Photographed on March 27, 2025 when Charles W. Morgan was moved to the shipyard at Mystic Seaport Museum for routine maintenance in Mystic, Connecticut.
Gallery: Mystic Irish Parade 2025
Mystic Irish Parade 2025 in Mystic, Connecticut.
Spring in Mystic, CT
Happy Spring! I’m thrilled that the warmer weather will be here (we already had some ‘teaser’ days!) and we can enjoy the outdoors more. I’m also excited for all of the flowers to bloom across Mystic. I love that Mystic is an ideal town to visit year-round. Here are some suggestions for things to do this spring:
DAFFODILS @ DENISON HOMESTEAD MUSEUM
The unofficial kick-off to spring in Mystic starts with 10,000 beautiful daffodils blooming at Denison Homestead Museum! It usually starts in late March/early April. The field is directly in front of the house, which is visible from the road. It is open to the public from dawn-dusk. Stop by, enjoy them and take photos! Also a head’s up - the field can be muddy so be sure to wear rain boots! Don’t miss the Daffodil Festival usually held in the first week of April where you can tour the historical house, there are craft activities for kids and enjoy food/drinks. Extend your visit to the daffodil field with a hike on 10+ miles of trails at Denison Nature Center located across the street. Read more about it here.
LENTEN FISH FRY
Every Friday during Lent, there are several locations that fry up delicious fish and chips! Open to anyone of any faith to enjoy. Stop by:
Portuguese Holy Ghost Society in Stonington Borough from 11am-7:30pm
Mystic Fire Department at Hoxie House from 5-8pm
J&R Seafood Market from 11am-7pm
St. Edmund’s Retreat at Enders Island starts at 6pm
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
One of the best days in Mystic! The parade is one of the region’s largest held on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. The parade route starts at the south parking lot of Mystic Seaport, goes to Broadway, Main Street (Downtown Mystic) and ending at Mystic Art Museum. It usually draws 30K visitors to enjoy the festive event so be sure to arrive early to find a parking spot! Read more about St. Patrick’s Day in Mystic on a previous blog here.
TAKE THE MYSTIC PIZZA TOUR
You know that movie with Julia Roberts? It really was inspired by Mystic Pizza right here in Mystic, CT! The pizza restaurant may not be the actual filming location but there are many nearby in Mystic, Stonington, Pawcatuck, Noank and Westerly, RI. Take a spring day road trip to check out the locations! The addresses of the locations can be found on this blog: Mystic Pizza Tour.
VISIT MUSEUMS/AQUARIUM
Mystic has plenty of things to do and see, which includes museums and aquarium!
Mystic Museum of Art - a small museum with beautiful curated art works. Opened year around with free admission (unless there is a special exhibition) but donations are appreciated. Don’t miss out on the waterfront views from the back of the museum.
Mystic Aquarium - the aquarium is one of the largest in the United States. It’s easy enough to spend an entire day there. I always look so forward to the sea lions show as well visit the penguins and the whales.
Mystic Seaport Museum - this 19th century seafaring village is one of my favorite spots in Mystic. There’s always something to photograph and I also enjoy walking around the grounds with my pup! I suggest waiting until April 1st when the full museum is opened (only half is opened right now).
SHOP AT OLDE MISTICK VILLAGE
Opened year-round, this colonial 18th century village has over 50+ unique shops! The village consists of a luxury movie theater, restaurants, unique shops and more. There is something for absolutely everyone. Don’t forget to bring your fur kiddos as it is dog-friendly too!
ABBOTT’S OPENING FOR THE SEASON
Mark your calendar for the opening day of Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank, CT in the first week of May! Read more about Abbott’s on a previous blog here.
DOWNTOWN MYSTIC
Enjoy a stroll around downtown where there are plenty of local shops and restaurants to support. Mystic River Park is also a wonderful spot to relax, sit in one of the many benches and watch all the activity around the park.
Mystic holds a lot of charm and I love how it is an ideal spot to visit year-round. I hope you find this spring guide helpful and enjoy your visit. Pop over to my Instagram @knotsoloud and see more of Mystic on my feed. I would love to hear about your visit to Mystic!
baby hears for the first time!
