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NFT: Mystic Ct

Essex : 5/23/2016 8:07 am
I was thinking of taking a road trip from the city this weekend (about 3 hour drive) up there. My wife and I have two young kids, 5 and 2, is it worth it? I have never been there. Thanks in advance.
It will be busy this weekend  
AP in Halfmoon : 5/23/2016 8:10 am : link
But it's definitely worth the trip.
it's nice. Historical, great aquarium.May be a bit much of a ride  
Victor in CT : 5/23/2016 8:13 am : link
for the kids.

Suggestion: if you have never done it before, go to the South Norwalk Aquarium and the Stepping Stones Museum on West Ave in Norwalk. Your kids are perfect age for it, you'll save 4 hrs driving time and there are plenty of places to eat in SoNo.
We go every year.  
Matt M. : 5/23/2016 8:14 am : link
They have a nice aquarium, the seaport is fun, main street is nice for an hour or two of shopping in small town atmosphere and the Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream shop has good homemade ice cream (not the one across the street). If the weather is nice, this time of year a boat ride on the river could be nice. Next to Foxwoods is the Pequot Museum, which is really amazing. So, there's plenty to do and there are a lot of good restaurants.
Took my kids there when they were 5 or 6 when visiting family  
pganut : 5/23/2016 8:32 am : link
The Dinosaur Place was a fun interactive park with lifelike dinosaur replicas. It also has a splash park - actually pretty nice - attached for the warmer weather months. I'd recommend this place given your kids' ages.
The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art Village - ( New Window )
Traffic this weekend will be brutal  
weeg in the bronx : 5/23/2016 8:40 am : link
I am up that way for summer holidays annually, make sure you leave very early. Its a nice place for the kids, Aquarium, along the harbor, some pokey stores.
Its a trip that can be as quick as two hours from the Bronx or drag on to four hours depending on traffic.
the aquarium is better  
pjcas18 : 5/23/2016 8:41 am : link
than Boston's aquarium. I like it and my kids always enjoy it.

the seaport they'll be bored out of their skulls other than the shipyard or getting ice cream.

Mystic is about 30 minutes from Misquamicut (beach in Westerly, RI), where other than some typical New England white trash, it's a pretty cool beach and there are some water slides, and other activities for kids on the main strip near the beach.

Norwalk Aquarium is also good for day trip from NYC  
joeinct : 5/23/2016 9:14 am : link
Train Station within walking distance or short taxi.
Say hi to Tim...  
Chris in Philly : 5/23/2016 9:16 am : link
when you go...
RE: it's nice. Historical, great aquarium.May be a bit much of a ride  
Giants2012 : 5/23/2016 9:32 am : link
In comment 12967493 Victor in CT said:
Quote:
for the kids.

Suggestion: if you have never done it before, go to the South Norwalk Aquarium and the Stepping Stones Museum on West Ave in Norwalk. Your kids are perfect age for it, you'll save 4 hrs driving time and there are plenty of places to eat in SoNo.


+1

Plus the IMAX theatre in SoNO is very entertaining for the kids. Certainly more walking in Mystic yet at their ages a trip to Norwalk might better. As a side note, SoNO restaurants are pricey while you can always default to Mystic Pizza in Mystic just to day you did it.
just drive carefully  
Greg from LI : 5/23/2016 9:39 am : link
They've been known to have hamburger all over the highway.
Another nice attraction is the US Submarine museum  
Matt M. : 5/23/2016 9:58 am : link
in Groton.

As for food, Mystic Pizza is good, but is more commercial now. Not quite as good as it once was. But, it is fun to say you ate there.

Captain Daniel Packer is a good pub. Other places we like are Engine Room, Oyster Club, Dog Watch Cafe, Water St. Cafe, and Red 36.
Not  
DanMetroMan : 5/23/2016 10:03 am : link
to miller but any recommendations for day trips for the weekend within 2ish hours of the city? My wife and I went to Beacon a few weeks ago (loved it), this weekend we went to Bear Mountain. Should I start a different thread?
RE: Not  
Essex : 5/23/2016 10:41 am : link
In comment 12967644 DanMetroMan said:
Quote:
to miller but any recommendations for day trips for the weekend within 2ish hours of the city? My wife and I went to Beacon a few weeks ago (loved it), this weekend we went to Bear Mountain. Should I start a different thread?


