I'm not that familiar with the area, though we have friends who live in Stonington and we visited them once several years ago. I remember going into Mystic which is a cute little town nearby with some nice shops and restaurants plus a few maritime activities - an aquarium and maybe a museum?

http://mystic.org/browse/what-to-do

Have fun! Newport is another awesome town - very much like the town I live in!

Well, Mystic of course, with the seaport. Charming and historic area, though I haven't spent a lot of time there myself! There's an aquarium if you're into that sort of thing.

Newport is great. We have a summer place just a couple of towns away. At least drive through the area where the mansions are, even if you don't tour one of them. Walk along the Cliff Walk. If you like seafood, there's a place called Scales and Shells (hmm, something like that) that we've been to a couple of times. The Red Parrot is good for a casual, pub-type meal. We also like Salvation Cafe, which is a funky spot a little out of the way -- not in the downtown area where most tourists go.

Jamestown, which is near Newport, just over the bridge, is also a pretty little town to explore.

Watch Hill, RI, is another pretty town that is closer to the CT border.

If you are still in Ct on Monday, sea shanties at the Griswold inn in Essex are a wonderful time. Gilete's castle in East Haddam and the nearby Goodspeed Opera house are beautiful on a fall day. If in the capital, the Mark twain and stowe houses are worth a visit too. The shoreline towns of Madison, Guilford and Branford all have nice new england town green areas. And, in Branford, the Stony Creek thimble island tour is very interesting and humorous. The Coast gaurd accademy is in New London and Yale is in New Haven both have tours. In Milford there is a sand bar at Silver Sands beach,which if you time it with low tide, you can walk to an island which is a nature preserve. The weather is looking great for the next week too.

You could always check out the casinos...Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, and MGM Grand, if you're into gambling. I've heard that the food is good there too. Even though I live about 20 minutes away from them, I've never been, and my daughter works at a restaurant in the MGM Grand, lol !

Probably too late and perhaps in the wrong direction, but Litchfield County in the NW corner is very beautiful: Berkshire foothills, rivers, Kent Falls State Park, charming small towns with old New England architecture, and the White Flower Farm nursery. Rural Connecticut at its scenic best.

Litchfield has a few vineyards to boot! If you like to shop, the Clinton Outlets are usually filled with new york plates:) and there is a vineyard right down the road from the outlets too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clinton vineyard

Stonington is wonderful. Went to Newport today - what a fascinating place. Went to one of the mansions, did the cliff walk and had a great lunch at The Red Parrot - thanks for the recommendation. Tomorrow night is our concert in Collinsville so we will make a road trip through Litchfield area earlier in the day. Thanks everyone for the advice.

Great, gibby! Hope you continue to have fun and enjoy this beautiful part of the country. Welcome to CT!

Saw a lot of the state yesterday - very scenic. Saw a fantastic performance by Jon Herington Band at Bridge Street Live in Collinsville. Small venue - like our own private show. I would highly recommend this venue for live music if you happen to live anywhere nearby. Heading back to MN tomorrow - had a great time here.