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With high gas prices this summer, many families are searching for
a kid-friendly vacation destination that is close to home. Families will not have to travel far to have a nautical weekend
getaway in Mystic, Connecticut.
A variety of experiences will excite the young and old in Mystic.
Visitors can enjoy activities such as the
Mystic Aquarium, where
they can visit seals, dolphins and other sea creatures;
Mystic
Seaport, where they can explore the life and history of sailors and
shipping; and the
Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, the home of
southern New England’s most fascinating animals.
An Animal Adventure
For an experience with nature’s creatures of the water, visit
Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration. At the aquarium you will
discover 3,500 sea creatures from a vast array of marine
environments.
At the Roger Tory Peterson Penguin Exhibit, get up close and
personal with one of nature’s most endearing creatures, the African
penguin. Visitors will get a whole new perspective on penguin life
through above and underwater viewing.
For a unique, hands-on experience, visit the Discovery Lab.
Children of all ages can come and get their hands wet as they touch
and learn about a variety of marine life. This exhibit is open daily
from 9 a.m.-5:45 p.m.
The Sea Lion Shows are a great opportunity to experience lions of
the sea up close and in action. Show times are at 10:30 a.m., 12:30,
2 and 4:30 p.m.
Roll up your sleeves to reach in and touch the back of a cownose
ray as it swims by in the Ray Touch Pool. Kids and adults can feel
these gentle, mysterious creatures as they gracefully glide just
below the water’s surface.
The Challenge of the Deep exhibit reveals what lies on the deep
ocean floors of the world. Undersea mountain ranges that dwarf their
terrestrial counterparts, active volcanoes and lava pools, unique
animals and ghostly shipwrecks all inhabit this dark world. In the
exhibit you will experience a journey to the ocean floor interpreted
through the history of ocean exploration.
Through cutting-edge exhibit technology, discover the remains of
the RMS Titanic, hydrothermal vents on the sea floor and fascinating
artifacts recovered from Roman trading ships. Visitors can also find out why remotely-operated-vehicle (ROV)
systems revolutionized deep sea exploration.
To learn more about the Titanic, explore the exhibit Return to
the Titanic, which marks Dr. Robert Ballard’s historic return to the
legendary wreck he discovered in 1985. See a 25-foot replica of the ship’s bow, search the ocean floor
for Titanic artifacts on an interactive kiosk or view a reproduction
of the Marconi Radio Room. This exhibit accompanies Ballard’s first return to the Titanic
since 1986. Guests can see footage from the mission to the Titanic
wreck site in the Titanic Theater. This is a rare chance to get an
up-close view of the fascinating world of marine archaeology in
action, and to see what all those years under the Atlantic have done
to this magnificent ship.
In the exhibit Hidden Amazon, enter the mysterious world of the
rain forest. Discover the creatures that live under the canopy of a
strange and primitive world. It’s a colorful environment filled with
creepy tarantulas, poisonous frogs, slithering snakes, fascinating
piranha fish and soaring bats. From the moment that you walk through the archway, you will be
overwhelmed by the lush sights and intriguing sounds, making you
feel like you have been transported into the rain forest.
For a thrilling ride, visit the XD Motion Theater. Put on 3D
glasses and experience a motion movie brought to life right before
your eyes.
There are many other exhibits at the aquarium for children and
adults to enjoy. Mystic Aquarium is located at 55 Coogan Boulevard
in Mystic and is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through November.
Admission is $19.75 for adults, $18.75 for seniors, $14.25 for
children 3-17 and free for children 2 and under. For more information call 860-572-5955 or visit
www.mysticaquarium.org.
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center is a wildlife sanctuary and
visitor attraction that highlights the habitats and wildlife of
southeastern Connecticut. It also contains eight miles of trails
that wind through its beautiful 300-acre wooded preserve.
The indoor exhibits at the center include woodland, wetland and
meadow displays that depict southeastern Connecticut’s unique
habitats and wildlife. Visitors will have the chance to get a close-up view of live
frogs, fish, turtles and snakes. Meet magnified centipedes, ants and
mushrooms in the Life Under a Log exhibit. In the theater,
experience a Night in the Meadow or watch bird flight patterns as
they stream across the colorful meadow mural. The classroom exhibit features over 200 mounted bird specimens
from the Gurdon Bill collection. Other exhibits include bird eggs,
nests and skulls.