You can take this thread anywhere you would like. I got enough feedback and I thank everyone for responding!
Pizza Hut or Diaminos have  
Carl in CT : 5/23/2016 10:45 am : link
Better pizza than Mystic Pizza. Forget the movie don't do there. Go to S&P Oyster if you want a good (if not great) meal.
RE: Norwalk Aquarium is also good for day trip from NYC  
spike : 5/23/2016 10:46 am : link
In comment 12967567 joeinct said:
Quote:
Train Station within walking distance or short taxi.


Better than the aqarium in Coney Island?
I went there with my family when I was about five or six.  
Klaatu : 5/23/2016 10:49 am : link
But I'm sure it's changed a lot in the last 50 years.
Oyster Club is nice for a family  
aimrocky : 5/23/2016 10:49 am : link
if you can get a tree house seat. Your 5 year old will love the treehouse, and you won't be embarrassed if they're loud. It fills up late, so you'd probably want to get there before the dinner rush.
Carl is right  
pjcas18 : 5/23/2016 11:06 am : link
the only thing worse than the pizza at Mystic pizza is the movie Mystic pizza, avoid at all costs.

I agree Mystic Pizza is not great  
Matt M. : 5/23/2016 11:09 am : link
But, Dominos, Pizza Hut, and the like are not better. It actually used to be pretty good pizza. But, now it is a commercial venture.

As for S&P, it is OK, but also nothing special.

I agree 100% about the Tree House at the Oyster Club. That is a great atmosphere and the food there or inside the restaurant is excellent. Engine Room is owned by the same people.
BTW Essex,  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 12:23 pm : link
Essex is just a few minutes north of Mystic . You can take the family on a ride on the Essex Steam Train along the CT River
RM  
lugnut : 5/23/2016 12:46 pm : link
Uh, Essex is not just a few minutes north of Mystic. It, the Connecticut River, and any trains therein are 40 or so miles west. At least they were when I was born and loved in Mystic.
Listen to Victor  
RobCrossRiver56 : 5/23/2016 6:23 pm : link
Stepping Stones is perfect for children 5-2 Its interactive, educational and fun. There is an Aquarium in Norwalk too, only 1/2 mile away.

The Aquarium in Mystic is very nice, but we argue if its worth the extra 3hr drive. IMO, it's not. Unless you plan on touring the Mystic Seaport area, which is a recreated fishing village. Norwalk does not have that.

Good luck and have fun..

One more thing,  
RobCrossRiver56 : 5/23/2016 6:35 pm : link
95 north is going to be a nightmare this weekend. If you plan for Mystic you need to leave the city by 5 am, or you'er going to sit on that highway all day.
I didn't realize Mystic was a destination  
chopperhatch : 5/23/2016 7:25 pm : link
For long weekends. Drive past it all the time on the way to RI. Why not just add an extra 30 mins and go to Newport?
RE: RM  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 9:24 pm : link
In comment 12967919 lugnut said:
Quote:
Uh, Essex is not just a few minutes north of Mystic. It, the Connecticut River, and any trains therein are 40 or so miles west. At least they were when I was born and loved in Mystic.


You're right. I was taking a bit of license there. Bottom line, if you're spending a couple of days in the area, its not all that far out of the way and its all turnpike, so an easy, relatively quick drive.
Skip the aquarium  
AP in Halfmoon : 5/23/2016 9:28 pm : link
And go fishing with River Mike
Hmmm..  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 9:31 pm : link
what BBIer has gone fishing with me?
I assumed you ran the official BBI  
AP in Halfmoon : 5/23/2016 9:35 pm : link
Guide service
Ah,  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 9:38 pm : link
so I never had the pleasure of guiding you?
Yes  
AP in Halfmoon : 5/23/2016 9:44 pm : link
I'm trying to remember, 2009 or 10? We had a great time but I can't think about boating without turning green
Ha!  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 9:53 pm : link
I remember it well! Fun trip with a close encounter with an impressive bit of our nuclear deterrent :)
I'm trying recall  
AP in Halfmoon : 5/23/2016 9:55 pm : link
We fished near a haunted lighthouse or cottage?
Yes,  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 9:58 pm : link
the haunted lighthouse off the end of Fisher's island. They had it featured on one of those reality ghost shows ... 'Ghost Hunters" or something like that
That's right  
AP in Halfmoon : 5/23/2016 9:59 pm : link
It was a fun outing.
Good to see  
River Mike : 5/23/2016 10:01 pm : link
you're here. I don't spend much time on here any more. In fact, its closing in on this old geezer's bed time. I'll be talking to you now that I know you're here.
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