Mystic is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in Groton and Stonington, Connecticut. It was a significant Connecticut seaport with over 600 ships built over 135 years starting in 1784. The Mystic Seaport, located in the village, is the largest maritime museum in the United States and has preserved many historic sites.
Mystic is not a legally recognized town, but rather a zipcode/village within Groton and Stonington. The Mystic River divides the village into an eastern side (Stonington) and a western side (Groton). The Mystic River Drawbridge opens on average 2,200 times per year, making it a popular destination for visitors.
Mystic is known for its prototypical New England charm and is perfect to visit all year long. However, it is not a town, but rather a part of either the Town of Groton or the Town of Stonington. In recent years, each spot has a distinct character, with the eastern section of Mystic being part of the town of Stonington.
Mystic is a major tourist destination in Connecticut, known for its historic Mystic Seaport, aquarium, and museums. Stonington, 4 miles north, is a pretty coastal town with pleasant running options. Nestled along both sides of the Mystic River and divided by the famous Mystic River Bascule Bridge, Mystic is one of Connecticut’s premier vacation destinations.
📹 Mystic – The Don’ts of Visiting Mystic, Connecticut
Hey there fellow seaport travelers! Mystic, Connecticut is one of the most popular destinations in New England due to its …
What movie is being filmed in Mystic CT?
The Hallmark Christmas movie “Mystic Christmas” is a “love letter to Mystic”, filmed in the Connecticut village of Mystic Seaport Village. The movie features a love story about rescuing and rehabilitating stranded and sick marine mammals at the Connecticut aquarium. The story follows aquarium higher-up Candice, who calls on her best friend, a traveling marine veterinarian Juniper, to help a seal recuperate for Christmas.
Juniper had a whirlwind romance with Candice’s brother Sawyer ten years ago, which ended in a miscommunication and lingering awkward feelings. The movie serves as a reminder of the importance of the holiday season.
What city is Mystic Seaport in?
The Mystic Seaport Museum is located in Mystic, Connecticut, approximately 10 miles east of New London, on Route 27.
Why is Mystic CT so popular?
Mystic, a premier vacation destination in Connecticut, was founded in 1654 and subsequently became a prominent shipbuilding center during the clipper ship era. In the present era, the city is renowned for its exemplification of the quintessential New England charm and is the site of two of Connecticut’s most visited attractions: the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium.
How do I spend my day in Mystic CT?
The Mystic Ghost Tour, the Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure, the Holiday Spectacular at the Mystic Dark Room, the Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour, private sailing trips around Fishers Island from New London, Connecticut, and Spirits of Mystic are among the available options. Additionally, the following activities are available: the Cocktail Pub Crawl, the Ghosts of Christmas Past Downtown Stroll, and EXPOSURE at the Mystic Dark Room.
How long should I spend at Mystic Seaport?
The 19-acre maritime museum in the United States is the largest of its kind in the country, featuring a multitude of exhibits that can collectively occupy an entire day to explore.
Is Mystic Connecticut wealthy?
Mystic, CT, with a population of 4. 42k in 2022, experienced a 1. 45 increase in population from 4, 354 to 4, 417 between 2021 and 2022, and a 10. 2 increase in median household income from $115, 065 to $126, 854. The largest ethnic groups in Mystic are White (Non-Hispanic), Two+ (Non-Hispanic), Asian (Non-Hispanic), American Indian and Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic). None of the households in Mystic, CT reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language.
Where do billionaires live in Connecticut?
Connecticut is home to many of the wealthiest cities in the United States, with Western Connecticut being a hub of these cities. The study analyzed 210 cities in Connecticut based on their median household income, mean household income, median home value, and median property taxes paid per year to create a list of the 50 richest cities in the state. Greenwich, located in the western portion of the state, is one of the wealthiest cities in the state, with a close association with Western Connecticut towns and New York City.
What is the most expensive town in Connecticut?
A U. S. News and World Report ranking of the most expensive places to live in the United States has identified Hartford and New Haven as among the top five most expensive cities in the country.
Is Mystic Seaport worth going to?
