Mystic, Connecticut is a well-liked weekend getaway vacation spot for households, {couples}, and buddies. This charming seaport city gives up purchasing, eating, and a wealth of historic points of interest — offering households with loads of issues to do in Mystic with children.
Positioned simply off of Interstate 95 in southeastern Connecticut, Mystic is simple to get to from New York Metropolis and Boston. Whereas it’s a well-liked summer time weekend getaway, Mystic is just stunning within the fall. Since we solely dwell about an hour away, we frequently go to for a fast day journey or weekend getaway.
Issues to do in Mystic, Connecticut with Children
Listed here are a few of our favourite Mystic points of interest to go to with children that can assist you plan a visit of your personal.
Watch the Whales at Mystic Aquarium
Consisting of a mixture of indoor and out of doors displays, the Mystic Aquarium is house to beluga whales, Steller sea lions, African penguins and extra. The Aquarium is devoted to conservation, schooling and analysis. So whereas they provide a sea lion demonstration, it’s extra geared towards schooling than leisure.
In the principle gallery, children get pleasure from touching the bamboo sharks and rays and watching the fish within the 35,000-gallon exhibit. A go to to the aquarium will take no less than 2-3 hours. If you’re celebrating an important day or fostering an curiosity in marine biology, the Aquarium does supply quite a lot of behinds the scenes or particular animal encounters. Whether or not you wish to splash out with a VIP expertise or not, you’ll want to guide your tickets on-line upfront. The aquarium does supply reductions for navy, first responders, U Conn college students, and different teams, in addition to a combo Mystic SeaPass, which offers common admission to each Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport Museum.
The Mystic Aquarium is situated at 55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, CT.
SHop and Dine in Olde Mistick Village
Positioned proper subsequent door to the Aquarium and to not be confused with downtown Mystic, Olde Mistick Village is an out of doors purchasing and consuming vacation spot with distinctive retailers in a quaint, village setting (and ample parking!)
Children will get pleasure from watching the geese on the duck pond and sampling some treats from a number of of the speciality retailers, like Munson’s Goodies and Deviant Donuts. I’d additionally suggest at Arisu for every little thing Anime, Alice’s Haunted Little Ebook Store for bibliophiles, Cloak and Wand for Harry Potter followers, and Becca Rose Pure Physique Take care of wellness. Mango’s Wooden-Fired Pizza Co. is a family-friendly alternative for lunch or dinner.
Interact and Be taught at Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is a residing historical past museum consisting of a village and ships that depict coastal life in New England within the nineteenth century. There are such a lot of issues to do in Mystic Seaport which you could simply spend half a day or extra exploring the varied retailers and ships, and taking in a few of the dwell demonstrations.
Children can take part in a scavenger hunt and younger children will particularly benefit from the Youngsters’s Museum and actions like toy boat constructing and candle dipping. Households can take a horse-drawn carriage trip, watch a blacksmith at work, see a ship carver display his craft, and find out about life on the ocean.
Plus, if you happen to go to in your birthday, your admission is free! What a enjoyable strategy to have a good time.
Mystic Seaport is situated at 75 Greenmanville Ave. Mystic, CT, simply down the street from the aquarium and gives free parking in two totally different heaps.
Sail Down the River
As a coastal city, a enjoyable strategy to expertise Mystic is by getting out on the water. The Mystic Seaport gives two-hour excursions of the Mystic River aboard the Nationwide Historic Landmark vessel, Sabino. This cruise departs each day, in season, at 5:30 p.m. from the docks behind S&P Oyster in downtown Mystic.
Another choice is to go crusing on the Schooner ARGIA, which is a conventional crusing ship that departs from Steamboat Wharf in downtown Mystic on 4 public crusing journeys per day. These two-hour cruises from Could by means of mid-October and supply views of islands, lighthouses, and nature.
For one thing extra adventurous, Mystic Boat Adventures gives guided excursions the place you’ll be able to drive your personal two-person boat (no boating license required!) You’ll be able to discover the shoreline and get an up-close view of historic landmarks, together with the Mystic Drawbridge and Mystic Seaport Museum after which head into the open water and for views of the Fishers Island Sound and native lighthouses.
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Heart
Positioned simply 5 minutes from the Mystic Seaport, the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Heart is a superb place for a household hike. The middle encompasses a small indoor exhibit of native wildlife, however gives over 10 miles of climbing and strolling trails by means of fields and woodlands.
Households are in a position to take a look at a backpack for his or her hike, crammed with issues to complement their stroll. For instance, we borrowed the Birds backpack, which included binoculars, a birding guide and a tool that produced pattern fowl calls to assist establish what we had been listening to and seeing all through our stroll.
