One of New England’s Best-Kept Secrets Is Hiding in Plain Sight

When it comes to charming towns, New England does it best (sorry, not sorry). And if you want family-friendly activities with a side of genuinely good food and breezy seaside views, Mystic, Connecticut might be your sweet spot.

This quaint waterfront town checks all the boxes: historical buildings (including the Mystic Seaport area that feels straight out of a storybook), museums for the curious (like the largest maritime museum in the U.S., NBD), a working drawbridge (my kids talked about this for days) and—of course—the aquarium.

Another major selling point? It’s an easy escape from New York City. In just a two-and-a-half-hour drive (longer if you hit Stamford at the wrong time, which…you will), you’re suddenly in a place that feels worlds away. Mystic hits that rare Goldilocks balance of having plenty to do without ever overwhelming you. Summer and fall are peak perfection, but the truth is, it’s the kind of place that’s charming 365 days of the year. Here's how I suggest spending a weekend getaway in this cute seaport town.

Let’s start with the big one: the Mystic Aquarium. It may not be the largest in New England (Boston’s got that crown), but it’s guaranteed hours of fun for the whole family. The interactive Dino Seas exhibit with its two-story indoor playspace and aerial adventure course was a real hit, as was the superhero-themed California sea lions show (the trainers were amazing). Truthfully, you could spend the whole day here, but my real tip is this: go early, enjoy the African penguins and Beluga whales, then walk across the street to Olde Mistick Village.

Mistick Village is basically an outdoor playground disguised as a shopping center. With three littles (including a recently mobile baby), “relaxing” isn’t really on the menu—but this place comes close. It’s contained, car-free and full of open space for kid to roam. There’s even a duck pond! For entertainment, you’ve got a Christmas shop, a magic store and a haunted bookstore.

Next up: Mystic Seaport Museum. It’s open-air, sprawling and surprisingly fun for all ages. You wander through centuries-old buildings, climb aboard historic ships and catch live reenactments of how people cooked, printed and generally lived way back when. It’s one of those places where you fully intend to spend 45 minutes and suddenly it’s two hours later.

Afterward, stroll Main Street for shopping, fudge sampling and a peek at the famous drawbridge. Yes, this is also where you’ll find Mystic Pizza of Julia Roberts fame. (Overhyped? Maybe. But who cares?)

If you’re doing Mystic with kids, you’re going to the aquarium, which means you’ll be hungry. Skip the fried food on-site and head to Olde Mistick Village just a few minutes walk away. Trattoria Amalfi is a delightful surprise—crispy calamari, homemade pastas, and lots of space for strollers and wiggly humans.

If your kids have entered their “zero minutes of sitting” era, go for toast+tonic. They’ve got grilled cheese for the littles and fancier options (like a goat cheese, sweet potato and pecan toast) for the adults. Eat outside on one of the many benches around.

For dessert, head to Deviant Donuts, where creative offerings include animal cracker donuts, banana walnut and peach bourbon.

Downtown, you’ve got standout seafood options. Oyster Club is a longtime favorite—it’s in a renovated carriage house and the seafood is as fresh as it gets. And while I didn’t get to go myself (it’s giving “date night,” and I was giving “three-kid circus”), Shipwright’s Daughter has rave reviews for its creative dishes, like five-spiced swordfish and monkfish mortadella toast.

Hilton Mystic is the ideal homebase for families. It’s directly across from the aquarium, a location that came in clutch when we had a blowout and had to make an emergency dash back. And there are kid-friendly details all over, like a scavenger hunt that had my 6-year-old fully invested, pirate-themed décor, connecting rooms and even a real-life pirate making balloon animals and telling sea tales.

Not to mention, the indoor pool! Whether it rains or your kids simply need a place to cannonball their energy away, it delivers. The on-site restaurant, The IRONS, is friendly, unfussy and full of kid-pleasers (think mac and cheese and burgers).