Mystic Seaport?

[mnm99]

Any of you live there or visited? I'm planning a couple trips and was thinking of stopping at Mystic for a day. Starting out at Essex 1 day, Mystic 1 day? then ending at Newport for 2 days. We did Newport last year and loved it. I want to make a couple more stops on the way. I'm going with 5 other Boats also. ANy good bars and things to do for the day? Or is it worth it to stay 2 days? I was looking at Safe Harbor Marina to stay. It's outside the bridge, but we all have electric bikes to get around if needed. Not so easy getting back sometimes thought..LOL

Thanks

 

[Irie308]

We keep our boat in Mystic and love it there. If you stay at the Seaport you get to roam the museum after hours pretty cool I’ve heard. It’s on our list of todo’s. We are at Shipyard West which is before the bridges and just a 15 min walk to town or a nice dinghy ride. They also have a pool. For us mystic is more than a one day stop. Lots to do and great bars and restaurants. You can dock and dine at a few spots. Ford’s is our favorite. The town is always busy and jumping just about year round. Watchhill is a nice spot if you want to anchor and raft up. 10-15 outside of mystic harbor. Not much to do there but it’s a great anchorage with a nice beach. To be honest I’d skip Essex if you can and spend more time in Mystic. Mystic, Newport, Block Island and Greenport are great stops if you can swing it.

 

[Ididntdoit]

Dean is spot on......mystic is dinghy heaven if you have one - several dinghy docks and a nice calm river to use as a highway - do stay at the seaport if you have a dinghy - seaport marine was the most central to town, but most of the facility burned down recently, not sure about transient slips, again, doesn't matter if you have a dinghy....we like bravo bravo for fine dining as well as the Daniel packer in (the tavern downstairs) there mystic pizza for the tourist crowd, but Angie's is where the locals go (that may even be their slogan lol) and it's close to SH.....have fun, it's a great place to visit by boat

 

[mnm99]

Thanks for the info. I may skip Essex. I have been there and there really isn't much to do. Did Block last year again and was disappointed. We do Greenport and really like it.

 

[Irie308]

Sag Harbor and West Neck are pretty nice too. Have heard other people say that about Block but we've been many many times and have never had a bad experience. We mostly anchor or grab a mooring. Often times we never leave new harbor and had a blast. Cruising the pond in the dinghy and stopping by friends boats is past time in and of itself.

 

[northshore]

I imagine there are a bunch of places like it but Captain Packer Inn had a very cool / historically interesting bar in the lower level. We were in Mystic for just a day when my buddies daughter went in to the USCG Academy. I'd love to go back.

 

[mnm99]

Sag Harbor and West Neck are pretty nice too. Have heard other people say that about Block but we've been many many times and have never had a bad experience. We mostly anchor or grab a mooring. Often times we never leave new harbor and had a blast. Cruising the pond in the dinghy and stopping by friends boats is past time in and of itself.

Yea we stayed at Paynes and the last time Champlins. Champlins was way too expensive, Garbage cans were overflowing, Bathrooms were dirty ect.. For what they were charging it was crazy. I like Paynes, but the wife likes the floating docks.

Gotta love the USCG. I’m a little biased though since my son is one. Lol

 

[Skybolt]

@mnm99 It's a long run from Essex (one of my favorites) to Mystic and if your going to the Seaport you need to time the bridges. For me Essex and Mystic are two day stops. Especially for how log it took for me to get there coming from the Stony Brook area (at the time).

not sure where your starting from but I agree with @Irie308 Sag Harbor and West Neck are great spots to stop at as well.

Disappointed in Block!? How the hell did that happen?

Edit: Just saw your other post. Payne's is not the best place to stay and Champlin's sucks now. The Boat Basin and on the hook is the best. But the Boat Basin has the Oar House!

 

[mnm99]

@mnm99 It's a long run from Essex (one of my favorites) to Mystic and if your going to the Seaport you need to time the bridges. For me Essex and Mystic are two day stops. Especially for how log it took for me to get there coming from the Stony Brook area (at the time).

not sure where your starting from but I agree with @Irie308 Sag Harbor and West Neck are great spots to stop at as well.

Disappointed in Block!? How the hell did that happen?

Edit: Just saw your other post. Payne's is not the best place to stay and Champlin's sucks now. The Boat Basin and on the hook is the best. But the Boat Basin has the Oar House!

Yea, Newport is exactly 100 miles from Mount Sinai. took me 3 hrs and 20 min. I did it last year. I've been to Essex. Not much there. A pool and a few places to eat. Far up the river and you have to be able to bear the damn biting fly's on the way up. LOL...I think I'm doing 2 days in Mystic and 2-3 Days in Newport. Maybe on the way back I'll stop in Greenport for a night. We'll see. There are 5 of us so....

 

[Skybolt]

Yea, Newport is exactly 100 miles from Mount Sinai. took me 3 hrs and 20 min. I did it last year. I've been to Essex. Not much there. A pool and a few places to eat. Far up the river and you have to be able to bear the damn biting fly's on the way up. LOL...I think I'm doing 2 days in Mystic and 2-3 Days in Newport. Maybe on the way back I'll stop in Greenport for a night. We'll see. There are 5 of us so....

I miss being doing that one. Did Essex, Block and NP every year for a very long time.
I miss the Oar House and Griswold's the most.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Irie308]

Have stayed at the Boat Basin and its a very nice marina with floating docks. Not as packed as Paynes and not over priced like Champlin's. Champlin's was fun back in the days and the kids loved it but definitely a different feel these days. If you favor the marina's I would definitely give Boat Basin a try. Very helpful staff, nice docks and its a short walk to Payne's if you want to check out Mahogany Shoals.

 

[mnm99]

Have stayed at the Boat Basin and its a very nice marina with floating docks. Not as packed as Paynes and not over priced like Champlin's. Champlin's was fun back in the days and the kids loved it but definitely a different feel these days. If you favor the marina's I would definitely give Boat Basin a try. Very helpful staff, nice docks and its a short walk to Payne's if you want to check out Mahogany Shoals.

I have to be honest here.$27 for 2 drinks at Ballards, $12 for a egg sandwich..ect. I'm not cheap by no means, but the prices on Block are out of control for what you get. I was at Newport before I stopped at Block last year and everything about Newport was better. Boat basin looks nice. We had dinner there last year. Maybe I have a bad taste now because of Champlins. I'll be back one day, but not for a long time.

 

[brewster16]

I am sooooo done with Champlin's too! I would certainly second Watchill RI and anchoring all boats off Napatree Beach.....totally cool and relaxing! Dinghy heaven there. No need to try and coordinate all those people and spend a freakin' fortune just to be aggravated. Think about it...you and your 5 boats want relaxation and fun times right?

 

[Fill Ess]

Last year the wife and I wanted to take the dingy down to cruise the Mystic -- and go through the drawbridge of course. And we like that Oyster place right by the bridge. There is a hole-in-the-wall public ramp right under 95 where it crosses the Mystic.

We were staying at Foxwoods and wanted to get a slip so we didn't have to keep putting it back on the trailer. I talked to a marina in Mystic and they would only rent a transient slip for 20 feet or longer. I said I'm happy to pay the 20 foot rate if I can keep my 10-footer there. Her last words were, "WE DON'T DO DINGHIES HERE" and that was that