Mystic, Connecticut is a perfect day trip from the New York City area and I am excited to show you all what there is to do in this coastal New England village.

In April 2018, my parents had a wedding in Mystic, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to drive up with them and explore the city and coastal communities on my own since it is charming and beautiful. The drive from the New York City area to Mystic is a little under two and a half hours, so it makes for the perfect mini road trip for the day or weekend.

Luckily, the weather was gorgeous on the Connecticut coast when I visited, so it was the perfect day to explore this quaint New England town. I am thrilled to share with you all of the best things to do in Mystic, CT during one day!

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Where to Stay in Mystic:

Since I went to Mystic for a day trip, I didn’t need to get a hotel. You could click here to check out different hotels around the area based on budget. There are also a selection of Airbnb and Vrbo options. Below are my recommendations for hotels in Mystic, CT:

Luxury: The Inn at Stonington

Mid-Budget: Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa

Budget: Hampton Inn & Suites Mystic

Traveling to Mystic, Connecticut:

Overall, Mystic, Connecticut is the perfect mini getaway if you live in the New England/Tri-State Area. I also recommend visiting Mystic if you are taking a road trip on Interstate 95; heading somewhere to or from New England and are looking for a place to stop along the way and it even makes for the perfect weekend getaway.

Not only is Mystic located around two and a half hours from the New York City area, it is also an hour and a half from Boston; an hour from Newport, Rhode Island and a little over an hour from Providence, Rhode Island. The closest international airport to Mystic is T.F. Green Airport outside of Providence. You can find affordable flights through Skyscanner.

If you don’t have your own vehicle with you, I recommend renting a car to drive around Mystic! You could also rent an RV in Connecticut as well during a New England road trip and make a lovely stop in Mystic! No matter how you visit this beautiful village, you will definitely not be disappointed. It is a beautiful and poetic area!

What to do in Mystic in One Day:

Explore Downtown Mystic:

When I first arrived in Mystic, I headed straight to historic downtown! This lovely downtown area features cute New England architecture, great restaurants, cafés, boutiques, gift shops and other small businesses.

In all honesty, the downtown area of Mystic is fairly small and you will walk through it pretty quickly, but if you take the time to enjoy everything the town has to offer, you could easily spend hours there. I found so many fun things to do with TripAdvisor.

The first place I went to for lunch was called Chapter One. It was at this lovely restaurant that I enjoyed an amazing Connecticut lobster roll. If you read about my long weekend in Portland, Maine, you definitely know that I LOVE lobster rolls! I preferably enjoy a warm brown butter lobster roll (Connecticut lobster roll) than a cold mayo one (Maine lobster roll), but I will surely eat either or.

After lunch, I took a stroll through the town and stopped in some boutiques and gift shops. When I first arrived in Mystic, I told myself that I wasn’t going to buy anything and of course I did! (Hey, I can’t help it sometimes.) All of the boutiques had adorable clothes, so I couldn’t resist. Here is a list of some of the shops located in downtown Mystic that I visited:

• Adore (Home Décor)
• Sea Bags Mystic (Hand Bags)
• Rochelle’s Boutique (Women’s Clothing) – Where I made my purchase of the day.
• Ivory Ella (Clothing Store for a Cause)

When I finished shopping, I was in the mood for a mid-afternoon dessert and coffee. Mystic offers a variety of different ice cream parlors, coffee houses, bakeries, candy shops and so much more. Since there was a bit of a chilly breeze from the nearby Mystic River, I stopped at a quaint coffee shop called Green Marble Coffee House where I enjoyed a comforting mocha and freshly-baked cookie as I watched the boats sail along the water.

Here is a list of some other great places to grab dessert and coffee in downtown Mystic:

• Li’s Bake Shop
• Sift Bake Shop
• Mystic Drawbridge Ice-Cream
• Lighthouse Bakery
• Mystic Ice Cream and Sweet Shop
• Bartleby’s Café
• Karma Kitchen & Juicery

After spending a few hours in downtown Mystic, I drove 10-15 minutes away to explore a few state parks and coastal towns that I go into more detail below. When I was finished exploring and ready to go home, I certainly made sure to grab dinner at the famous Mystic Pizza that is also located in the downtown area.

