Mystic...So Many Choices

An overnight aboard the Mystic Whaler, a day at the Mystic Seaport, an afternoon at the Mystic Aquarium, a delicious meal at the Go Fish Restaurant, a great breakfast at Kitchen Little Restaurant on the Mystic River.

Quick Tips:

Mystic is one of the top tourist towns in New England and is often crowded during spring-summer and autumn. Housing is not cheap...if you're on a budget, you might want to consider staying outside of the Mystic area to avoid paying over for a nights lodging.

Best Way To Get Around:

Find a parking spot and walk. You can cover the whole town on foot and avoid the long lines of cars.

If you love fish, this is the place to go...located at the Olde Mistick Village, right off Route 95, this place serves all kinds of fish...raw sushi, cooked...grilled, baked, broiled, steamed, sauteed, seared, blackened, and fried.

Living close to this restaurant, I've had a number of meals here...all delicious. Their salads are great...try the Thai Shrimp Salad with spicy peanut dressing. For the entree, try their Portuguese Fisherman's Pan Roast which includes fresh fish, littleneck clams, chorizo sausage potatoes, and tomato in a spiced garlic broth. Or try the Bouillabaisse which includes clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, and fish in a tomato, fennel and saffron broth.

The name Kitchen Little is appropriate...this very small building, located right on the Mystic River, is one of the most popular breakfast places in town. Due to its small size, you usually have to wait outside for a table yet people don't seem to mind with the wonderful views of the Mystic River.

This place is really quaint...it's so small inside that you feel very much a part of the whole operation. Don't plan to visit for personal, private conversations...little is private in this place.

Now, what to have. Kitchen Little serves 45 different breakfast choices so it can be somewhat overwhelming to decide since everytthing looks (and is) so good. Their omelets are delicious. Try the Kitchen Little Sinker Omelet (which includes, you guessed right, everything but the kitchen sink)...Bacon, American cheese, fresh mushrooms, peppers, onions, homefries, sour cream.

The Mystic Whaler was built in 1967 and rebuilt in 1993 and exceeds all Coast Guard standards for safety, with an auxiliary diesel engine and generator, and a full array of navigational equipment.

The owners of the Mystic Whaler, John and Marelda Eginton, are respected veterans in the windjammer world of sailing. They were both aboard during my two day overnight trip to Block Island. Captain John has 25 years of Tall Ship experience and knows the waters of New England. His wife created an atmosphere of hospitality along with her historical knowledge which she shared with the passengers.

I was welcomed aboard after 8:30 PM on the night before our sailing day. My berth, the more reasonable and least expensive, was in the Great Room. I should mention that I received a steep discount since my daughter, Victoria, worked on the Mystic Whaler as a cook. After a delicious breakfast, we set sail. With a good wind, we were on our way, enjoying the spectacular views. Later in the morning we heard informative and entertaining commentary about the many sites we passed. Our lunch was pretty basic with sandwiches, chips, and plenty to drink. The afternoon was relaxing with good reading, views, waving to other boats and ships, and making new friends. We arrived off of Block Island and were treated to a delicious New England Feast of clam chowder, steamed clams and lobster. Later we were given the option to leave the ship to spend time on Block Island, which I took advantage of.
br> Sleeping on a tall ship was a real thrill as the ship rocked quietly in the harbor.

The following day as we returned to Mystic, we enjoyed good meals, conversation, and sights. We we also encouraged to nr participants in this sailing adventure by hauling lines, taking a turn at the wheel, and learning about the history of the many islands and lighthouses.

This is the attraction that put Mystic on the map. Mystic Seaport is America's largest maritime museum, founded in 1929. Over the years it has become the State of Connecticut's number one tourist attraction. This 17 acre site along the Mystic River boasts Tall Ships and a re-created 19th century seaport village. The most popular ship is the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, which is one of the last of the wooden whaleships. Part of spending at least a day here(You really need two full days to appreciate everything)is taking a river cruise on the Sabino, the last coal-fired steamboat in America.

Dedicated to the preservation of America's maritime heritage, Mystic Seaport demonstrates, through exhibits and buildings, the growth of our shipping industry, the fortitude of our sea captains and sailors, and the skills at home that made possible their voyages to the whaling grounds and foreign ports around the world.

Once you enter this living museum, you can walk around this re-created village, see small fishing boats, stores, a meeting house, a school, a ship chanlery where mariners supplied their seagoing wants...from sextants to hardware, fishlines. There is a shipsmith shop where a smith actually works at a glowing forge...a woodcarver's shop, a sail loft, a cooperage, a countinghouse...all restored to their original condition to the last detail.

This Mystic Aquarium has some 6,000 creatures living under its roof. There is a 30,000 gallon exhibit with boinnethead sharks, described as the most exotic species in the world. You will also see jellyfish, dolphins, a 1,000 pound beluga whale, African penguins and sea lions.

There is also a marine theater where demonstrations are held showing dolphin behavior. You will learn how dophin bodies adapt to survival in their environment.

Don't miss the 8 minute theater presentation of multimedia exhibits and interactive displays which will immerse you in the deep sea. You will board the R/V Discovery, for an epic journey of exploration with the U.S. Navy submersible Turtle and the remotely-operated vehicle Jason.

This aquarium also has many outdoor exhibits during the spring-summer-autumn season such as African penquins.