Town #108: Stonington

Today was a stark contrast to what was happening on the same day last year. I'm so grateful to have had this day to stand against it. For our 3rd wedding anniversary we decided to take three day trips. The only one inside Connecticut was this trip to one part of Stonington known as Mystic.

Mystic is undoubtedly the reason most people visit Connecticut from outside of the region. In fact, Mystic is one of the most visited places in all of New England. It was also listed in the book 1000 Places to Visit Before You Die. Click this link if you want to read what was written.

We walked all over the main Mystic streets and saw the historic area. We found a lovely coffee shop and bookstore and tried out Mystic Pizza. Unlike the 1980s movie that gave this place notoriety, Mystic Pizza does not match the movie at all. Maybe it did when the movie was filmed but today it sort of reminded me of a Pizza Inn meets a TGI Friday's than anything represented in the film.

New England Custom Blurb
It is very common in New England for an establishment to be named after its location and what it provides. By Midwest standards you get a lot of bland names such as: Newington Auto, Madison Wool, and Mystic Pizza. However, there is a quaintness and a regionalism that the practice also reinforces.

Back in Mystic we headed to the aquarium where we had a lot of fun as well. It's the perfect size for walking around in one day and not ending up exhausted. I've been to a few marine science museums in the past but this was my first chance to see a live sea lion show.

The penguins were the other memorable part of the day. The viewing spots were well thoughtout. We also learned from one of the trainers that penguins are more bite-y that people imagine.

Afterward, we walked around Olde Mystick Village. Honestly, you can skip that part if you've never been. It's basically a tourist trap.

Finally, we had dinner at the Inn at Mystic, in operation since the 1940s, and also in the book mentioned above. A new show will be airing on the Food Network soon and the inn's restaurant Flood Tide will be the first in the lineup. We enjoyed a leisurely dinner, attentive service and a nice view of Mystic Harbor. We wish the restaurant and the inn luck with the show!

Stonington stats:
Population: 17,046 (of which 4,001 live in Mystic)
Size: 50 square miles (of which 3.8 square miles is in Mystic)
Villages/Other Communities: Lords Point, Mystic, Old Mystic, Pawcatuck, Wequetequock
Historic Places: Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House, Mechanic Street Historic District, Mystic Bridge Historic District, Mystic River Historic District, Pequotsepos Manor, Robert Stanton House, Rossie Velvet Mill Historic District, Stonington Harbor Lighthouse, Stonington High School, Whitehall Mansion, Williams Clark Company Thread Mill, and the following ships at the Mystic Seaport Museum: Charles W. Morgan, Emma C. Berry, L.A. Dunton, and Sabino.