At some point, you probably have seen a viral video of a baby hearing for the first time. Those viral videos have been floating around the internet for the last decade now. I’d love for those videos to vanish forever.
Most often the videos would show a baby [or adult] hearing for the first time when their cochlear implants have been activated or hearing aids turned on. I cringe every time I see those videos. Why? The ‘inspiration porn’ is not reality. It implies that the hearing loss is a problem to be fixed. The videos always come with comments such as “Awwww!”, “I’m crying! I’m so happy!”, “This is so amazing!”, etc. How do you think a deaf person who is reading those comments would feel? It makes me feel like I’m uninspiring just because I chose to not wear hearing aids or cochlear implants.
It’s disappointing that those videos always get millions of views, likes, shares. It’s not about the numbers but that amount of people that are not learning that it’s not a cure to deafness. Hearing aids and cochlear implants both are a tool for hearing loss and will never cure it 100%.
Those videos also don’t show what happens after — the years of challenges and training to re-learn sounds with the devices. It requires a LOT of time and adjustment for the brain to connect with sounds and recognize what the sounds are. Sometimes it even takes years! The sounds also never will sound natural like the way hearing people hear.
I don’t think people also think of this… when the hearing aids/cochlear implants are off — they’re still deaf! They don’t go in the shower/water with the devices. The batteries dies. They don’t sleep with the devices on.
I understand that hearing people feel like they can relate because they know what it is to hear. They can’t imagine a life without hearing. I just want you to consider what this does to the deaf community and think before you hit that like button or share it. I wish there were more of videos of other life’s firsts such as laugh, sign, food, vacation, etc. We, the deaf people still experience the joy of life with other firsts!
Connecticut Maple Weekend
It’s time of the year for maple! I consider myself a maple syrup connoisseur. My love for maple started as a kid living on the border of New York/Pennsylvania. I would hop over to Pennsylvania to this tree farm that would sell maple flavored cotton candy. When I moved to New England, I noticed that many states do a maple weekend so naturally I had to go see what a maple weekend was like!
Last year, I visited East Hampton and Hebron. It also colluded with the annual Hebron Maple Festival so there were even more activities to do. While I didn’t get to see what the festival offered because I wanted to focus on touring the open houses of several sugar houses.
If you plan to go to that area, I recommend this list (in order):
RICK’S SUGAR SHACK 69 COLLIE BROOK RD EAST HAMPTON, CT
I’m so glad that this was the first stop because Rick, the owner was VERY informative! I never seen the process of a sugar house so Rick really explained the process, showed a lot and was willing to answer questions. There was a small store offering maple syrup, maple flavored cookies and brownies, maple candy and more. Don’t miss the tasting room where you can sample the products before purchasing them!
WENZEL SUGAR HOUSE 522 EAST ST HEBRON, CT
The sugar house was similar to Rick’s Sugar Shack, but instead of collecting the sap in bags they used tubing system. I learned more about that process. This location was known for their maple pudding cake too, it looked delicious (but I couldn’t enjoy it because of my allergies unfortunately!). They also offer maple syrup for purchase.
WOODY ACRES 80 CONE ST HEBRON, CT
Here, I learned more about the amount of sap needed to collect to make one small tin of maple syrup. It is fascinating how much goes in a pint! Maple syrup and maple candy are also available to buy here.
WINDING BROOK 254 SKINNER LANE HEBRON, CT
The biggest sugar house, with a bigger machine to produce 300 gallon of maple syrup (other sugar houses produced 60 gallon). The machine used oil to operate, while the other machines I saw used wood stove. I learned more about the differences of the machines. Maple syrup was available for purchase, and you could taste them beforehand.
MORE SUGAR HOUSES IN THE AREA:
BRIGHT ACRES FARM 46 OLD KINGS HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT
BUELL’S DRAGONFLY FARM 105 OLD GRIFFIN HIGHWAY EAST HAMPTON, CT
GOSHEN HILL MAPLE 1040 GOSHEN HILL RD EXT LEBANON, CT
There were a few more sugar houses I planned to go, but time ran out for me. I plan to return and visit them as well see more of the Hebron Maple Festival! It’s a fun weekend to celebrate our local farmers and the hard work they put in to providing us delicious maple syrup!
shoreline photography: mystic’s best views
Living in Mystic, CT has inspired my passion for photography to make a comeback. I got into photography when I was a teen. I majored it in high school then first year of college before I decided I wanted to keep it as a hobby. I feared that doing it as a job would make me lose the fun I have while photographing.
