Mystic, Connecticut
“Happiness is a car, the open road, and a friend.” – Unknown
A new discovery
I stumbled upon Mystic, Connecticut during a work trip. One of my former clients, Griffin, had booked a meeting for us in the town. He informed me Mystic had a cool vibe and to check it out if I had some time. I took his advice, meandered downtown, and ate a fantastic seafood dinner. If only I had been able to arrive sooner to explore more.
Back to Mystic
As luck would have it, I had an opportunity to go back to Mystic. This time, I had free time and a friend. Al and I explored downtown, stopping in the corner bookstore. After browsing for some time, we decided to find a place to eat.
Tapping into the locals
A lady, who lived locally, overheard us discussing our options. She advised us to dine in Stonington, a neighboring town. She gave us a few recommendations, including the Dog Watch Cafe. The woman told us we could then check out Stonington Point, which offers panoramic views of three states – Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island. My eyes widened, as her insights intrigued me.
Exploring like a local
Our first stop was the Dog Watch Cafe, which was hopping with a cool vibe. The menu offered a solid variety, including gluten-free options. I ordered the seared tuna, which was a perfectly-cooked, generous portion of fish. Al opted for the scallops. We both enjoyed our meals.
We then hightailed it to Stonington Point to view Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. The spot was a beautiful, unique find. I am surprised more people do not know about this place.
Travel trip: Talk to the locals. They will lead you to the hidden gems tourist books often overlook.
After enjoying the views of the ocean, we made our way back to Mystic. Earlier, I had posted a status update on Facebook, asking if anyone had recommendations for me. Lisa advised us to head over to the Sift Bake Shop. This really cute bakery offered unique desserts and gluten-free options, and the yummy treats satisfied our sweet teeth. Great recommendation, Lisa!
Playing tourist
The next day, we wandered around downtown Mystic a little more, visiting the quaint shops and restaurants. Another friend, Stacey, suggested the famous Mystic Pizza. Of course we wanted to check out this pizza joint, which was featured in the movie Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts.
With its framed pictures of actors and movies from the ’80s, Mystic Pizza was adorable. The place filled me with nostalgia, as we reminisced about our youth. The pizza was delicious, and this little slice of heaven offered gluten-free options for the health-conscious individual. This was another great choice for our Mystic adventure.
Before our road trip concluded, we checked out the Mystic Bridge. Here, we spied some folks paddle boarding the Mystic River. What a quaint, New England town…
