Nestled along both sides of the Mystic River and divided by the iconic Mystic River Bascule Bridge, Mystic is a premier vacation spot in Connecticut. Founded in 1654, the village quickly became a prominent shipbuilding hub during the clipper ship era. Today, Mystic is known for its quintessential New England charm, offering a walkable downtown by the water with renowned dining and charming shops – an ideal getaway, especially in the summer. We spent half a day here walking in downtown and watching the Mystic River Bascule Bridge in action.
We visited this town in July 2021 on a half day trip from Hartford.
- Mystic River Bridge
- Downtown Mystic
- Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic River Bridge – is a bascule bridge(counterweight drawbridge) spanning the Mystic River. It carries vehicle and foot traffic directly into the tourist district of town via 33 ft-wide (10 m) Main Street. It is raised to allow boat traffic on a regular schedule from May 1st – October 31st at 40 min. past the hour from 7:40am – 6:40pm, otherwise on demand. The concrete bridge employs two 230 short tons concrete filled counterweights.
Downtown Mystic – After watching the drawbridge in action, we walked across and spent an hour walking in downtown. We had lunch, followed by ice-cream, after which we walked to check out the Seaport Museum.
Mystic Seaport Museum – The museum was established in 1929 as the Marine Historical Association. The 19-acre site holds a collection of ships and boats and a re-creation of a 19th-century seaport village consisting of more than 60 historic buildings, including many rare commercial structures that were moved to the site and meticulously restored.
