Seems Frozen In Time
One of the best aspects of Maine is the authenticity found around every corner. From buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places to towns that have never changed, those who love the old days will love much of Maine. While we have tons of areas that have stayed true to their roots, there are some that feel absolutely frozen in time. The best of these are our fishing villages. If you’re looking for a day-trip that feels quaint and true, we recommend a trip to Stonington.
Stonington is made up of the small villages of Oceanville and West Stonington.
However, its true story is one of fishing. It's known as one of the last big fishing villages in Maine, where lobsterman exist not for show or for tourists, but to make a living. The area has also become a haven for Maine's artist community.
The downtown area runs along the beautiful harbor, which means a day of shopping and eating can also include taking in the views.
Every Saturday they have a prime rib special and every Tuesday is a fried haddock special. Other options in the area include Aragosta Restaurant at 27 Main Street or Fisherman's Friend at 5 Atlantic Ave.
Not because you won't have time to fit everything in, but because the town is lovely and deserves a slow visit. Check out Boyce's Motel at 44 Main Street. This spot has been around since the 1960s and is located about a 5 minute walk from the Stonington dock. This is where you can pick up the ferry to Isle-Au-Haut.
This not-for-profit organization exists to help Deer Isle continue to be a historic arts, education, and recreation center.
They offer a year-round schedule of film, performance, arts workshops, and community events. Learn more about what's on offer by clicking here.
Built in 1885, it is now home to Stonington's town hall.
Officially started on April 24, 1948 at 5PM, the first board of directors of the Stonington Lobster Coop convened at Odd Fellows Hall. The mission behind the co-op is to “engage in the buying and selling of lobsters and fish of all kinds; to conduct a store or stores for the buying and selling of hardware, electrical supplies, fishermen’s equipment, oil, gasoline, sporting supplies; and to deal in, acquire, buy, sell, assign and transfer, and otherwise dispose of all kinds of property.”
Today, you can stop by from Monday through Saturday from 4am to 4pm. You'll get a nice dose of dock sites, along with a good idea for how real lobsterman actually work. For more on the co-op, click here.
Today, you can stop by from Monday through Saturday from 4am to 4pm. You'll get a nice dose of dock sites, along with a good idea for how real lobsterman actually work. For more on the co-op, click here.
If you’re interesting in learning more about the Stonington Lobster Co-op, check out this video:
Curious about other small towns in Maine? Check out this article for a few small towns with amazing restaurants.