During the pandemic, I was talking a lot more of walks around different neighborhoods in Mystic that I normally don’t walk through. I wanted to see more of the town and I had that extra time! As Mystic draws many visitors to the town, I thought I’d share my recommendations with photographers who desire to find the best photogenic spots in Mystic.
Mystic is blessed with it all — shoreline views, beautiful historical homes, wildlife, sunsets and more! My recommendations for the best photography spots are:
Downtown Mystic — you can’t go wrong with the historic drawbridge. If you’re visiting between spring-fall, you will be able to capture it in motion. The best views of the bridge would be on the Stonington side (Whaler’s Inn) from Mystic River Park. You also can walk around Downtown, I highly suggest getting up early in the morning (7-9am) before downtown gets busy.
River Road — this is the ideal spot for wildlife photographing. If you drive down near Peace Sanctuary, there will be some parking area off the side of the road. If you walk towards the overpass bridge, you’ll see several nests.
Pearl St x Starr St — the best view of Mystic Seaport lighthouse. I suggest going there for either sunrise or sunset, I always get amazing colors with the lighthouse!
Gravel St — a scenic route right by Mystic River. You can capture a lot from there from boats, birds, water activities and more. If you happen to be in town during full moon, I've captured my best photos of it from this location.
Mystic Seaport Museum — you’ll need an admission fee to get inside but I always get countless photos from there. I’ve photographed the visiting boats (Wooden Boat Show in June!), many close ups of nautical items, the water activity on Mystic River, the sailing classes with the bright colorful sails, the landscape of the historical village, it goes on and on!
Coastal accesses — there are so many of them along Mystic River with beautiful views. I’ve complied a list of them on a separate blog here. I’ve captured photos from all of them.
Holmes St to Bay St — another scenic route by the Mystic River. This is a favorite spot during fall for foliage photographing.
Historical homes — there are many of them around Mystic. I would suggest these following streets because they are very walkable: Willow Street, Gravel Street, Elm Street, Pearl Street, West Mystic Ave.
Hope you enjoy photographing the beautiful coastal town of Mystic! I always love seeing different perspectives from other photographers. It’s amazing how many different ways we all see Mystic!
celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Mystic
"St. Patrick's Day is a day to celebrate our green heritage. The ancestry of Ireland. It is a day to celebrate what it means to be Irish and of Irish descent." -Anthony T. Hicks
The knotty shamrock made by Mystic Knotwork.
Mystic, Connecticut has the region’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade every year on the Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day. The parade route starts at the south parking lot of the Mystic Seaport and running through Broadway to Main St (Downtown Mystic). The end of the parade is at Mystic Art Museum, which is close to Sift Bake Shop. The Mystic Irish Parade Foundation (MIPF) always does an EXCELLENT job of organizing the parade every year to celebrate the Irish heritage for everyone! Can you believe that MIPF is completely volunteer driven and a nonprofit organization?!
Westerly Fire Department in St. Patrick’s Day parade 2023.
The parade itself is very impressive with over 2,000 participants and drawing 30,000 speculators every year. The usual participants are the fire departments (love how Mystic firefighters always sports the green gloves!), local organizations, antique cars, Mystic Aquarium, St. Patrick’s Church, the bagpipes bands, marching bands and the Guinness truck. It was a memorable year in 2018 when the Budweiser Clydesdales marched in the parade. I was especially excited as a (crazy) Dalmatian mom to see Barley the Budweiser Dalmatian!
Budweiser Clydesdales marched in the parade in 2018.
It can get crazy packed in the downtown area. I suggest you to get parking at least couple hours before the parade starts. The town police will close off routes across the town. If you want to be in downtown, there is parking at the Mystic Art Museum. If you want to be on the other side near Mystic Seaport Museum, there will be parking at Olde Mistick Village but it’s a trek! Most probably you will have to hunt for a spot on one of the many side streets along the parade route.
Mystic Highland Pipe Band in the parade.
