Summer Day Trips: Visiting Mystic, CT

Where is Mystic, Connecticut?

If you’re coming from the New York City area and heading north, taking I-95 will take you directly to Mystic. It’s also a great stop if you’re heading to Rhode Island as the highway is easily accessible and you can hop off the highway, enjoy the town and hop back on. You can find Mystic between New Haven, CT and Stonington, CT. It’s the perfect seaside town with a lot of history and famous sites.

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What to See in Mystic:

I’ve wanted to visit Mystic for years. I’ve been living in Connecticut for almost 17 years and I’ve only been to Mystic twice. So needless to say there were a lot of things I wanted to see. As a typical small New England town, I was excited to see the old buildings, bridges and houses. As elegant as the town is, there’s an old rustic style to it that makes you feel as though you’ve arrived in another country. It’s summer so park your car and spend some time walking around the downtown area. Be sure to cross the bridge in the center of the village and explore the museums, boats and architecture that helped to make the town what it is today.

Where to Eat:

If you’ve watched the movie Mystic Pizza, you know all about the best pizza in town. Although the nostalgia is great, with old photos from movie scenes and the movie playing in the dinging room, I have to say I genuinely enjoyed the pizza. It certainly wasn’t hype. I ordered three types so were able to enjoy a variety of what they had to offer. The pineapple was a gem, I’m still on the fence about the onions, but the chicken was a hit with both me and my daughter. If pizza is not your thing, they have a variety of elegant white table cloth restaurants right on the water, which is perfect for summer weather. There’s also a variety of pastry shops and ice cream eateries as you make your way through the town center.

Check out the link below for more on the 1988 movie.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095690/

What to Do:

There is a shortage of things to do in Mystic. From the museums to the aquarium and bookshops in between you’ll have a lot to choose from taking a day trip to Mystic. Along with enjoying the sites and people-watching you can spend some time in Old Mistick Village. If you love little boutique shops with unique items that is the place for you. Conveniently it’s located across from the aquarium. Keeping the kids busy at the aquarium then heading across the street for lunch and shopping always sounds like a good idea to me.

Why I Can’t Wait to Go Back:

Visiting Mystic was a great opportunity to escape the daily routine and feel as though we had a break from Covid-19 related issues. Although we were all wearing masks it was great to leave the house and enjoy the seaport town and all it has to offer. Heading back there in a week and I can’t wait. There’s a lot to do in this picturesque town, from enjoying small bookstores, to eating at elegant restaurants and discovering lovely ice cream shops. I definitely recommend Mystic as a Connecticut getaway.

Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen!

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