The actual hidden gem on the Nature Heart are its organized packages so you’ll want to plan forward and see what is on the market. We participated in a Campfire Cooking program that was a lot enjoyable, and actually helped put together us for our subsequent tenting journey! The group labored collectively to construct the fireplace, put together the substances, cook dinner the dishes after which all of us bought to get pleasure from a easy campfire meal collectively.
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Heart is situated at 109 Pequotsepos Highway, Mystic, CT
Discover Downtown Mystic
Mystic gives a quaint, but touristy, traditional New England downtown, full with a drawbridge that youngsters discover fascinating.
There are many retailers and eating places to discover, together with Financial institution Sq. Books. Makes certain to cease for a scoop at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream Cafe, and, in fact, get pleasure from a “Slice of Heaven” at Mystic Pizza, made well-known by the film of the identical identify starring Julia Roberts.
Get Apple Cider Donuts at B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill
Should you go to within the fall, it’s value a brief drive out of city to B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill. Be ready for lengthy strains, however the reward is definitely worth the wait. Not solely are you able to get contemporary pressed cider, however in addition they have some wonderful baked items together with a few of the greatest apple cider doughnuts!
B.F. Clyde’s is situated at 129 N Stonington Rd, Previous Mystic, CT
Be taught About First People at Pequot Museum
Positioned 20 minutes away on the Mashantucket Pequot Nation, the Pequot Museum walks by means of historical past from the Ice Age to trendy occasions and the impression on the area and the native peoples.
The museum gives eatures 85,000 sq. ft of displays together with life-size dioramas, movies, and interactive laptop packages. The centerpiece is a recreated sixteenth Century Pequot village, full with an extended home and wigwams. (See different family-friendly museums in New England.)
The museum is situated at 110 Pequot Path, Mashantucket, CT and has restricted opening hours so you’ll want to examine forward.
Swim at Watch Hill Seaside
Simply throughout the border in Rhode Island is the upscale seashore neighborhood of Watch Hill and residential to the one remaining Flying Horses carousel within the nation. Made in 1876, the carousel was dropped at Watch Hill in 1883 and nonetheless runs at present.
You’ll be able to benefit from the small city, catch a sundown, or get pleasure from a seashore day. Perhaps you’ll get fortunate and spy Taylor Swift if she is at her Westerly house.
The carousel may be discovered at 151 Bay Avenue in Westerly, Rhode Island. The carousel is open in the summertime and weekends solely by means of Columbus Day.
Take a Lighthouse Tour
From close by New London, CT, you’ll be able to board a Cross Sound Ferry for one in every of its Lighthouse Cruises. Every cruise brings you previous an array of lighthouses, with narration to clarify the fascinating and distinctive historical past of every. There are three lighthouse cruise itineraries to select from.
Take a Stroll at Ocean Seaside
In close by New London, households can get pleasure from a day on the seashore and a few of the actions alongside the half-mile boardwalk. Alongside the boardwalk you too can discover a nature path, pool, arcade, playground and a free spray floor.
Eating places in Mystic, Connecticut
There are many eating places in Mystic to select from, however listed below are a few of my favorites:
Engine Room
Positioned in Downtown Mystic, parking on the Engine Room is a little bit of a problem so it’s possible you’ll wish to park a bit out of city (and even on the Seaport) and stroll alongside the water as an alternative.
The country inside of this hip farm-to-table restaurant is a part of its appeal however the upscale consolation meals is its shining star. The dry-aged burgers are scrumptious and are accompanied by sandwiches, entrees, salads and starters like hush puppies.
Kitchen Little
Positioned a bit out of city on the Mystic River Marina, it’s value lining up early for breakfast at Kitchen Little. I’m a sucker for eggs benedict they usually have such all kinds I might return repeatedly to maintain making an attempt one thing new.
My favourite to this point is the Portuguese Benedict with spicy chourico sausage and poached eggs over a Portuguese muffin with a spicy hollandaise.
Mystic Pizza
Mystic Pizza’s “secret sauce” was made well-known by Julia Roberts and the solid of the film Mystic Pizza again within the late 80s, however locals had already been followers. It isn’t the most effective pizza ever, however it’s good and if you’re fan of the film, it’s a should attempt whereas on the town.
If you’re searching for seafood, the Historical Mariner, proper in downtown Mystic serves up traditional fare. Personally the subsequent time I go to Mystic I’m going to get a reservation for the Oyster Membership upfront.
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Tamara Gruber is the Founder and Writer of We3Travel. A former advertising govt and journey advisor, Tamara is an award-winning journey author and acknowledged knowledgeable in household journey. Tamara is a member of SATW and the Journey Journey Commerce Affiliation, and serves on the Board of the Household Journey Affiliation. She can be the writer of YourTimetoFly.com and the co-host of the Trip Professionals journey podcast.