The 10 Best Things to Do in Mystic, United States

March 17, 2018 Oliva Fomby

Swab the decks, batten down the hatches and get ready to set sail for a weekend of adventure in Mystic, Connecticut's seaside city devoted to all things maritime. From the popular Mystic Seaport, a recreated 19th-century seafaring village, to the newly updated Mystic Aquarium, where you can mingle with beluga whales, seals and dolphins, there is something nautical at every turn. The Colonial period buildings of Olde Mystick Village offer a few tasty seafood restaurants, historical atmosphere and a multitude of unique gift shops. While most of Mystic's attractions have a marine theme, there are a couple of exceptions: landlubbers may want to check out the Mystic Art Association's galleries and studios, which showcase the work of local and regional artists. Or have a lunch at Mystic Pizza, the eatery made famous by the Julia Roberts movie of the same name. From restaurants with plenty of crayons and kid's menus to hotels with puppet shows and bedtime story hours, everything about Mystic is geared toward children, making it a fun and educational family getaway. And for adults, the nearby Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casino complexes are a sure bet for entertainment.
Restaurants in Mystic

1. Mystic Dark Room

325 Mistuxet Ave, Mystic, CT 06355-3013 +1 860-536-3671
Excellent
100%
Good
0%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 62 reviews

Mystic Dark Room

Mystic Dark Room is an intimate show lounge offering unique entertainment experiences, accommodating its guests with all front row seating, allowing all who enter to feel like a VIP. Up a winding staircase, past the iron and brass gates, guests escape into a chic metro-loft atmosphere, ornamented with leather couches, private tables, larger than life concert style sets, lighting and special effects. This year’s line-up includes adult’s only fare with Grab weekend evenings in the fall. In December, Nutcracker Spectacular is the holiday hit that is returning from Foxwood’s Grand Theater to make Mystic its new home, with an extravaganza that’s family oriented and packed with edge of your seat excitement. February shifts gears back to an adult evening line-up with Flash perfect for sharing with a Valentine, and March marks the encore season of The Little Mermaid a Broadway style “dancical” that enchanted children and families last spring. Guests attending Grab or Flash are invited to BYOB, relax and unwind with wine, champagne, ale or brew - or their non-alcoholic beverage of choice. Following all shows, the soirée continues with intriguing interactions between guests and artists - we encourage you to take advantage of the dance floor and light show.

Reviewed By Liz D

I've attended serveral performances at the Mystic Dark Room and they are always an amazing experience. From an evening out with my husband to an afternoon with the family - they offer a variety of performances throughout the year. I especially love The Nutcracker where the dancers keep the beautiful tradition of the ballet but bring in unique touches to make the performance even more memorable. The intimate setting makes you feel like you're part of the show!

2. Charles W. Morgan

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT +1 860-572-5315
Excellent
71%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 355 reviews

Charles W. Morgan

Located at Mystic Seaport, this is the only existing wooden whaleship.

Reviewed By tmrlm - the fort

The last of it's kind an old whaling vessel.When we were there the sailors explained about the ship, you can take your time and look around at designated times the explain about the vessel and demonstrated the loading and unloading singing sailors songs. Quite interesting all around. We could even watch them raise the sails. Very informative

3. Mystic Seaport

75 Greenmanville Ave, Mystic, CT 06355-1972 +1 860-572-0711
Excellent
64%
Good
27%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2 reviews

Mystic Seaport

Mystic Seaport is the nation's leading maritime museum. Founded in 1929, the Museum is home to four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the Charles W. Morgan, America's oldest commercial ship and the last wooden whaleship in the world. The Museum's grounds cover 19 acres on the Mystic River in Mystic, CT and include a recreated 19th-century coastal village, a working shipyard, formal exhibit halls, and state-of-the-art artifact storage facilities. Mystic Seaport is located one mile south of Exit 90 off I-95 in Mystic, CT.

Reviewed By Jon5440 - Arlington, Virginia

We very much enjoyed spending a half-day at the Seaport. There is an excellent collection of buildings covering every aspect of the ship related economy from its heyday, located on a picture worthy waterfront just outside of town. The ships themselves were really great - in good shape and very easy to appreciate thanks to good signage and very helpful staff and volunteers. They really made the day, as each seemed genuinely happy to talk about their area and answer questions. We particularly liked the scale model of Mystic in the 1800s, scampering around the ships, viewing the refurbishment of the Mayflower II (there for another year or so), and the wacky virtual reality temporary exhibit of the arctic. That was a bit out of place but oddly relaxing to walk through with the VR goggles.

4. Historic Downtown Mystic

Along Mystic River, Mystic, CT 06355 +1 860-536-3842
Excellent
49%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 458 reviews

Historic Downtown Mystic

Reviewed By JBMartiniguy - Hartford, Connecticut

Yes this is the same mistake as the Mystic Pizza made famous by Julia Roberts . However this little village has a lot to offer comma many wonderful restaurants comma some art shops, a drawbridge to let the boats pass, ice cream shops and it's all in a very small area so it's easy enough to walk with children but has enough to spend a few hours or an evening relaxing or hitting the pubs in the evening

5. Mystic River Bascule Bridge

U.S. Route 1 over Mystic River, Groton - Stonington, Mystic, CT 06355
Excellent
52%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 599 reviews

Mystic River Bascule Bridge

Reviewed By cfertenb - Charlotte, North Carolina

We stayed near this drawbridge, and got to see it open twice. It's quite fascinating, and worth hanging around to see if it will open while you are there. This bridge does have walking paths along the side, so it's easy to cross the river to shops on either side.