Outdoors in the wildlife sanctuary, guests can explore the trails
and search for bluebirds in the meadow, painted turtles or bullfrogs
in the pond, admire the summer wildflower garden or simply enjoy a
peaceful walk through the woods. In outdoor flight enclosures on the sanctuary, there are several
species of hawks and owls to observe as well. Meet Barred, Great
Horned and Screech owls, a Peregrine Falcon and a Broad Winged Hawk
— all raptors native to southern New England. Picnic tables and a tree house are available at the wildlife
sanctuary as well.
The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center is located at 109
Pequotsepos Road in Mystic. Admission to the center is $6 for adults
and $4 for seniors and children 12 and under. For more information call 860-536-1216 or visit
www.dpnc.org.
Exploring Life on the Ocean
The town of Mystic is best known for its whaling and shipping
history. At Mystic Seaport - The Museum of America and the Sea,
visitors can learn all about maritime life on the museum’s 17 acres
on the banks of Connecticut’s legendary Mystic River.
Climb aboard historic tall ships, stroll through a re-created
19th-century coastal village, discover stars in the planetarium, see
a working preservation shipyard in action, or explore exhilarating
exhibits and marvel at the gardens.
At the seaport’s Children’s Museum, children seven and under will
have a place all to their own. Here, young sailors can swab the
deck, move cargo, cook in the galley, dress in sailors’ garb and
even sleep in ships’ bunks.
The Discovery Barn is open seasonally and is designed especially
for children ages eight and up. Parents and kids can explore
interactive computer exhibits, furl a sail, or learn to tie sailor’s
knots. Visitors can also check out one of the many discovery boxes
to learn more about the sea and sea life.
The maritime galleries are brimming with permanent and changing
exhibits that offer rare glimpses into other eras and cultures,
including the acclaimed Voyages: Stories of America and the Sea,
restored vessels, figureheads, ship carvings and vintage
photography.
At the 19th-century seafaring village, stroll the streets of more
than 30 old New England trade shops and businesses. These aren’t
replications, they’re real historic buildings, transported from
locations around New England. The buildings are home to many
bustling maritime trades, from shipsmiths and coopers to woodcarvers
and riggers. Even the streets will transport you back in time, as
you encounter historians, musicians and storytellers.
Some of the buildings throughout the village include the Mystic
Press Printing Office, Boardman School, Drugstore and Doctor’s
Office, Fishtown Chapel and Geo H. Stone General Store.
At the Buckingham-Hall House, observe daily open-hearth cooking
demonstrations and the kitchen garden in the back, which is the
source of much of the fresh produce. Quilting and weaving are also
practiced in the house.
After a stroll through the village, explore below the decks of
the world’s last surviving wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan.
Built in 1841, this ship has outlived all others of her kind. Other
ships to explore include the Joseph Conrad, a full-rigged 1882
training ship, and the L.A. Dunton, the last surviving example of
early 20th-century New England fishing vessels.
If you are interested in taking a boat ride, jump aboard the
steamboat Sabino and chug along the scenic Mystic River. Half-hour cruises leave on the half-hour from 10:30 a.m-3:30 p.m.
through Columbus Day. Tickets are $5.50 for adults and $4.50 for
children ages 6-17. Museum admission is required as well.
At the planetarium, visitors can see an exhibit at the entry that
presents the basics of celestial navigation and includes an
interactive computer program. Daily programs in the planetarium
illustrate the night sky.
In the Preservation Shipyard, watch boat-builders, riggers and
lumbermen hard at work as they use 19th-century tools and techniques
to preserve Mystic Seaport’s unequalled collection of historic
wooden ships and boats, as well as build authentic recreations of
famous vessels, such as the freedom schooner Amistad.
Admission to Mystic Seaport is $17.50 for adults, $15.50 for
seniors, military and college students, $12 for children ages 6-17
and free for children 5 and under. The seaport is open from 9-5 p.m. daily through October, and is
located at 75 Greenmanville Avenue. For more information call 888-973-2767 or visit
www.mysticseaport.org.
 For those who enjoy shopping, Olde Mistick Village is a world
apart from the ordinary mall experience. The village contains a
unique collection of over 60 shops, stores and restaurants.
The village features a duck pond as well as many special events
and entertainment in the gazebo. Stores at the village include art,
crafts, clothing, gifts, jewelry and food.
The village’s summer hours are Mondays-Saturdays from 10 a.m.-8
p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Olde Mistick Village is located
on Coogan Boulevard.
For more information call 860-536-4941 or visit
www.oldmysticvillage.com.
Whether you enjoy life on the ocean, animals of the sea and land,
or want a day to shop and relax, Mystic offers it all. So pack up
the family and head to Mystic, where you are sure to have a
wonderful vacation experience that will not only be educational, but
fun as well.
This article was originally
printed in the August 2006 issue of Connecticut Parent
Magazine
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