Plan Your Visit Membership Join Benefits » Member Programs Sabino Dixieland Cruises Sabino Cocktail Cruises Members America's Cup Regatta Plum Island Visit America's Cup Finals Argia Twilight Cruises Members' Annual Meeting Member Gear PILOTS Program Frequently Asked Questions Contact Us Support the Museum Education and Programs Shop the Museum Stores Maritime Art Gallery Research the Collections Charles W. Morgan Whaleship About Us

You are here: Home » Membership » Member Programs

Nearby Excursion to Stonington, CT
Members Only!

Thursday, September 13, 2012
10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The second in Membership's new series of special visits and insider tours focuses on Stonington, a charming seaside town located east of Mystic. The oldest borough in Connecticut dates back to 1808 and is home to Bomster Scallops and Skipper's Dock. The trip begins with Billy Bomster greeting us at the Portuguese Stonington Town Dock to discuss why his family's scallops are consistently judged "impeccably fresh." Attendees will be treated to a gourmet lunch prepared by Ainslie Turner at Skipper's Dock.

Inside Bomster Scallops

For 30 years, Bomster fishermen have been plucking big, juicy bivalves from the ocean floor. Bill Bomster Sr. started specializing in scalloping in the 1970s when his three boys, Bill Jr., Joe, and Mike, graduated from high school and joined him on the open waters. They now operate two 100-foot scallop trawlers, the Patty Jo and the Stonington Jo. The number of restaurant requests for the sweet scallops has also grown. The family handles much of the distribution, so Joe has traded dredging expeditions to Virginia and Nova Scotia for nights in the sleeper cab of a refrigerated truck, which he drives through Connecticut, Massachusetts and as far as Delaware. Currently, Bomster supplies 60-70 restaurants. If you feel like scrambling on board one of the scallop boats, you're in for a virtual "fishing" experience. Remember to bring your cooler and ice pack if you want to buy scallops on the dock to take home!

Lunch at Skipper's Dock

Lunch will be hosted a few blocks away at Skipper's Dock, a popular Stonington eatery that features magnificent views of the harbor and all the way out to Fishers Island Sound. The proprietor, Ainslie Turner, is a gourmet chef and author of several cookbooks and promises a special luncheon. You may select either:

Coquille St. Jacques made with Bomster Scallops and baked with Mushroom Veloute & Duchess Potato
Sliced Sirloin of Beef with Béarnaise Sauce

Non-alcoholic drinks, coffee, and homemade apple crisp á la mode will also accompany the meal.

Tickets

$40 per member (includes the Bomster Scallops talk, tour and lunch). Please register by September 7, call 860.572.5322 for tickets. For more information, contact Karin Soderberg at 860.572.5308, or email karin.soderberg@mysticseaport.org.

Want to keep Exploring?

If you feel like lingering in the area, there's plenty more to see, such as the historic site of the Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House (Antarctic explorer). The $9 admission includes a free pass to the Old Lighthouse Museum at the tippy end of Stonington (both are open 1-5 p.m.). The borough's small main street includes many antique and art galleries, as well as unique gift shops. You may also be interested in taking a short drive across the border and out to Watch Hill, Rhode Island, to see the area's spectacular old summer homes for the well-to-do. Check out the second oldest carousel in the nation, and visit the lovingly restored and elegant Ocean House atop the hill with its panoramic views of the ocean.