Mystic is Magical

Deciding what to do first in Mystic, Connecticut, is tough: All options are great. History buffs should definitely visit the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, where state-of-the-art displays take you to another era.

Nearby, there’s massive Foxwoods Resort Casino, the nation’s first self-contained, smoke-free casino. Its profits support Native Americans.

At Mystic Seaport itself, there’s a vast collection of maritime memorabilia—and, at a working shipyard, get a behind-the-scenes view of nautical life.

Shoppers will delight in the many boutique shops in downtown Mystic and Raspberry Junction.

We were definitely up close and personal with a Beluga whale at Mystic Aquarium’s innovative displays. And, at the Pequotsepos Nature Center, you can really get back to nature at more than 200 acres of woodlands, meadows and wetlands and seven miles of trails.

But, if you stay at The Inn At Mystic— especially in their elegant Haley Mansion overlooking the harbor as we did, you’ll be tempted to just stay here. At this 15-acre coastal resort property, you can hike, bike, canoe or kayak, and enjoy a vacation destination all on its own, yet it is close to Mystic attractions.

Quick Tips:

We knew that Mystic, Connecticut had a great sea-going heritage, but we discovered that there’s a treasure trove of things to do here, whether it’s visiting the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, shopping in quaint boutiques, or enjoying stylish dining and accommodations at the Inn at Mystic.

Get the most out of your visit to Mystic, Connecticut, and nearby Stonington, by visiting various sites such as link, link, link, link, and link can help you plan your visit so you get to see the things that are important to you.

The more you know about a destination you will visit, the more you will get out of your trip. Not that I’m suggesting that you plan every little detail. No, it’s important to leave some free time for discovering new things. After all, that’s one of the main advantages of traveling. But just do a little homework to give yourself a framework of things to do so you are certain to see what’s important to you.

Best Way To Get Around:

There’s an Amtrak train station right in Mystic and, if you’re staying at The Inn at Mystic, you can arrange to be picked up in style—in a Rolls Royce with a driver clad in formal attire. If you like to walk, you can walk to a number of attractions from the Inn at Mystic. For others, a little further out, you’ll need a car. Local rental car companies include Dollar, Enterprise and Payless, and Avis, Hertz, Alamo, Budget and Thrifty are at the local airports.

If you’ll be traveling by air, you can fly into Providence, Rhode Island’s Theodore F. Green Airport (about 45 minutes away) and Hartford/Springfield International Airport (about 1 hours and 20 minutes away). Delta; Delta Express; U.S. Airways, American, Continental, Northwest; Southwest, United, and Cape Air all serve the area.

When I stayed at the elegant Haley Mansion at the Inn at Mystic, I felt as if I had returned to another era--and was a very rich landowner.

One size does not fit all at The Inn at Mystic in Mystic, Connecticut. Here, at Connecticut’s only inn overlooking Mystic Harbor and Long Island Sound, you’ll be able to wander over 15 lushly landscaped acres—and select from a variety of accommodations.

Our favorite, as you might have guessed, is The Haley Mansion, the original inn, a Colonial Revival mansion built in 1904 by the widow of one of the late 1800’s founders of the famous Fulton Fish Market—Katherine Haley. It features five elegantly appointed guest rooms; original, extinct pine pane paneled walls and fireplace; original wallpaper in some rooms, turn-of-the-previous century furnishings; a Victorian verandah and formal gardens.

From our room we looked down over the Mystic Harbor, we imagined living here when owner Frederick Mosel resided here with his sister, Anne. He threw extremely lavish parties to entertain his friends, the story is told, and it got to be a bit much for his quieter sister. So Mosel built a nearby Gate House, so she could get some sleep while he partied.

We got to take a peek at this Gate House (with the ordinary name of room #8) and found out that it’s where Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall honeymooned. While it doesn’t have the view that we enjoyed in the elegant Haley Mansion, it does have a working fireplace, a cozy, romantic atmosphere, and, up a few steps, an elevated absolutely luxurious Jacuzzi that any couple—honeymooners or old married folk—would love to enjoy.

There’s even more choice in accommodations at the Inn at Mystic. The Motor Inn has 40 guest rooms with individually decorated accommodations and Colonial wall coverings, and The East Wing has 12 rooms featuring queen-sized canopy beds and all ground level rooms with whirlpools. In addition, accommodations at the Flood Tide Restaurant, a Cape Cod-style house resembling a sea captain’s home, include six guest rooms with a Colonial décor.

With such an array of accommodations, the Inn at Mystic appeals to a wide variety of travelers. But, stroll the formal gardens and apple and pear orchard, and hike the nature trials and you’ll find even more. You can also play tennis, practice golf on one of two putting greens, swim at the outdoor pool, soak in the heated soaking tub, or kayak, canoe or sail in the Pequotsepos estuary. You can enjoy yourself so much that you might not even get to the other attractions in Mystic itself.

When you come to Mystic, come hungry—and ready to do more than dine. At The Flood Tide Restaurant at the Inn at Mystic, for example, Chef Guillaume Burlion and his kitchen staff offer you cuisine that showcases their combined skills. Like so many other of his countrymen, French-born Burlion knows how to transform ingredients into masterpieces for the mouth. Using the freshest of local foodstuffs, he creates dishes that have a French flair, but, as he says "have an American twist."

