Mystic

A historic whaling port in southeastern Connecticut, where Mystic Seaport Museum recreates a 19th-century maritime village, with a beluga aquarium, the nuclear submarine USS Nautilus, casino resorts and seaside towns nearby.

Mystic lies in the southeastern corner of Connecticut, where the Mystic River flows into Long Island Sound. It is not an incorporated city but a harbor village split between the towns of Groton and Stonington. In the 19th century it was a major whaling and shipbuilding port that turned out hundreds of clipper ships; today it draws visitors with its maritime museum, seafood and New England small-town charm, and it sits between New York and Boston (about 2–2.5 hours' drive from each). Climate: June–September is warm and the high season for harbor events, boat trips and beaches; October brings fall foliage and the cider mills open, the most quintessentially New England time of year; winters are cold and some outdoor attractions scale back, though the seaport museum's holiday lights in December are very atmospheric. Where to go: in Mystic itself are the seaport museum, the aquarium, the downtown bascule bridge and Old Mystic village, all doable in 1–2 days. To the east is the historic village of Stonington, and across the state line in Rhode Island are Watch Hill, Napatree Point and Misquamicut Beach. To the west, Groton and New London offer the USS Nautilus, Fort Griswold, Fort Trumbull and Harkness Memorial State Park. In the forests to the north are two Native American–run casino resorts, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Getting there: the nearest airports are Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Providence (about 1 hour) and Bradley International Airport near Hartford. Amtrak's Northeast Corridor stops at Mystic and New London, but local sights are spread out and driving is easiest. Plan on 2–3 days. Tips: downtown parking is tough and lodging pricey on summer weekends; a lobster roll is a must; you must be 21 or older to gamble.

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