6. Mystic Aquarium

55 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355-1997 +1 860-572-5955
Excellent
47%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 2 reviews

Mystic Aquarium

Journey into the aquatic world at this combination tourist attraction and research facility, where every underwater creature is more amazing than the last. Exhibits put you in close proximity to whales, penguins, sea lions and a 30,000-gallon tank, where exotic fish from around the world strut their stuff.

Reviewed By lubger - New York City, New York

This is not the biggest aquarium you'll see in your life, but it is definitely one of the cutest ones, and the centerpiece exhibit - belugas in a large man-made lagoon with a glass observation wall can keep you glued to those marvelous creatures for a long time.

They have both indoor and outdoor exhibits, incl. a couple of contact pools, all quite nice and interesting, with a fair amount of information posted to keep you interested but not tired (which is important when visiting with children).

I like the place, but over years (and I first visited it back in 2003, I think) it has grown very expensive - on this visit, the adult tickets ran as high as $40 (inclusive of taxes), that's my only complaint. (In all fairness, entertainment is becoming exorbitantly expensive everywhere, don't get me started on disneyworlds and the likes).

7. Olde Mistick Village

27 Coogan Blvd, Mystic, CT 06355-1920 +1 860-536-4941
Excellent
39%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1 reviews

Olde Mistick Village

This recreated 18th-century New England village offers a refreshing change from shopping malls as we know them. Browse or buy in the more than 60 small shops or dine in one of this charming setting's many eateries.

Reviewed By Ulla47 - Biarritz, France

Great place for a stroll to sample food, sweets, and do some shopping. There is a Scandinavian Store, a sports store with all the authentic baseball caps, boutiques, quaint stores and much more. The houses are low built and old fashioned in style. A little duck pond where children can feed the ducks with special grains you buy.

8. Mystic Museum of Art

9 Water St, Mystic, CT 06355-2592 +1 860-536-7601
Excellent
50%
Good
39%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 53 reviews

Mystic Museum of Art

Bordering the Mystic River, this complex features changing art exhibitions, special events and classes. A nonprofit organization created by an artist colony in 1913, the association boasts a membership of over 1,200 artists. Travelers can partake of one-day workshops or enjoy a day on the town while their children are educated and entertained in art classes.

Reviewed By Grace_K102 - Quincy, Massachusetts

I love quality crafts, or artisan sales, and this one was no exception. We enjoyed browsing the artwork in the gallery, and then walking through the other spaces where local artisans had set up tables for purchases from soaps to clothing to handmade cards and glass art... a little something for everyone. We opted to select a lovely handmade bulb ornament in shades of orange to add to our holiday decor. I'm sure the gallery is worth visiting in its own right when it's not holiday sale time, but I'm sure glad we found our way there for a little break that day in Mystic.

9. Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

109 Pequotsepos Rd, Mystic, CT 06355-3045 +1 860-536-1216
Excellent
53%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
16%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 54 reviews

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

For nearly 70 years, we have provided visitors the opportunity to experience nature first hand, whether it be on our 10+ miles of trails, in our natural history museum, our Nature Store, or as part of one of our many programs. The creation of the Coogan Farm Nature and Heritage Center in 2013 has added additional layers of education, history, and ecology to our offerings. Our mission is to inspire an understanding of the natural world and ourselves as part of it - past, present and future. It is our hope that through DPNC and Coogan Farm that we will help our visitors foster a personal environmental ethic.

Reviewed By carole c - Groton, Connecticut

What a wonderful addition to the Denison Pequotsepos Family's natural world! Trails that connect to numerous locations in the area surrounding and including the Pequotsepos Nature Center located at 109 Pequotsepos Rd. in Mystic. A welcome Center has maps as well as souvenirs and restrooms. The 1898 Stillman Mansion Foundation was a combination of old stones and bricks. The Giving Garden is a blessing to the communities in the area as fresh organic vegetables are made available to the United Way program. Many volunteers make this possible. A full day visit would be incredible but be sure to bring water, lunch and wear sturdy shoes. The trails I was on would not be easy to maneuver a wheelchair.

10. Barley Head Brewery

12 Water St, Unit 1A, Mystic, CT 06355-2537
Excellent
58%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 14 reviews

Barley Head Brewery

Barley Head Brewery is a nano brewery located in historic downtown Mystic, CT in Factory Square. We feature a rotating selection of new in-house made craft beers on a weekly basis.

Reviewed By Tammy R

Adults tasted while teens lounged. Only 3 beers on tap but each had its own distinctive flavor. The Rocktober was both my favorite as well as my husbands. Only negative was , the only beer to purchase and take home was in a Growler that...MoreThanks Tammy! We are working on having a steady flow of cans soon.

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