1. Fourteen Lincoln Street
City: Niantic, CT
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (860) 739-6327
Address: 14 Lincoln St.
Description: Fourteen Lincoln Street has been restored by owners Susan and Benji Hahn, and provides you with a unique experience: original tin pressed ceilings, wide pine floors, and leaded glass windows in a 19th-century Congregational church. This exceptional bed-and-breakfast is within walking distance of Niantic’s pristine beaches (you get a pass if you’re staying in town), seaside boardwalk, and quaint downtown center. Choose from 4 elegant guest rooms, and find nooks and quiet corners throughout the house. In the morning, you’ll enjoy cinnamon coffee cake, fresh fruit, and fresh-brewed coffee. Fourteen Lincoln Street also offers culinary classes at the bed-and-breakfast with chef Sherry Swanson, for between 8 and 12 people.
2. The Book Barn
City: Niantic, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 739-5715
Address: 41 W. Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Scouring the used book stores of the world, you will not find one better than this. First of all, though it is called a book barn, it is actually not one barn, but five. And, with over 350,000 books and growing, they have expanded in the past decade, opening two smaller stores farther down Main Street toward the center of Niantic. The Book Barn “Downtown” has transportation, performing arts, movies, religion, philosophy, classical literature, humor, fashion, cookbooks, hard science, and genre fiction. The Book Barn “Midtown” has romances, fiction, mysteries, children’s books, westerns, crafts, antiques, and education. The five barns at the original site have everything else. Kids can pet the goats or play with the barn cats. There is free coffee and donuts while you browse. This is an amusement park for book fanatics, and all who have been there speak of their selection, friendliness, and dedication to the printed word with reverence and love.
3. Smith-Harris House
City: Niantic, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 739-0761
Address: 06357
Description: This white clapboard Greek Revival house was built in 1845 and was home to Herman Smith and his nephew Francis Harris, who interestingly married two sisters. For 60 years the two couples lived in the house. This unusual family’s personal effects are scattered throughout the home, along with pottery, utensils, and many original furnishings. It is open Apr through June and Sept through Dec on weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. In July and Aug, the house is open Thurs through Sun, noon to 4 p.m. If you really want to see it from Jan through Mar, you can make an appointment. Stop here along with Rocky Neck State Park and The Book Barn to complete your tour of the charming village of Niantic.
4. Black Hawk Ii
City: Niantic, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 448-3662
Description: The crew of the Black Hawk has a new approach to fishing trips on the Sound. They supply the bait and setup, and you can rent rods and reels if you don’t have your own. You can bring your own food, or eat burgers and dogs at their small snack bar. If you’re a beginner, the crew of the Black Hawk will give free instruction. The trips last 5 or 6 hours, but unlike chartered fishing boats, this is first come, first served. Show up early at the dock in Niantic Beach Marina, and get on board. Also unlike chartered boats, the price is right, at less than $40 a person, children under 12 half price. It’s up to you to decide whether junior is old enough to haul in a large bluefish. If so, it is the experience of a lifetime.
5. Children’S Museum Of Southeastern Connecticut
City: Niantic, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (860) 691-1111
Address: 409 Main St.
Description: Again, this building in downtown Niantic is called a museum, but is really nothing of the kind. It is a hands-on experience for children: learning disguised as play. They can learn about health, literature (the sort of adventure stories that appeal to children), other cultures, and marine life. There’s a crawl-in planetarium (seriously) and a re-creation of Anne Frank’s attic. Like any museum, they also have changing exhibits, so things are always new for the children who come to this fun place regularly. There are two outside play areas as well. If this is the future of the playground, it is a very bright future indeed.