Mystic Connecticut Weekend Getaway

Mystic, Connecticut

by Maria Ottomanelli and Doreen Wong

We visited Mystic in 2022. We wanted to get away for a fun weekend. Mystic, CT seemed like the perfect getaway. It was close to NYC and a quick, fun mini-vacation for a three-day trip. We jumped into the car and within two hours we were excited to start our journey at the Hilton Mystic.

Lodging in Mystic

The Hilton Mystic

During our 2022 stay, the Hilton Mystic worked well as a base for the trip. We found the hotel modern, clean, and convenient for the attractions we planned to visit.

During our stay, we found it easy to walk to the Mystic Aquarium and Olde Mistick Village, with the Seaport Museum, Pequotsepos Nature Center, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun Casino a short drive away.

During our 2022 stay, the Hilton Mystic amenities we used included the indoor heated pool with dive-in movies. Kids loved swimming while a movie played, and I especially liked the sitting area with the fire pit. We also saw an indoor gym during the visit.

We found the hotel family-friendly during our stay, and our room was clean and comfortable. We slept well after full days of activities.

Shopping in Mystic

Olde Mistick Village

We decided to explore Olde Mistick Village, which was nearby. During our 2022 visit, we enjoyed browsing the collection of small shops. Because our 2022 visit was shortly before St. Patrick’s Day, we decided to purchase some holiday decorations and various trinkets from Irish Eyes. They also have a Christmas store with every ornament you can imagine. We especially loved the Franklin’s General Store which had decadent fudge, jams, and other sweet and savory treats.

Downtown Mystic

You can also spend hours exploring Downtown Mystic with its abundance of shops and restaurants.

We visited Matt and Jill, the owners, at Mystic Knotwork, where they showed us nautical sailor-knot bracelets and woven knot decorations for the home. Jill gave us a demonstration of a Turk’s head knot bracelet. She is very talented and has decades of experience in her trade. She made us bracelets to take home and we already received loads of compliments.

During our visit, Matt and Jill told us the family business dated to around 1957, when Matt’s grandfather started it. We liked hearing how the knotwork tradition had been passed down through the family.

Activities in Mystic

Mystic Seaport Museum and Village

After shopping, we headed over to the  Mystic Seaport Museum and Village. If you’re a history buff and love the nautical life, you’re in for a treat. First, we toured the Charles W. Morgan which is the last wooden whale ship in the world. We felt like we were reliving history.

Also, part of the museum is the seaport village which is comprised of New England houses (some were transported from other areas).

We learned about historic seafaring life from staff members who shared their expertise, knowledge, and interesting information.

During our 2022 visit, there were family activities including the Children’s Museum and Homeport. We found there was enough to explore that the museum could easily fill several hours.

Mystic Aquarium

Mystic Aquarium was the highlight of our trip.  We spent four hours there.  We really enjoyed the Sealion indoor show, Jurassic Giants exhibit (3-D and 4-D shows), and cool virtual reality shows – Shark Encounter and Humpback.

Other highlights included feeding the stingrays and interacting with the Beluga whales. The beluga whale exhibit was one of the biggest draws for us. The whales were mesmerizing to watch, especially when they moved close to the viewing area.

We used both outdoor and indoor areas at the Aquarium, which helped on a trip where the weather could change quickly.

Entertainment in Mystic

Mystic Luxury Cinema

We watched The Batman at the Mystic Luxury Cinema during the 2022 trip. We liked the heated reclining seats and the concession options, and it made an easy evening activity after sightseeing.

Dining in Mystic

Dinner at Pink Basil

We wanted to sample a variety of dishes on their menu. The waitress suggested the lettuce wrap which comes with marinated chicken, peanuts, bean sprouts, cucumbers, red onions, and lettuce to wrap the food. It’s a healthy version of a wrap. The sweet peanut sauce was absolutely delicious. We loved this appetizer. It was a great suggestion. The coconut soup was wonderful on this cold day. It warmed us right up. The Som Tum Laos Salad had shredded papaya which is always one of my favorites. It was very refreshing and light. For dinner, we shared the Dragon Roll and Sweetheart roll which was good. The molten lava chocolate cake was a perfect sweet treat for dessert. The service was with a huge smile and the atmosphere was inviting and cheery-looking with the pink floral accents around the restaurant.

Breakfast at Bleu Squid

The service is impeccable and the staff was very attentive to our requests. We wanted to try everything, however, we narrowed it down to the Buttermilk Pancakes with fresh blueberries and bananas, Lobster Grilled Cheese, Lobster Egg Benedict and spinach, celery, apple, and cucumber juice. My favorite dish was the pancakes which were light, fluffy, and mouth-watering. Overall, everything was delicious, including the banana-walnut bread. This was one of our favorite breakfast stops during the 2022 trip.

The Irons Restaurant and Bar (in the Hilton Mystic)

This is a trendy restaurant and bar in the hotel. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner are available. It is very convenient and has a nice selection of food choices. The friendly waiter was high energy and gave us great suggestions. We enjoyed the ambiance, the music, and the food. We ordered the Crispy Calamari and Mezze Plate for appetizers, followed by the Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Crispy Skin Salmon. The salmon was moist and accompanied by creamy mashed potatoes and fresh spinach. We finished with the baked cookie covered with ice cream.

We also liked the bar, which had craft beers and cocktails during our visit, and the atmosphere felt relaxed after a day of sightseeing.

The Irons for breakfast – choose the buffet or order from the menu

We decided to order the bagel and Atlantic Salmon Lox and a Vegetarian Omelette which were all scrumptious. Everything was fresh and they use quality, local and seasonal ingredients.

Our 2022 trip packed a lot into three days. For another Northeast weekend idea, see our weekend in Pittsfield, Massachusetts guide.