Mystic Seaport Museum has been named a 2022 Travelers’ Choice award winner by Tripadvisor, a global travel platform. The award recognizes businesses that have received positive reviews from travelers over the past year. The museum is dedicated to curating exhibits, events, and experiences that resonate with a diverse audience, and this recognition validates its efforts in the post-pandemic environment. Museum President Peter Armstrong expressed his excitement at being recognized as a top attraction on Tripadvisor and aims to continue providing memorable experiences.
Tripadvisor’s Chief Commercial Officer, Kanika Soni, congratulated the winners, stating that the awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, and the museum’s adaptation to meet travelers’ new demands, including the use of new technology and safety measures.
Is Mystic a part of Stonington?
Mystic, a census-designated place in Connecticut, is a town that includes Groton and Stonington, but is not a municipality. It has no independent government and is served by Amtrak, Southeast Area Transit, and Groton-New London Airport. Notable residents include Mary Jobe Akeley, Matt Harvey, Sam Lacy, Stephen Macht, William Ledyard Stark, Paul Menhart, Asa Packer, and Jonathan Skrmetti, who served as Attorney General in Tennessee.
📹 Mystic Connecticut Travel Guide – What’s Mystic like? Including Stonington and Noank!
Mystic Connecticut Travel Guide – What’s Mystic like? Including Stonington and Noank! On a recent trip to New York, I decided it …
Really nice article. This is my home town and you did it justice. I was born and raised in Noank and live in Mystic. I am 1st generation, my mum is from Scotland. My adult children and myself visited Scotland 2 winters ago, (my 3rd visit) there was a big snowstorm days before we got there. Thanks for making such an encompassing article, you covered a lot.
Hey, just because no planes/trains were involved doesn’t mean this isn’t quality content. Always happy to see your stuff in my feed. Truly beautiful places that make me want to dig out the watercolour palette. Had to chuckle about the walking – some tourist must really complain. We were once in Chepstow and asked the person in the tourist office for directions to one of the attractions. She sketched the route on a map and said “Oh you know it’s quite far. Wait, you’re Canadians it’s just a 30min walk!” Stay safe!
I came across this article today- can’t believe I missed it before – I’m from New England but now living in Georgia USA. I didn’t realize how much of New England I missed until perusal this article. Funny how we take for granted where we are or what we have…. So thank you for showing the world a small part of lovely New England. 🙋♀️⛵️
it’s a shame you couldn’t visit New London but the smaller towns are more your thing and Mystic is too famous to not visit on its own. don’t worry about being British, 1914/15and 1940/41 earned your country the respect of the locals as your need for ships helped the local economy greatly since they helped build many of them…you were in the heart of submarine country there!
Steve –my Father’s Ancestors (Rathbun/Rathbone) settled in Block Island, Rhode Island; and later in Noank/Mystic, from Wales, in the 1600’s. My Father still lives in Stonington, and I attended school and married in Stonington, and am now working in Mystic. A very special place to me and thank you for your wonderful article! I have Scottish Ancestry on my Mother’s side and unfortunately my recently planned trip to Scotland was side-lined due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. You are welcome on this side of the pond anytime, once travel restrictions clear, of course! I hope you have many returns! And likewise I hope to be visiting your Country again soon!!!!!
Third time lucky for this article but well worth the anxious overnight wait. Excellent travelogue; very interesting. I was delighted to note the Italian tricolore on a boat in Stonington. Trust me, the crush of tourists in the summer might detract from the charm. I particularly enjoyed the references to the film Mystic Pizza; one of my favourites.
I appreciate that you took the train, the road through CT is long and boring (Interstate 95) but you wouldn’t have had much traffic at that time of year. Good for you for walking about, most Americans would not understand that! If you ever want to do thing again when you’re in NY, you could take the Long Island Rail Road to the last stop Montauk Point (same amount of time) and that is definitely walkable and BEAUTIFUL! You could bike about and see amazing cliff scenery at the Lighthouse and Camp Hero (former cold war outpost of the US Army).
Great article! I’m from Connecticut and Mystic is beautiful!!! Stonington is also really nice to visit.. it does get crazy in the summer but it’s nice to walk around and go to the beach afterwards. Glad you enjoyed your stay! Hopefully you get a chance to come back in the warmer months . Dubois beach is really nice in the summer along with the lighthouse.
