A Weekend Itinerary for Mystic, Connecticut

The city of Mystic, Connecticut is picturesque New England at its' best. It comes with lighthouses, seafood dinners, boating, wineries and craft breweries, a hint of Hollywood and plenty of hydrangeas. It's within a short train ride or drive from New York or Boston. And there is plenty to do for a fun-filled weekend. Here are some highlights:

Get Out on the Water
Mystic has a plethora of ways to get out on the water. You can start with a stroll along the riverfront with a possible stop for a beverage at on of the waterfront patios. You can also get close to the water by touring Mystic Seaport. We chose to take a ride on The Schooner Argia on the Mystic River. There are day sails and sunset cruises on the river and into the Long Island Sound. We took our enjoyable sail on a windy, yet hot, Saturday afternoon.  The crew provides snacks and bottled water but you are permitted to bring your own beverages, alcoholic included, or food. You'll pass by classic New England scenery on your two hour sail including the Mystic River Railroad Bridge - it carries Amtrak's Northeast Corridor - and Morgan Point Lighthouse. One of the most interesting places you'll see is North Dumpling Island, home of the Segway Inventor, Dean Kamen.( After Kamen was denied permission to build a wind turbine on his island, he "succeeded from the US and created his own kingdom of North Dumpling)

The Kingdom of North Dumpling

Visit a Winery or Craft Brewery
There are 5 wineries to visit in the Mystic area and a couple craft breweries. We hit up three of them on our visit: Stonington, Jonathan Edwards and Saltwater Farm. All offer tastings and have outdoor areas to enjoy a glass or bottle of wine.

If you're more interested in imbibing in a beer, then Barley Head Brewery should have your name all over it. It's located right in downtown Mystic. If you'd like to try more, Beer'd Brewing Company in nearby Stonington is newer and considered a nano brewery but I'm told they know their beer.

Have a taste of Hollywood at Mystic Pizza
Hollywood came to call in 1988 when screenwriter Amy Jones was on vacation in Mystic and decided to write a movie about three waitresses who work at Mystic Pizza. Actually filmed here, the movie starred Julia Roberts and was Matt Damon's first film role. It has quite a cult following and the pizza shop is filled with movie memorabilia and the film being shown continuously. There's usually a wait because besides being a little slice of Hollywood in Connecticut, they also have good pizza. 

If you're a fan of old movies, and Bogie and Bacall, you can visit The Inn at Mystic where those two Hollywood stars stayed on their honeymoon. (They reportedly stayed in Room 8 of the Gatehouse) If you don't want to stay here, you can always visit the Rocks 21 Restaurant & Bar to soak up the water views and imagine what it was like in 1945 when they visited.

Enjoy some Seafood from a Picnic Table
One thing is for sure - Mystic has some fantastic waterfront seafood restaurants.
 Red 36 is directly on the Mystic River in downtown Mystic and bills fresh seafood and a raw bar on it's menu. And if you're coming by boat, there is dock space available.

Abbott's Lobster in the Rough is known for it's lobster rolls and waterfront views. You can pull up a picnic table and watch the boats go by while enjoying your favorite seafood or homemade dessert. I just love this place!

Just down the river from Abbott's is Costello's Clam Shack. Also known for their fresh seafood - fried clams, fish tacos, scallops, oysters, shrimp and steamed lobster are some of their menu items - Costello's has dockside dining on the river, too. Like Abbot's, you place your order at the window and then find a table to wait while they call your number. And in case of inclement weather, there are plastic sheeting "walls" to keep you dry and warm.

Ford's Lobsters is a dine in (or patio) establishment known, obviously, for their lobster. Their menu includes: lobster alfredo, lobster risotto, lobster fettucine, lobster thermidor, lobster mac n cheese....well, you get the picture. Ford's offers restaurant seating which is more like, well..a restaurant, as opposed to a lobster pound. They do not take reservations and the wait can be long. In fact, I've yet to dine at Ford's as every time we go it has been incredibly long. But I've heard it's worth it.

Carson's Store isn't waterfront. And it doesn't offer dinner. But I'm including it in this category because it's such a fun, little place to  eat. Carson's is a cafe and breakfast restaurant that used to be a store - opened in 1907- and has been run by the same family since 1979. The staff is very welcoming, the food is good and you can still get your fair share of lobster in their offerings. Another place I love!

Yes, that's a lobster claw sticking out of that omelet!

Check out the Unique Mystic River Bascule Bridge
A bascule bridge is a bridge that has a pivoting section that is raised and lowered using counter weights. The name comes from the French term for balance scale. The Mystic River has it's own unique bascule bridge and if you're into bridges, this is one to see. We were able to see it raised and lowered while waiting to go on our sail on the Argia and it's really quite cool. And though I haven't partaken, I've heard that Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream, right by the bridge, has some delicious ice cream treats to eat while you check out the bridge.

Side Trip to Stonington
Stonington is the next town over from Mystic. (It's about a 10 minute drive) I've already mentioned three places here - Beer'd Brewing, Stonington Vineyard and Saltwater Farm Vineyard - but there a few more that are fun to visit. 
The Old Lighthouse Museum shares the history of this lighthouse which has stood at the Stonington Harbor for the last 170 years. It was built to guide ships across the treacherous Long Island Sound and now visitors may climb the lighthouse for great views or picnic on the grounds.

Dog Watch Cafe is a dog-friendly waterfront eatery that sits on the water. Patrons can watch the comings and goings of boats at the marina and also enjoy some ice cream after their meal.

DuBois Beach is located at the very tip of Stonington and it offers swimming, picnicking, crabbing and beachcombing. The water is shallow so it's ideal for families and it's lifeguard staffed. Parking is located right next to the beach - I'd suggest going early if the weather is nice as I think it fills up quickly.

If you love seafood, lighthouses, boat rides, maybe a little beachcombing and a quaint, small town, then Mystic might just be your cup of tea. 

How about you? Have you been to Mystic?



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