Ask boaters about the Inn at Harbor Hill marina, and they’ll tell you it’s the perfect stopping point for those traveling to or from Long Island Sound. Ask inn guests, and they’ll rave about the great water views. Anyone who loves being near the water and the chance to watch boats will enjoy it here. Even if boats are not your bag, the welcoming hospitality at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina makes this a great choice for visitors to Mystic Country.
Located at the top of the gangway from the Harbor Hill Marina, Dave and Sue Labrie have created a welcoming retreat with a whimsical, nautical feel. Enter into the living room, and you’re enthusiastically greeted by Dave, Sue or one of the assistant innkeepers, and given a tour of the inn. Here B&B also means beverages and biscotti, which are available 24-7, along with a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drinks. I stayed in a water view room, and I encourage you to make your reservation early to reserve one of these rooms. The picture window looks out onto the marina through glass so spotless, my photos of the marina came out as though there was no window there at all. While the rooms aren’t palatial, there is plenty of space for two people to be cozy, especially with an eco-friendly fireplace adding to the ambiance. The rooms have all the modern amenities including complimentary wi-fi, telephones and TVs.
Breakfast is served buffet style, offering hearty choices of hot entrees, fresh baked goods, fresh fruit, juices and coffee, plus Sue’s exceptional home made granola. She confided in me that her secret ingredient is yogurt-covered raisins and gingerbread pieces. During the warmer months, just about every guest, including me, opts to enjoy breakfast on the porch with comfy rockers overlooking the marina and Niantic River beyond.
From Harbor Hill Marina, there’s a scenic boardwalk offering a two-mile jaunt around the harbor and into Niantic. The inn is just steps from Niantic’s bustling Main Street with restaurants and shops. I highly recommend the Skippers Seafood practically next door to the inn, if you like fried clams. It must have been good to impress this connoisseur from Maine, where fried clams reign up there with lobstah! Close to Mystic and all the shops and restaurants of the historic seaport and aquarium, this is the ideal base for enjoying all of Mystic Country, along the Connecticut seashore villages of Essex and beyond.
I think what stands out for me most here is the warm hospitality of Dave and Sue, who are genuinely interested in their guests. They’ve created printed itineraries and directions to just about anywhere guests might want to go, and will make recommendations for things to do and places to see, eat and enjoy. Here’s one inn where you enter as strangers and truly do leave as friends. Whether visiting for business or boating, The Inn at Harbor Hill Marina offers welcoming “slipshape” accommodations.
The INNside Skinny: Come by boat and stay at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, and $1.00 per foot comes off your transient slip fee. Check out the many value-filled packages offering year-round for additional savings, too.
More INNformation:
Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, 60 Grand Street ~ Niantic, CT 06357, (860) 739-0331, info[at]innharborhill.com
Skippers Seafood, 167 Main Street, Niantic, CT, 860-739-3230
Marti Mayne is the B&B Editor for Wandering Educators.