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THINGS
TO DO
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The
train station is located in the southeastern section of
the city. After you get off, walk a couple blocks north
and east to seek out Main Street and the rest of downtown
Mystic.
Mystic
provides ample opportunity for shopping. Main Street is
home to N.L. Shaw and Company, showcasing antiques
and estate jewelry, and Bank Square Books. Nearby,
thereis also a 24-hour ATM, an army navy store, and numerous
clothing stores.
 Beach
bums and landlubbers can both benefit from the sea air.
Head over to the drawbridge and take a cruise of the Seaport
Harbor. The ARGIA is a replica of a 19th-century
schooner, and offers cruises and special charters.
If
you prefer fishing with your sailing, try Lorna Anne
Charters or Mataura Deep Sea Fishing.
Popular
attractions like the Mystic Seaport, Mystic
Aquarium, and Olde Mistick Village are a little
north of downtown, but still easily accessible. Also worth
visiting is the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
or the Florence
Griswold Museum in nearby Old Lyme.
On
Route 27/Greenmanville Avenue (about a 15-minute walk),
is the Mystic Seaport, a maritime museum that is
home to "the largest collection of boats and nautical
photography in the world." The Mystic Seaport
features a 19th-century village of buildings and tall
ships, exhibits depicting sailors’ culture, a functioning
shipyard where you can see wooden boats being built, a
planetarium, and several restaurants. Also check out the
gift shop, which has some great original paintings and
model ships. While you are there, try the Steamship
Sabino for day sails and theme cruises.
The
Historic Ship Nautilus and Submarine Force Museum
is minutes west from Mystic in neighboring Groton. Here
you can tour the world’s first nuclear powered vessel,
The Nautilus, and learn the history of submarines
in the museum.
For even more shopping, head north to Olde Mistick
Village. It's about a five minute drive from downtown
Mystic and is definitely worth it. Those who feel like
hoofing it are also in luck. Route 27/Greenmanville Avenue
has sidewalks, but plan on at least a fifteen minute walk.
Here you will find more than 60 shops and a movie theater,
all housed in historic buildings reminiscent of a circa-1720
New England village.
 Right
next to Olde Mistick Village is the Mystic
Aquarium. Especially notable among the more than 3500
sea creatures are the magnificent white beluga whales.
"Challenge of the Deep" is an interactive experience
that allows you to explore the depths of the oceans.
Cap off your excursion at the nearby Haight Vineyard,
which offers free wine tastings and tours. If wine's your
thing, you may want to go a little north of Mistick
Village and take a look at B.F. Clyde’s Cider
Mill in Old Mystic. It's the only steam-powered cider
mill in the US. They produce hard cider and apple wines,
and fresh cider daily during the fall.
If you're driving from New York and love a bargain, stop
at either Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets mall
or Westbrook Factory Stores, both of which are
within 30 minutes of your arrival in Mystic. Clinton
Crossing has many premium stores including Polo Ralph
Lauren, Saks 5th Avenue, and Kenneth Cole shoes. Westbrook
has J. Crew, Levi’s, and Reebok stores.
Feeling a little dicey? There are two great casinos a
short distance from Mystic. Mohegan Sun is just
20 minutes away by car, off of I-395. Foxwoods,
billed as the world’s largest casino, is a mere 15
minutes from Mystic, and features shopping, restaurants,
a large hotel, golfing, and of course gambling with over
5,800 slots. They even have a non-smoker’s casino
with over 1,200 slots of their own. Foxwoods is
owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and is
home to the Pequot Museum, where you can see the
history of the Pequots and even walk through a 16th-century
Pequot coastal village.
Read more about these casinos.
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Get
a taste of historic New England complete with scrimshaw, whaling
boats and Victorian homes, or take advantage of modern pastimes
like shopping or gambling at nearby casinos.
The
Harbour Inne and Cottage in Mystic
Main
Street is filled with places to eat. Make sure to check
out Mystic Pizza. Yes, that's the Mystic Pizza
of movie fame, so try a slice or have a beer.
