Mystic CT with Kids 3 Day Itinerary
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The New England town of Mystic Connecticut has deep ties to the sea and an abundance of wharves, schooners, and nautical landmarks to explore. Kids love Mystic for all there is to do: discovering the decks of a whaling ship, touching stingrays, and playing in the sand. Parents love that all the fun takes place on the picturesque New England coast. Use our Mystic CT with Kids 3-Day Itinerary to plan your perfect getaway.
Built around a tidal estuary between the Mystic River and Mystic Harbor, water activities rule in Mystic. Two of the best things to do in Mystic CT are visiting the Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium. Other favorite family activities include looking for seashells at Williams Beach and watching the Mystic Drawbridge go up and down.
Our Mystic CT 3-day itinerary is packed with suggestions for kid-friendly things to do. Click for information on rental car prices. Look for Mystic Ct hotels here.
For fun family activities after dark, try a Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour or a Digital Mystic Mash Up Scavenger Hunt that is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
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THINGS TO DO IN MYSTIC CT WITH KIDS
Friday Daytime: Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
Aim to arrive in Mystic CT early enough to go the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center. Just outside of downtown Mystic, the nature center has exhibits that teach about the Connecticut woodlands, wetlands, and wildlife. Learn about New England raptors, frogs, turtles, snakes and fish. Then, head out onto the center’s nature trails for a family hike.
Friday Evening: Downtown Mystic CT, Mystic Drawbridge, Williams Beach
This evening, bring the family to downtown Mystic CT. Walk Main Street, browse the shops, and get dinner at Mystic Pizza (yes, it really exists) or a local pub. Kids will love Kenzie’s Fudge and Chocolate Shop, Bank Square Books, Black Dog General Store, Queenie’s Gift Emporium, and Mystic’s Army Navy Store.
When you are done shopping, walk across the Mystic Drawbridge and look for the Mystic River Park. Walk down the boardwalk until you come to a little candy shop. This is the best place to see the drawbridge raise and lower. The last timed raising of the bridge each day is at 6:40PM. After that, you will have to hope for a larger boat to come in.
Walk the boardwalk along the Mystic River. You are apt to see schools of fish in the water along the way. There are large grassy lawns to run around on. At the end of the boardwalk look for a playground inland. At sunset, head to Williams Beach on the outskirts of town. The public beach is small, but sandy and scenic. There is free parking at the nearby YMCA.
Saturday Daytime: Mystic Seaport Museum
Active children will love Mystic Seaport. Spread over 19-acres, the living history museum is full of hands-on activities. The highlight of the trip is sure to be exploring above and below decks of the whaling schooners moored at the museum. Another great activity is seeing boats being built in the Preservation Shipyard.
In the Seaport Village, talented historians bring the 19th century village to life with live-action demonstrations. Check out the blacksmith shop, hoop shop, ship carver’s shop. Guests are invited to ask questions, and sometimes to join in the activity.
When the kids tire of scampering over wharves there is still much to do. Find the planetarium, children’s playground, children’s activity center, lighthouse, and sailing center. And don’t forget to stop in the Funk Children’s Museum and a Discovery Barn. Plan to spend around 6 hours at Mystic Seaport. Parking is free, and there are restaurants onsite.
Saturday Evening: Sunset Argia Schooner Cruise
This evening schedule the family for a 6:00pm sunset cruise on the Schooner Argia. The trip begins on Steamboat Wharf in downtown Mystic. The boat goes under the Mystic Drawbridge, through Mistic Harbor, and then sails along the New England coast. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and dine on the boat (beer and wine is allowed).
Sunday Daytime: Mystic Aquarium and Olde Mistick Village
A trip to the Mystic Aquarium will captivate all members of the family. At the museum there are indoor and outdoor exhibits, high tech theaters, and an animatronic dinosaur adventure. Kids love the interactive exhibits where they are able to reach out and touch sharks, lizards, snakes, and stingrays. There is a complimentary sea lion show and tanks full of penguins, seals, and beluga whales. Plan to spend a solid three hours at the aquarium. Parking is free.
Next door to the Mystic Aquarium is Olde Mistick Village (you can keep the car parked in the same space). Olde Mistick Village is an open-air shopping center modeled after an 18th century colonial community. The walkways that run around the shopping center are pedestrian only.
There are enough stores within Olde Mistick Village to keep the kids engaged. Youngsters will enjoy Alice in the Village, Alice’s Haunted Little Bookstore, the Toy Soldier, Franklin’s General Store, Cloak and Wand, the Beef Jerky Experience, Irish Eyes, Munson’s Chocolate, The Kite Shop, Penguins -Otters-And Others, Raining Cats and Dogs, Sophia’s Mystical Christmas, and others.
If the kids really aren’t shoppers, an adult can take them to the town green and let them feed the ducks. Or, there are cinemas onsite.
If you are visiting in September or October, make one more stop before heading home. BF Clyde’s Cider Mill is about 3.5-miles from downtown Mystic CT. The farm has been selling apple products and other locally sourced foods since 1881. At the mill you will see the oldest steam powered cider mill in the USA. There are frequent cider-making demonstrations and tastings. In the retail store you can browse donuts, sweet and hard cider, wine, jams, jellies, maple syrup, and honey products.
THINGS TO DO IN MYSTIC CT WITH TEENS
If you have teens, try some of these things to do in Mystic CT:
Foxwoods Casino: (Mashantucket) Ten miles up the road, Foxwoods Casino has a number of adventure games and rides that will thrill any teen. Onsite there is bowling, axe throwing, Go-Karting, Zip-lining, virtual reality games, and an escape room.
Mistick Luxury Cinemas: (Mystic) Located at Olde Mistick Village.
Adventure Mystic: (Mystic) Provides rentals and lessons for paddle boarding or kayaking on the Mystic River. Also, has bike rentals.
Mystified Escape Rooms: (Mystic)Use clues, puzzles, and hidden clues to escape from this live action game.
Tree Trails Adventure Park: (Mystic) Teen have fun navigating the bridges, zip lines, cargo nets, and rope swing courses at this adventure park.
Sailing: (Mystic) Schedule a sailing lesson at the Mystic Seaport Sailing Center.
Hope this is enough to keep all of the kids (and grandkids) busy, Laura and Randy
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