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 just about every corner 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. As one of the best fishing villages in Maine, there are plenty of things to do in Stonington, Maine!

The small village is located on the southern portion of Deer Isle.

Stonington is made up of the small villages of Oceanville and West Stonington.

The town is incredibly picturesque.

However, its true story is one of fishing. It's known as one of the last big fishing villages in Maine, where lobstermen 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 is undoubtedly exactly what you'd imagine of a lovely Maine village.

The main part of town runs along the beautiful harbor, which means a day of shopping and eating can also include taking in the views.

You might consider stopping for a bite to eat at Harbor Cafe, located on Main Street.

Every Saturday they have a prime rib special and every Tuesday is a fried haddock special.

Enjoy a great meal, then take in this view.

Overnight stays are surely recommended.

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 for a truly fun time away. 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.

If you've come to Stonington after hearing about its arts community, you'll want to include Opera House Arts on your itinerary.

This not-for-profit organization exists to help Deer Isle continue to be a historic arts, education, and recreation center.

Housed at the Stonington Opera House, you'll find a number of fun things to do.

They offer a year-round schedule of film, performance, and arts workshops, and community events. To learn more about what's there to offer at the Stonington Opera House check out its website.

History buffs should check out the Dr. Arnold C. Brown Memorial Building.

Built in 1885, it is now home to Stonington's town hall.

Food lovers AND history buffs should be sure to visit the Stonington Lobster Co-Op!

Officially started on April 24, 1948 at 5 p.m., 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, when you stop by, you'll get a nice dose of dock sites, along with a good idea for how real lobstermen actually work.

Any visit to this incredible town will fill you with a sense of just how incredible Maine really is.

If you're interested in learning more about the Stonington Lobster Co-op, check out this video:

These are just a few reasons why Stonington is one of the best fishing villages in Maine. Plan a visit and we are sure you will agree.

Curious about other small towns in Maine? Plan on visiting a few, but remember you're bound to get hungry. For that, we recommend a few greats spots in Maine's most special towns!