Mystic Country CT Tourism and Sightseeing

Best Time to Visit Mystic Country Connecticut

Eastern Connecticut is rich in culture and history. Each season highlights a unique aspect of this varied and exciting corner of New England including the spectacular colors of spring flowers, summertime special events, stunning fall foliage and Christmas lights and activities.
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Average Mystic Country Weather

Connecticut weather is relatively mild. Average high and lows by month:

January: 35°/18°
February: 36°/19°
March: 46°/28°
April: 59°/38°
May: 70°/48°
June: 79°/57°
July: 84°/63°
August: 81°/61°
September: 74°/53°
October: 64°/42°
November: 51°/33°
December: 38°/23°

Transportation
The perfect choice for an easy to reach family vacation or a weekend getaway, Mystic Country is just a few hours from New York City and Boston and one hour from Hartford and Providence. Centered around Mystic, Connecticut, the region is accessible via Interstates 395, 91 or 95.

I-95 Exits of Interest:
Exit 70 Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, LymeAcademy College of Fine Arts
Exit 72 Rocky Neck State Park
Exit 74 Downtown Niantic
Exit 76 Mohegan Sun
Exit 83 Downtown New London, Ocean Beach Park, Transportation Center
Exit 90 Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, Olde Mistick Village
Exit 92 Foxwoods Resort Casino

I-395 Exits of Interest:
Exit 77 Waterford Commons, Crystal Mall, Waterford Speedbowl
Exit 79A Mohegan Sun
Exit 80 Norwich Harbor
Exit 81 Slater Museum, Mohegan Rose Garden
Exit 82 Connecticut Defenders AA Baseball
Exit 86 Pachaug State Forest
Exit 97 Putnam Antiques District

Ferry Service: Visitors can enjoy a scenic ride to New London aboard several ferries to visit us from Long Island, Block Island, and Fisher's Island.
Block Island Ferry
Cross Sound Ferry
Viking Passenger Ferry

Rail: Many visitors hop aboard Amtrak's Northeast Service from New York City to nearby New London or Mystic.
Amtrak Mystic
Amtrak New London

Bus Service: Several bus companies provide service from major cities throughout New England to the Mystic Country region, including Foxwoods Resort Casino, and Mohegan Sun.
Peter Pan/Arrow Bus Lines
Greyhound
Dattco
Conway Tours

Airports: The Mystic Country region is served by several airports.
Bradley International Airport
Danielson Airport
Groton-New London Airport
Windham Airport
Woodstock Airport

In-Season Costs
Lodging can range from $39 to $450

Connecticut Tourism - Mystic Country Attractions, Activities and Day Trips


HALF DAY TOURS

Seals & Shops
9-10:45 a.m. Visit the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration to observe a training demonstration and see the Alaskan Coast.
11 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy lunch and shopping at more than 60 unique stores and boutiques at Olde Mistick Village (adjacent to the Aquarium).

Nautical Adventures
9-10 a.m. Take a tour of the Historic Ship Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine, and explore the nautical museum. Limited hours on Tuesday. 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Visit Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea - covering more than 17 riverfront acres. America's most distinguished maritime museum.

Country Charm
9:00-10:15 a.m. Visit the Blue Slope Country Museum and experience first hand, early American life in New England on this 380 acre working dairy farm and agricultural museum.
10:30-11:30 a.m. Stop by and experience railroad history at the CT Eastern Railroad Museum.
Noon-1:15 p.m. Enjoy casual country fine dining at the Altnaveigh Inn & Restaurant in Mansfield.
1:30-2:30 p.m. Take a Self-Guided Tour of UConn, an agricultural college; barns of horses, cows, pigs and sheep and complete the tour with a taste of fresh, homemade ice cream.
3:15-5 p.m. Walk off that delightful lunch and creamy ice cream through Connecticut's Largest Antiques Mall in Historic Downtown Putnam.

ONE DAY TOURS

Fish & Ships
9-11:30 a.m. Stroll the decks of the Charles W. Morgan, last of the wooden whaling vessels, at Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea.
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. View the current exhibit at the Mystic Arts Center on the shore of the Mystic River.
1-2 p.m. Enjoy lunch in historic downtown Mystic and see the town's rare bascule bridge in action.
2:15-3:45 p.m. Fall in love with beluga whales at the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.

Eugene O'Neill's New London
9-10:30 a.m. Driving tour of historic New London (itinerary available).
10:45-11:45 a.m. Get close to the art and antiques of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.
12-1 p.m. For lunch, try one of our local restaurants for fresh seafood.
1:15-2:15 p.m. Tour the Revolutionary War Shaw Mansion built of granite quarried locally.
2:30-3:15 p.m. Visit Monte Cristo Cottage, the boyhood home of Eugene O'Neill.
3:30-4 p.m. Walk through the Joshua or Nathaniel Hempsted House, built in 1678 and 1759 respectively. Joshua's house is the only CT Undgerground Railroad stop open to the public.