What made this family-owned restaurant famous was when Hollywood came to town in the 80s. Mystic Pizza caught the eye of screenwriter Amy Jones who chose the restaurant as the focus and setting for her story of the lives of three young waitresses, one of them being Julia Roberts. The movie was filmed at the restaurant as well as in the neighboring area. The movie, called Mystic Pizza, was released in 1988 and became an award-winning film.

When I first walked into Mystic Pizza, I loved the old tavern vibe that it gave off. There were people of all ages enjoying dinner and great laughs. In addition, there were hundreds of pictures on the wall from the movie! It was so cool being in a place where Julia Roberts was at one point in time.

I enjoyed a plain Margherita personal pizza to myself and it didn’t disappoint! Also, guess what?! You don’t have to travel to Mystic to get this iconic “Slice of Heaven”. You could purchase Mystic Pizza’s famous pie at select stores!

Here is a list of some other great restaurants to check out in downtown Mystic:

• Engine Room
• Oyster Club
• Friar Tuck’s Tavern
• Grass & Bone
• The Captain Daniel Packer Inne
• S&P Oyster
• Anthony J’s Bistro

Click here for more of a selection of Mystic’s great restaurants.

Enjoy the Town of Mystic:

Besides downtown, there is so much more that Mystic offers. Another popular place to check out during your time in the town is Olde Mystick Village. This adorable shopping area is conveniently located right off of Interstate 95 before you enter the heart of town. Unfortunately, since I was limited on time, I didn’t walk through the Village, but I was highly recommended to do so when I eventually make my way back!

As you stroll through the Village, enjoy going back in time as it evokes the spirit of the Colonial New England era. It is here where you have excellent shopping options, great dining and fun entertainment right at the tip of your fingers!

Located right next to Olde Mistick Village is the famous Mystic Aquarium that was also recommended for me to check out next time! With habitats featuring sharks, stingrays, jellyfish, sea lions and so much more, it is at the Mystic Aquarium where you could explore the depths of the ocean right in Connecticut.

Adventure around Coastal Connecticut:

Besides historic downtown and Olde Mistick Village, the Mystic area also offers festivals, events, state parks, beaches, wineries, breweries, cideries and so much more! One of my favorite parts of the day was getting out in nature and exploring coastal Connecticut.

It has been quite some time since I have truly explored Connecticut’s beauty, so I made sure to have my camera and tripod ready (since I was solo) to take some great photos in nature. The first place I visited was Esker Point in the seaside town of Noank.

This beautiful area is only 10 minutes from downtown Mystic, so it was super easy to get to. During the drive to Esker Point, I loved admiring all of the gorgeous Victorian and New England homes in the area. Everything was so quaint and lovely!

When I finally arrived at the beach area in Esker Point, I jumped out of my car and savored all of the peacefulness around me. There was a small beach that featured volleyball courts, a jungle gym for children, a camping area as well as a small harbor. (I truly enjoyed taking a few candid photos of the views.) I also had a nice time relaxing and walking around for a bit.

After exploring Esker Point, I made my way over to Bluff Point State Park in the town of Groton. This beautiful park is located 15 minutes from downtown Mystic and it is a peninsula that offers over 800 acres of hiking and bike trails, fishing facilities, wildlife and so much more!

When I first got to Bluff Point State Park, it was a little after 5pm so the sun wasn’t setting yet, but I did get some great evening photos along the beautiful meadows of the Long Island Sound. It was peaceful and breathtaking!

Click here to discover more wonderful things to see and do in and around Mystic. You could also find a wonderful selection of hotels through Expedia as well as great Airbnb and Vrbo options.

I hope you all enjoyed discovering what to do in Mystic, CT during one day in the gorgeous coastal village. If you have any questions regarding my day trip to Mystic please feel free to email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.

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Basic Facts of the United States:

Currency: United States Dollar, Capital: Washington D.C., CT State Capital: Hartford, Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time

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