Upon hearing about my fall mini-roadtrip to Mystic, CT, a colleague insisted that I stop by the Skipper’s Dock to try their lobster sandwich – fresh lobster with melted cheese wrapped in a roll and served with coleslaw. It’s hard to get lost, as there is one main road in “downtown” Stonington. While driving along Water Street towards the Skipper’s Dock, you can see Mystic Lake through the gaps between the buildings; you gasp at the view for a millisecond at a time as the lake and buildings work together to flicker the tranquil scene in and out of site.

Following the wooden sign on my right, I turned into a driveway that gave way to a perfect watercolor-painted portrait of a small New England town. I felt like I was in those books I read during K-12 about ferns and gullies and best friends and frolicking in a field with tall grass. Unfortunately, this particular day, there was a private party at the Skipper’s Dock, and they were closed for lunch. We went down the street to Water St. Café for a bowl of clam chowder and returned an hour later, when they would start serving dinner. Even on a full stomach, the lobster sandwich was perfect. The food at Skipper’s Dock is good, but more than that, I liked the way I felt at the restaurant – unwound, relaxed, and quiet. It felt good to sit on their dock, soaking in the sun as it slowly began its descent into the horizon.