Thank you for a great article report on Mystic! I just got back from doing the exact same trip by train from Penn Station, as part of a trip to NYC, and your images from 3 years ago brought it all back. Except that it was 90F when we were there. Also lots of tourists, not unmanageable but I was very glad to have booked my restaurant ahead of time. And yes, we did see the bridge open several times. PS we travelled business class from NYC to Mystic, because we wanted a reserved seat (it was the Saturday before 4th July holiday). But we came back to NYC 3 days later economy, mid-afternoon, and there were plenty of seats.
Beautiful New England scenery and old, quant towns. I’ve been to the States 9/10 times on Organised tours ie Route 66 but mainly under my own steam and it never ceases to amaze me how the towns are always devoid of people. Nobody walking about carrying shopping, no kids playing in the streets, no-one washing a car, painting a fence, Nobody having a chat with neighbour. Very strange!!
Was just talking to a former work-mate in Noank today! I love Carson’s! Mystic is great but Connecticut taxes are high! Stonington is also neat – like Portugal. Big Portuguese heritage there! Stonington Scallops are a must! Glad that you had a good visit! Some public transit in Groton. Where America builds most of its naval nuclear submarines. Also where the US Coast Guard Academy is. Also near to Foxwoods Casino – a big draw there.
Steve, your articles are excellent! I especially enjoy the Scottish destinations. But next time you visit the Nutmeg State, you might try flying from Edinburgh to Bradley International Airport (Hartford-Springfield). Last time I checked (pre-COVID), there was at least one non-stop flight per day. This will spare you a horrific drive in heavy traffic through New York and southwestern Connecticut. Rent a car at the airport. Then take Interstate 91 south to Route 9, which runs southeast along the Connecticut River. Be sure to stop in Essex for the Connecticut River Museum and a meal at the historic Griswold Inn. Essex has an old steam train you can ride, too. Visit nearby Gillette Castle if you have time. When you get back to Mystic, don’t miss the Seaport. It’s a wonderful museum. Plan to spend several hours. Mystic has a good aquarium, too. Follow the coastline west to Guilford, which has the oldest stone house in New England (dating to the 1600s) and many other picturesque old buildings around the town green. Neighboring Branford has scenic boat cruises among the Thimble Islands, which have an interesting history. There is a trolley museum that straddles the Branford-East Haven town line, with an old trolley you can ride along a shore route. Hope you get back to CT!
Really enjoyed that little trip. Odd to see no people anywhere, I wonder if a lot of the houses are holiday homes? Some great places in New England. When over in Massachusetts we were staying in Westfield, Near Springfriend went to Old Sturbridge Village an 1830s recreation settlement with locals in period costume in the stores and on the streets giving talks about days of old. A must visit if you`re ever in the area. Also the Springfield Armoury is good for a couple of hours. ATB Dave.
Hi and thanks from a Scotophile in Nashville, TN, US. Your article was the first result of interest on a search for Mystic CT., in prep for the Classic Wood Boat Show there in August. Backstory is that we plan to move to the Black Isle in 2 years (God willing!), where my hubs hopes to get into building classic wood sailboats. You narration is divine- as the myriad regional Scottish accents are my favorites anywhere! Thanks for a great website- we’ll be stalking it now.
catching up on some of your past vids. Thank you for all the great trips and bringing the towns to life. I miss the East coast! I hope you get back to visit the States soon. You’d like the outdoor life of south-central Idaho! But if you don’t venture inland, The Chesapeake Bay is close to home for you.
So many things I wanted to say to you during this article! Haha 😀 Looks like you found my neighborhood (all captains), and people stand in line for innumerable things! XD Mystic Pizza, omg, I love that movie, thanks for sharing this piece! Hats off. Those ships, why were they all named ‘Lynn’? :O I read from that sign in Stonington Point: ‘Welcome – Enjoy the pandemic tri-state view!’ so I guess my mind is full already this morning! XD Lucky you got to travel so far before shaft got lose! .)