Mystic county and the coast is a wonderful place to visit not just in the summer but the fall too. I will admit I didn’t know what to really expect because I think of the coast as “summery” but I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderful it was.
Peak viewing times are October 9th to November 6th.
You can easily spend a day or two here in this part of the state because there is so much to see and do. The drive is about 90 miles and it took me close to eight hours to complete because I stopped so much.
Begin in New London on 95 heading north and get off at exit 86.- Take Route 184 east heading towards Old Mystic.
- Next, take Route 27 South towards Mystic.
- Take Route 1 heading east and then head north on Route 2.
- Then take 184 and 49 towards Route 14A (Canterbury).
- After head south on Route 169 to Route 2 south.
- Take Route 2 south towards Norwich.
- Take Route 32 South to close the loop at New London.
Points of Interest:
Fall is here and that means the holidays are right around the corner so to get a jump start on your holiday shopping you should check out the shops at Olde Mistick Village. This charming little spot has all kinds of adorable shops and great scenery. As evidenced by the pictures below.
My next stop is a place that really is fantastic this time of year is Mystic Seaport. I did not go there because I would have spent all day there and time was not on my side. It is the perfect fall destination. The foliage looks great along with the historic shoreline. I will make it a point to come here next fall. It seemed very quiet because I went during the week and it seemed like it was too early in the year for school field trips and the weekend crowds weren’t there either so if you want the place to yourself, go during the week.
I stopped in Mystic for some Mystic Pizza because I love their teriyaki burger, the pizza is mediocre at best, but people go for the movie nostalgia. There are tons of awesome restaurants in this area to try out. S&P Oyster Co. was great the last time I was there and there are a couple of cute little ice cream shops to hit up too. It’s nice to walk up to the drawbridge and walk along the boardwalk to take in some of the fall coastline. Old houses and foliage look quite lovely together.
My next stop was at B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill it is the oldest steam powered cider mill in the United States and it has been in operation since 1881. They make a great sweet cider along with several varieties of hard ciders and wines. Visiting is a catch 22. If you go during the week you will miss the crowds (a big plus because saying this place is packed then is an understatement) however; the press may not be in operation. They tend to operate it on the weekends. If you go the weekends go early because the lines are very long the later you go. They have a great tasting and two stores to check out. On the weekends it looks like they have several different vendors there as well. While there opt for something different and try out a cider slushie along with an apple cider donut!
There are so many other places to stop that I just can not list them all. There are numerous vineyards in this area along with the casinos and farms. In the beginning of September, there is a farm called Buttonwood Farm in Griswold CT that has a ginormous amount of sunflower fields that is amazing to pull over and watch the sunset or to snap a few pictures.
My last get out of the car stop on this trip, however, was in the town of Stonington. The old historic houses that line the quaint little streets near the water are amazing. Check out the lighthouses, the wineries, the farmers market, the little shops and have a bite to eat. You could easily spend the whole day here. Stonington is not just for the summer months that’s for sure. I made a mental note to stop here during the holidays too because I’m sure the decorating is a sight to see.
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