1. Why not spend a couple hours at one of the best beaches in New England?
East Beach in Watch Hill is the place to go. Whether you enjoy a walk along the beach, bring a picnic lunch to savor, or lounge in the sun, you’ll love it here. May, June, September, and October are the nicest times to visit. It’s crowded in July and August, especially ever since Taylor Swift bought a house here in 2013. These are the months you’ll be able to find free 2-hour parking spots in the main street in Watch Hill. Otherwise, parking can be quite expensive here. Here at the inn we have beach towels, coolers, sunscreen, and paddleball which you can borrow for free!
2. Explore the first world’s first nuclear-powered submarine — the USS Nautilus. This museum is on the Thames River in Groton, Connecticut. This is your opportunity to explore what life what like onboard the submarine. A free handheld audio tour guides you down narrow passageways. See the real-life tiny spaces where submariners slept, ate, cooked, and kept watch. Lifesize mannequins throughout the submarine give a real sense of what life in the deep sea was like. The USS Nautilus Museum also makes our list for the Best Rainy Day Activities in and Around the Mystic Area. Pretty much everything here is indoors. If you get hungry, head to Paul’s Pasta serving down-to-earth food in a fun, casual restaurant on the Thames River.
3. Take a trip to The Velvet Mill near trendy Stonington Borough. The Velvet Mill has grown into one of the coolest collaborative maker-spaces in the area. It’s home to a weekly farmer’s market on Saturdays from 10AM-1PM. Weeklong you’ll find artisans hard at work. Favorites include Beer’d Brewery, Zest bakery, Woodfellas wood-fired pizza, and Whitecrest Eatery. There are antiques, handcrafted furniture, painters, printmakers, photographers, metalworkers, yoga, massage, and reflexology. Walking around and exploring the offerings is free. So is parking.
4. Enjoy a walk along
River Road, the
most scenic roads in Mystic. As you go along, enjoy an open view of the tall ships and waterfront of the Mystic Seaport Museum. It’s a great way to enjoy the museum sights without having to pay the price of admission. Parking is free and ample at the public boat launch below the Interstate 95 overpass. From here, proceed south. River Road is very popular with locals running, walking, and cycling. Along the way, you might see osprey nesting in the marshes, a passing egret or blue heron. As you approach downtown Mystic, enjoy the lovely residential architecture. Most homes date from the early to late 1800s. This is when Mystic was one of the shipbuilding capitals of the nation. At that time, wooden vessels were the main means of commercial transport. Some of these homes belonged to sea captains and shipwrights. The walk is 1.5 miles from the parking area to downtown. A great free way to get some exercise and enjoy the sights of Mystic!
5. Visit a battlefield!
Fort Griswold State Park is the site of Connecticut’s only Revolutionary War battle. Benedict Arnold, once a local hero, helped the British plan a surprise attack on Fort Griswold in 1781. While here, enjoy wonderful views of the Thames River and Long Island Sound. The rolling landscape of the fort holds many historical landmarks. If the memorial monument is open, you can climb it’s 166 steps for magnificent views of the surrounding area. The town of Ledyard, home to Abbey’s Lantern Hill Inn, gets its name from Colonel William Ledyard. He led the colonists here in trying to defend the fort. Whether you’re a history buff or a nature lover, you’re sure to love this completely free activity.
