I have quite a bit of experience with Eastern Connecticut/Long Island
Sound and certainly agree that it is a fine cruising area albeit
somewhat crowded this time of year. We also passed through Charleston
on our recent trip north and were very favorably impressed, so no
argument there.

Right now we are in my all time favorite east coast cruising venue
which is Maine. It's hard to believe it didn't make the list but
that's quite alright. One of Maine's attractions is its plethora of
unspoiled, uncrowded harbors. It is just challenging enough to get
here that it is likely to stay uncrowded even if it makes a few of the
"best" lists.

I do take some exception to the statement that Stonington is one of the
most beautiful harbors. Not that it isn't a nice enough little town
but there are other nearby places such as Fishers Island and Mystic
Seaport with far more scenic beauty in my opinion. One of the really
cool things about docking at Mystic Seaport is that you have the run of
the grounds at night after the tourists have left. It is very easy to
imagine yourself walking through a 19th century village when you have
the place more or less to yourself. Maine has some of those same time
warping qualities when you are threading your way between rocky, fog
shrouded little islands covered with virgin pine trees, and the only
other boat in sight is a wooden gaff rigged schooner ghosting along
between the seals, ducks and lobster pots.