Mystic CT Weekend Getaway
- Laura
- 15 hours ago
- 5 min read
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Built at the intersection of the Mystic River and Harbor, the town of Mystic Connecticut is largely surrounded by water. Full of weathered capes and sea captain houses, Mystic has an unmistakable New England charm. Visitors love the town's restaurants, brew pubs, and eclectic shops. Use our Mystic CT Weekend getaway guide to plan the perfect couple’s retreat.
Mid-way between Boston and New York City on Connecticut’s Atlantic shore, Mystic is a major New England travel destination. Roadways can get crowded, but most of the attractions in Mystic are within a 3-4-mile radius so you will spend more time exploring wharves and marinas than struggling to find parking. Our Mystic CT itinerary will take you to Mystic Seaport, Foxwoods Casino, and sailing on the Schooner Argia.
Follow this link for information on tours, excursions, and other things to do in Mystic Connecticut.
For more information on Mystic CT restaurants and hotels read our Mystic CT Travel Guide. For detailed information on visiting the Mystic Seaport Museum go to A Day at Mystic Seaport CT.
Checkout these Mystic Connecticut tours and excursions:
WEEKEND GETAWAY: MYSTIC CT ITINERARY
FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Explore downtown Mystic CT
TIP: If it is difficult to find parking in town, head to Mystic Seaport. Visitors can park (for a fee) in the South Parking Lot and take a shuttle bus to town (about one mile).
Plan to arrive in Mystic by early afternoon. Begin your exploration of downtown Mystic CT on the Groton side of the Mystic Drawbridge at Schooner Wharf. Kick off the weekend by exploring this picturesque pier. Next, head toward town and the Mystic Knotworks store (across from Whaler’s Inn) to peruse nautical rope jewelry and home decor.
Continue toward town passing the Liberty Square anchor and the silver fish sculpture at S&P Oyster House. Find your way to the Mystic River Bascule Bridge (drawbridge). Walk across the historic structure and into the heart of downtown Mystic CT. Stroll Main Street until you hit the famous Mystic Pizza Restaurant. Then, change directions and explore the other side of the avenue.
In this area you will find the Mystic Museum of Art and many unique Mystic CT shops. Look for Banks Street Books, Trove, Sea Bags, Black Dog General Store, the Army-Navy Store, Young Buns Doughnuts, The Mariner, Friar Tuck’s Tavern, and many more. If you are a lover of games take part in the Mystic Mashup Scavenger Hunt on your mobile phone.
When you arrive back at the Mystic Drawbridge, cross it and take a walk along the Mystic River Park. Walk the boardwalk along the Mystic River to the marina at the far end of the walkway. Keep an eye on the time, at 40-minutes past the hour make sure to watch the drawbridge raise and lower to let boat traffic flow in and out to Mystic Harbor.
FRIDAY EVENING: Argia Mystic Cruise
Pre-book the 6:00pm Argia Mystic sunset cruise. A few minutes before the appointed hours, buy some wine and picnic supplies and head to Steamboat Wharf (by the Mystic Drawbridge on the Stonington side). Take a sail on the Schooner Argia. Sip your wine, eat your snacks, and cruise past the spectacular New England coast.
If you have any steam left head to a downtown bar. Try: Friar Tuck’s Irish Pub, the S&P Oyster Bar, the Harp and Hound, Bank & Bridge Brewing, or Barley Head Brewery. If you would prefer an organized tour, click here for a beer pub tour or a cocktail pub tour.
SATURDAY DAYTIME: Mystic Seaport Museum. Kayaking or Williams Beach
Begin your day with a trip to Mystic Seaport. The living history museum recreates New England life in a 19th century whaling community. Onsite, visitors can explore a working shipyard, dozens of wharves, and a host of businesses that would support a fishing and boat building community.
Explore whaling schooners above and below deck, climb a lighthouse, and attend live demonstrations on coopering, oystering, and blacksmithing. There is a planetarium and whaling museum as well as several restaurants and shops. Plan to spend a solid 4-hours at Mystic Seaport. Follow this link to purchase admission tickets to the Mystic Seaport Museum.
When you are finished at the Seaport, head just down the road to Schooner Wharf and the Adventure Mystic Paddle sports shop. Here you can rent a paddle board or kayak on the Mystic River and harbor.
If you are looking for a more lowkey activity, drive to Williams Beach. The small, sandy beach is about a mile out of town on the Stonington side. There is free parking at the nearby YMCA parking lot.
Finally, if the weather is rainy head to Mystic Aquarium for its indoor exhibits.
For your overnight stay, consider these Mystic CT hotels:
SATURDAY EVENING: Foxwoods Casino
Tonight, head to Foxwoods Casino. Plan to eat dinner and spend the evening at the entertainment complex. Ten miles away in Mashantucket CT, Foxwoods Casino is an easy ride from Mystic. At Foxwoods you will find gaming (poker, keno, bingo, slots), restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, and a large Tanger Outlet shopping mall. Foxwoods also offers a number of thrill rides including zip lining, go-karting, axe throwing, and virtual reality games.
SUNDAY DAYTIME: Olde Mistick Village and BF Clyde’s Cider Mill.
Sleep in and have a relaxing brunch. Then, head to the Olde Mistick Village open-air shopping center. Located about 3-miles outside of downtown Mystic CT, the complex recreates a colonial settlement of the 1700s. Pedestrianized walking lanes are lined with cape and colonial houses filled with interesting shops and eateries.
The village is centered around a town green with a gazebo and duck pond. A sampling of the shops onsite includes the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Store, Alice’s Haunted Little Bookstore, Kitch, Franklin’s General Store, Dharma Jewel, and the Toy Soldier. Grab a bite to eat before you head out at Trattoria Amalfi, The Jealous Monk Beer Hall, or Mango’s Woodfire Pizza.
If it is in the months of September or October, make sure to stop at the BF Clyde’s Cider Mill before heading home (3.5-miles from downtown Mystic). BF Clyde’s has the oldest working steam powered cider mill in America. The Cider Mill offers tastings and cider-making demonstrations. In the retail store jellies, jams, honey, and apple-based products are on sale.
We hope you find fair winds and following seas, Laura and Randy
For more information on New England travel, read our articles on:
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