Norwich Nostalgia
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Stroll through Mohegan Park and Memorial Rose Garden, (in bloom May through October) featuring 2,500 rose bushes.
12:30-1:45 p.m. Enjoy lunch at The Spa at Norwich Inn.
1:45-2:45 p.m. Visit Slater Memorial Museum and Converse Art Gallery and enjoy the permanent and changing collections. Enjoy the Cherry Blossoms in the spring.
3-4 p.m. Tour Leffingwell Inn, a meeting place for patriots during the Revolutionary War.
7-9 p.m. Experience fun and excitement at a Norwich Navigators game, AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

TWO DAY TOURS

Barnyards to Boatyards
DAY ONE
10-11 a.m. Located on 70-acres of farmland, Sharpe Hill Vineyard has received over 100 medals in international tastings. The winery is open year round to the public for wine tastings and gourmet dining every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Come see the buffalo where they roam. Take a 40-minute wagon ride through a working dairy farm, to the fields where the buffalo live. Feed the buffalo cows and their calves. A great photo opportunity.
12:45-2 p.m. Lunch at the Golden Lamb Buttery for one of Connecticut's most exquisite, creative and memorable dining experiences. Seasonal hours.
2:15-3 p.m. Free demonstrations of maple syrup production on weekends in February and March at Mik-Ran's Sugarhouse.
3:30-5 p.m. G & L Christmas Barn is a magical place to shop year-round.
6 p.m. Rest up at one of Norwich's fine, group friendly accommodations and enjoy a relaxing dinner.

DAY TWO
10-11:30 a.m. Tour the first nuclear-powered submarine, Historic Ship USS Nautilus, and visit the Navy's official Submarine Museum.
12-1:15 p.m. Tall ships, beautiful waterviews and the quaint charm of New England makes a wonderful backdrop for lunch at Seamen's Inne.
1:30-3 p.m. Visit Mystic Seaport, Museum of America and the Sea in Mystic, the nation's leading maritime museum. Come and experience a 19th century seafarer's village of tall ships and historic buildings.
3:30-4:45 p.m. Jonathan Edwards Winery produces premium, Napa Valley wines that are then aged and bottled on site, in this historically renovated dairy barn.

Whales & Sails & Submarine Tales
DAY ONE
9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Step back into the 19th century when you visit Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea.
11:45-1:30 p.m. Explore Historic Downtown Mystic and enjoy lunch at one of Mystic's unique restaurants.
1:45-3:45 p.m. View more than 3,500 fish and invertebrates from all over the world and artifacts from the Titanic at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration.
4-6:30 p.m. Check in at one of our many fine accommodations and enjoy a relaxing dinner at a restaurant of your choice.
7-8:30 p.m. Cruise the picturesque Mystic Harbor aboard Argia or try your luck at one of our casinos.

DAY TWO
9-10 a.m. Take a tour of Fort Trumbull State Park, a military site since mid-1700s featuring hands-on exhibits and demonstrations in its Visitor Center.
10:15-11:45 a.m. Tour the Historic Ship Nautilus and Museum.
12-1 p.m. Enjoy lunch at one of our many interesting restaurants in Groton or New London.
1:30-3 p.m. See a slide show at the Visitors Pavilion and visit the museum at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, or explore the exciting world of marine science on board the Enviro-Lab, Project Oceanology's 55 ft. research vessel.
3:15-4:15 p.m. Stroll one of our malls - 150 shops at the Crystal Mall - with its dazzling 8' Waterford crystal chandelier.

New England Traditions

DAY ONE
1-2:30 p.m. Visit Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration and see the live training demonstration and Penguin Pavilion.
2:45-3:30 p.m. Shop in Olde Mistick Village or visit Simply Sage for a craft themed shopping experience.
3:45-5 p.m. Visit the Shaw Perkins Mansion, an 18th century stone home where Washington slept, and tour the nearby Hempsted Houses in New London.
5:15 p.m. Check into the accommodation of your choice and savor our New England fare.
7 p.m. Enjoy an evening with Summer Music at Connecticut College during July and August. For gaming, try the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket - the world's largest casino, or the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, home of the world class Casino of the Sky.

DAY TWO
9-11:30 a.m. See a whaling vessel, square-rigged ships, and fishing schooners at Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea.
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Enjoy a traditional New England luncheon at one of our fine restaurants (outdoor or indoor - your choice).
1-2:30 p.m. Tour the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, the world's largest Native American museum.
3-4:30 p.m. Winery tour and free tastings. Contact Heritage Trail Vineyards (Lisbon), Jonathan Edwards Winery (N. Stonington), Priam Vineyards (Colchester) or Stonington Vineyards (Stonington) for a schedule. Or on Day two: Enjoy a full day on a lighthouse cruise (seal and bald eagle cruises also available) with Captain John aboard the Sunbeam Express, or a full day of charter fishing on the Hel-Cat II.


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Things to do in Mystic Country CT, Sightseeing and Mystic Country CT Tourism

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