Mystic is the most popular visitor destination in Connecticut. With all the activities it has to offer it is really no wonder. You can come for a day or stay for a week, you will never be bored. Mystic offers a myriad of options.
As you are heading down I-95 you will come to a scenic overlook between exits 90 and 89. This overview known as the Hoxie Scenic overview give one of the best views of the historic seaport and the ships that are docked there. The view is free; entrance to the seaport is not.
Mystic began its life as a whaling village and a seaport and many of the things that made it so unique are still there to see today. Historic houses with widow's walks and the wealth that the ambergris brought to this area. During the Civil War, Mystic was second only to Boston in supplying the Union troops.
Mystic Seaport
This is a re-created fishing village with craftspeople and interpreters making it a living-history museum. You can walk through the village, take a horse-drawn carriage or take a boat ride for a unique perspective. All the buildings in the village are real; they have been moved here from other locations, but they are correct to the period of the village. You can watch a barrel being made and talk to the craftsman.
Ships from several different eras and sizes are docked at the pier and you are welcome to climb on board and get the feel of sailing. The Charles W. Morgan is the only surviving wooden whaling ship and it is here for you to enjoy. With the smell of the sea, the wind in your face, Mystic is the perfect location for a day in the outdoors. Your one-day ticket is good for two days, so it isn't quite as expensive as it appears at first glance.
The seaport is home to many festivals from lobsters to music, it is all about timing.
Mystic Aquarium
This is the most popular destination for visitors to Mystic. It is not an inexpensive destination however it is a favorite with locals and visitors alike. If you are going to visit more than once, an annual membership is a great idea.
No matter what aquatic animals you want to see, Penguins, dolphins, sharks and even a Beluga whale, you are bound to find it here.
You can come for an hour or stay all day, whatever you chose you will have memories for a lifetime.
Mystic Pizza
No visit to Mystic is complete without a stop at the restaurant that Julia Roberts made famous. It isn't just the same little small town pizza joint that it was before the movie came out. Now it is a destination.
Beyond just the small town of Mystic are some interesting nearby destinations.
Stonington
Time has stood still in Stonington since the mid-19th-century when the whaling business declined. This is a very good thing; it is a snapshot of the best that money could buy in that time period. The lovely homes have been turned into businesses and you can absorb all the atmosphere as you walk down Water Street. You will pass art galleries and head right for the Old Lighthouse Museum. When you're back on Main Street, the quintessential town green will remind you that after all, you are in New England.
Fort Griswold State Park
There was only one important battle in Connecticut during the American Revolution. Though it doesn't get a lot of press, it was a bigger massacre than the Boston Massacre, and it has left its mark forever on this part of Connecticut. There is a small museum but more important a monument, where if you have the endurance to climb the 166 steps you will have stellar views of Long Island Sound and the submarine base at Groton.
Bluff Point State Park
If you want to visit Long Island Sound and spend the day at the beach but don't want the hordes that will be visiting the more popular beaches, this is the perfect place to spend the day. You have to be willing to hike in over a mile, but you will be rewarded with a pristine beach and only the company of other hearty souls.
If you still haven’t seen enough to make you want to come, you can visit the Coast Guard Museum, the USS Nautilus at the Submarine Base in Groton or the two Casinos that are less than 20 miles away. Mystic is a great destination for a day, a weekend getaway or even longer especially if you enjoy shopping and eating seafood.
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