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USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION
CONNECTICUT | MYSTIC
Charles W. Morgan
MAKE A TRIP OF IT
Engine Room
Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport Museum preserves America’s seafaring past. The 19-acre site includes a collection of more than 500 historic watercraft, including four National Historic Landmark vessels — most notably the 1841 whaling ship, Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship still in existence. Tour the workshops where those involved in manufacturing related to ship building and seafaring worked. Take a waterfront cruise aboard the U.S. Navy launch Liberty for a waterside view.
LINDA LABAN
Whale of a Time Seaport of Mystic is rich in food and history By Linda Laban
H Oyster Club LINDA LABAN
ISTORIC SEASIDE MYSTIC, CONN., has developed a din-
ing scene that’s repositioning the town as a buzzy coastal entertainment center. One of the newer restaurants is The Shipwright’s Daughter, located in The Whaler’s Inn, close to the famous drawbridge over the Mystic River. The chef embraces sustainability, zero waste, whole fish cookery and local and seasonal produce, all served in a room with picture windows overlooking the town’s main street and decorated with royal blue velveteen banquets and vintage oak flooring. Oyster Club, which focuses on serving local food and brews, has an open kitchen
where sweet Mystics and brinier Fishers Islands, the latter farmed in the Long Island Sound, are shucked. For outdoor dining, the restaurant boasts a multitiered deck where you can eat more sea-to-table dishes. On a sunny day, however, the patio at Engine Room is the place to be. Set in a former marine engine manufacturing building, this casual beer-centric place has a finely curated selection, including Connecticut’s Fat Orange Cat Brew Co.’s Baby Kittens IPA. While strolling around town, stop by Nana’s Bakery & Pizza, or go traditional at the Sea Swirl for fried clams and ice cream. And you can still stop by that famous pizza parlor inhabited by a young Julia Roberts in the film Mystic Pizza for your own slice of heaven.
Family owned since opening in 1973, Olde Mistick Village is a wonderland of unique shops and eateries. Wares vary from running gear store Kelley’s Pace, founded by 1957 Boston Marathon champion John Kelley, to the whimsical Alice in the Village, a Mad Hatter-themed tea shop.
The Whaler’s Inn has been operating for more than 125 years. Airy rooms feature double-sided fireplaces, and subway-tiled bathrooms have jetted tubs and robes to slip into. Continental breakfast — homemade scones with jam — at The Shipwright’s Daughter and Wi-Fi are included. Rooms start at $170 per night. Check state COVID-19 restrictions. Hilton Mystic has an indoor saline pool, and its open-air courtyard with gas-flamed fire pits and sofa seating is the place for drinks and bites. Rooms start at $89 per night, including Wi-Fi. MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM; GETTY IMAGES
