Mystic, CT

My son, SIL and I were just there for the day. But it is so beautiful! You will really enjoy it.
I agree that the pizza at Mystic Pizza was not very good, but we enjoyed going anyway. My husband is such a big Julia fan that I had to get him a T-shirt.

The aquarium there is my favorite! If you have your tickets validated before you leave you can return two more days or free. The submarine museum down there is free :) my boys loved it. If you google mystic you can fin plenty of near by hotels and restaurants

We have been there quite a few times. I love the aquarium. Its awesome. My daughter loved it. There are lots of places to stay in Mystic. Too many to choose from. Check out Hotels.com and see if you can get a good rate. We stayed at one of the hotels for $44.00 a night last November. I also like the shopping at Olde Mystic Village. The Sub Museum is in Groton. We went there too and its pretty cool. Plenty of places to eat. We tried a place called GO FISH. I didn't care for it too much. There is a great place on the hill across the street from the aquarium called JAMS. But I think that they changed their name. That is a really good place to eat. If you go to Essex off of 95 there is a steam train. They have all kinds of events going on. Just type in Essex Steam Train and you will find it. We took my daughter in November to see Santa. Awesome experience. There is a friendly's and a McDonalds there too. If you leave the aquarium and turn left at the light follow that all the way to the end. I think its the third light. Follow that out and there is more shopping and scenic views. That is were Mystic Pizza is. Do you remember the movie Mystic Pizza with Julia Roberts? That is were the movie was filmed. Very nice place to eat with the kids. And there are lots more shopping.
And if you do the same trip but turn left at the third light(?) a few miles down the road is a grocery store. It used to be a A & P but is now called the Big Y. That is great to know in case you forget or need something. Alot cheaper then buying it at a gas station.
Hope you have a great trip. It is alot of fun.

We stayed at Steamboat Inn w/our then 2 yo for a long weekend. We got the biggest suite, w/a separate living area that can double as bedroom. It has a little kitchenette and the biggest bathtub I've ever seen. I like the 3pm teatime, where you can get an assortment of cookies and pastries along w/coffees, teas and sherry in the upstairs dining area. Its a beautiful little hotel right on the river - from our room you could see the bridge. There is also a little park across the river from Steamboat that we let our son play soccer.

We didn't eat at Mystic Pizza (all the locals said it was bad pizza) but we ate at every other pizza place and they were really good. Our favorite was Capt Daniel Packards restaurant. Best lobster ravioli. Pricey but good upscale food. They had a high chair for our 2 yo so they were accommodating and our 2 yo did fine (he's good out in public). CDP also has a pub w/a pub menu downstairs, if you want something a little more relaxed.

I second everything everyone suggested - Pequot, Old Mystic Village for some cute shopping and the Aquarium. Mystic is also known for Black Dog goods, so try to go to their store off Main Street.

Have fun! We love Mystic and hope to go back someday.

I live in CT and we frequently head down to Mystic. The Mystic Aquarium is AMAZING. We also enjoy the Mystic Seaport. If you plan to do both you can actually get discounted tickets if you pair them up. The restaurants in the area are really wonderful. Our favorite is The Port House, which used to be called Jam's until they renovated it.

I'm not sure about places to stay down there, though, since we always make it a daycation. :-)

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We have been to the aquarium. We loved it. My daughter and her family went recently and they also loved it. Her kids are 12, 71/2 and 14 months. They went with my son and his girlfriend. It is a great place for all ages. :) Enjoy your day there.

The Aquarium!!! One of the best in the country. They have beluga whales. Stayed at the Hyatt across the street with points though probably pricey without. It was fantastic with kids.