You can tell from his artistic appetizers such as Crepes filed with Lobster Madeira, Deer Tenderloin with Chestnut Potatoes and a Black Truffle Sauce that Burlion studied under Patrick Lenotre, France’s legendary pastry genius. And, of course, the pastries offered on the dessert menu are works of art as well. But, rest assured, there’s more than superficial style here. Whether it’s one of his savory appetizer creations, or an innovative entrée such as Honey and Orange Marinated Duck Breast with Confit, served over wild mushrooms in an Armagnac infused sauce, the food here is more than something that’s pretty. It’s a masterful combination of ingredients that will have you lingering over each bite.

Order from the menu or try the weekly tasting menu, where you’ll be treated to a sampling of the chef’s latest creations. There’s even a wine-pairing option if you wish. And, to let you enjoy your meals at The Flood Tide Restaurant even more, there’s live piano music—and an outstanding view of the Mystic Harbor. Whether you linger over a leisurely breakfast at the weekly breakfast buffet or decadent Sunday Brunch, drop in for hors d’oeuvres or afternoon tea, or come to savor your evening meal, you’ll be certain to enjoy a fine dining experience complimented by a most pleasant, accommodating, and knowledgeable waitstaff.

Don’t be fooled by this serious-sounding name. While this is definitely a first-class research center and museum, it’s also an exciting attractions. Here the past of the Native Americans comes alive as you wander through displays so life-like that you’d swear they were real. This museum is a treat to visit.

Throughout this modern state-of-the-art museum with its hands-on interactive displays, and informative audio tour system, you’ll explore the past, yet, with the open airy architecture, be constantly reminded of the Earth. On various levels, you’ll be able to explore the Pequot Nation, Life in a Cold Climate, the incredibly realistic Pequot Village, Pequot War and Life on the Reservation. The Pequot Village is a definite must. Pick up a free audio tour system and you can wander around on your own—and, by pressing the right buttons, get additional in-depth information on various areas that you’re particularly interested in.

At the Children’s Library, children and educators (and that includes parents) can explore the topic of Native American through fascinating videos, audiotapes, CD’s and CD-Rom presentations from their multimedia collection.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center is located only 7 miles from Mystic and 1.5 miles from the Foxwoods Resort Casino. To get there, follow signs from I-95 (exit 92) or I-395 (exit 79A) to the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, located off route 2.

Are you familiar with the name Dr. Robert Ballard? When you find out that he was the deep-ocean explorer and discoverer of the RMS Titanic, you’ll probably remember his name.

Well, he is the president of the Institute for Exploration at Mystic Aquarium located in Mystic, Connecticut. And, under his direction, there’s plenty of exploration going on. To learn more about it, just come here for a visit and see the Challenge of the Deep exhibit, created as part of Mystic Aquarium’s $54 million expansion.

At other exhibits such as Where Rivers Meet the Sea, you’ll learn the secrets of the shoreline where "kid-friendly" exhibits encourage young visitors to get at eye-level with marsh species including seahorses, green crabs, and silversides. The centerpiece of the Coral Reef gallery is a dramatic 30,000-gallon exhibit featuring different species of fish against a backdrop of brightly colored artificial coral. Graceful rays and other tropical species, including butterfly fishes, goat fishes, and trigger fishes, swim among green moray eels, puffer fish a guitarfish.

Our favorite was not only watching the giant Beluga whales swim by only a Plexiglas distance away, but watching the excitement of children as they did. They would squeal with excitement whenever the whale came closer and were fascinated by its movement. At the "kids cave," children can crawl underneath the Offshore Banks exhibit and get a fish-eye view through a 36-inch acrylic bubble. It’s enough to make you want to be a kid again so you can experience it.

Plan to spend some time here because there’s plenty to see and appreciate. You’ll come away from this fun experience with a much deeper appreciation for the vast Oceans and life that lives in them.

The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration is located at 55 Coogan Boulevard, Mystic, Connecticut. It is at Exit 90 off Interstate 95. For more information, visit link.

Visiting Mystic Seaport is like going on an adventure to explore the nation’s nautical past and present. The options here are overwhelming, so be certain to pick up a map at the Visitors Center so you can easily see all that’s available to you as part of your visit. You could literally spend the whole day here.

At Voyages: Stories of America and The Sea, the whole family will journey to the past as they learn about the fascinating stories of the sea. At the Preservation Shipyard, you’ll get to look down over real craftspeople as they construct the crafts of yesterday and carry on the fine art on shipbuilding. What a treat for any boat builder or boater to witness.

At Coming to America, interactive events and activities explore immigration to the U.S. and how it affected those that came here.

It’s a Williamsburg-type atmosphere as costumed docents portray people from the past—and explain it to those of us in the present in a meaningful way that we can identify with. From the artistic scrimshaw and ship’s ceremonies, to rigging and setting sails, the world of the sea, carefully explained in fascinating ways, to bring it’s romantic and dramatic history alive. This is such an enjoyable, don’t spoil it by letting the kids know that it’s educational too.

Plan to spend the day here and dine at the Spouter Tavern, the Seamen’s Inn Restaurant & Pub or Galley Restaurant on the Village Green to really get the flavor of the sea.

Mystic Seaport is located midway between New York and Boston in Mystic, Connecticut. Take Interstate 95 to Exit 90 and Proceed one mile south on Route 27.For more information, visit link.