Downtown Mystic gets VERY festive for St. Patrick’s Day with storefront decorations, Irish themed food/drinks, shamrocks everywhere and the tricolor Ireland flags waving throughout the town. I may live in the area, but I definitely think it is worth the drive to come here for the Irish weekend! The best part is there’s plenty to make a weekend out of it. If you are in town on Friday night, the B.F. Hoxie Engine Co. (near the Mystic train station) hosts their annual fish ‘n’ chips dinner from 5-8 PM. They have one of the most delicious fish fry in the region! Mystic Irish 5K will be happening on the Saturday before parade day. On parade day, the Mystic Hook and Ladder Fire Company hosts their annual breakfast. They will be serving an all you can eat with eggs, home fries, corned beef hash, sausage, bacon, pancakes, and toast. Coffee and orange juice will be available.
The local businesses in downtown Mystic also get into the celebrations! The Black Dog always have St. Patrick’s Day themed clothing and hats. Sift Bake Shop rolls out their green croissants filled with Bailey Irish Cream! Mystic Knotwork made a green shamrock out of rope which is visible on the Mystic Drawbridge as well as their retail shops. Known for their handcrafted recycled sails tote bags, Sea Bags has shamrock themed bags! Looking for some Irish whiskey or Irish cream? Spencer & Lynn has all of the necessaries!
Young buns doughnuts [no longer in business] used to roll out fun St. Patrick’s Day themed donuts!
Those who follows me on Instagram might’ve seen a few posts from Harp and Hound Pub - an Irish pub in Mystic. I can’t write this post without mentioning them. It’s a necessity to stop in for a pint when you’re in Mystic. It is one of the most authentic Irish pubs I’ve been in. The owner is from Limerick, Ireland. The pub is filled with dark wood decor and roadway signs from Ireland as well patches from first responders. They also serve sandwiches and traditional Irish entrees for lunch and dinner. Every time I’m missing Ireland, I just drive the short 10 minutes to the pub and reminiscence the memories! While you’re there during the Irish weekend, don’t forget to enter in the raffle drawing.
Westerly FD in the parade.
Mystic Irish Parade Foundation does a raffle drawing every year with 3 prizes. The 3rd prize is a $200 gift card to Taber Inn in Mystic. The 2nd prize is an iPad Air. The grand prize is a trip for two to IRELAND! It includes 7 days/6 nights accommodations, round trip airfare, and car rental. You can purchase the raffle tickets which are $5 at Harp & Hound Pub. You do not need to be present to win. It’s an annual tradition to enter myself in the raffle drawing hoping for the grand prize! Who wouldn’t want a free trip to the beautiful Emerald Isle?!
The Ireland flag in the parade.
Lastly, don’t forget to visit Irish Eyes at Olde Mistick Village. I’ve previously mentioned the shop a couple times. They have everything you would need - a shirt? They got it! A hat? They got it! Irish sweaters? They got it! I love the Irish jewelry selection - make it a memorable trip and get yourself a claddagh ring to remember the fun Irish weekend in Mystic!
Visit the 2024 Mystic Irish Parade gallery here.
my latest reads for February 2025
February was another slow reading month. I wish I could’ve read more but I admit that I watched more of TV — binge watching Blue Bloods (so sad that it’s over!), Sweet Magnolias and Love is Blind (don’t know why… I’m a sucker for reality TV). Hoping to tackle my TBR (to be read) pile in March!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I previously read Pam Jenoff’s The Woman with the Blue Star. It was a powerful read so I was thrilled to see this new release.
In this historical fiction read, Louise found a necklace in a box that was marked with a department store in Paris. Turned out that the store was Levitan, a store that once served as a Nazi prison. There are things she investigated into linking to her past, including a friend who mysteriously passed away.
It was a very captivating read. I appreciated the author’s note in the back of the book. It’s amazing how you think you’ve learned about WWII to read books like this and realize that there’s still so much to learn. Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
This was the perfect read for around Valentine’s Day. A cute rom-com read taking place in NYC + London.
Nora is a therapist who fell in love with someone she’s never met. She writes for an advice column and the guy known as ‘J’ edits for her. All of their interactions have been through emails/digitally. Meanwhile, Nora meets her new neighbor Eli and starts to get to know him.
I enjoyed the adorable banter and it had a strong You’ve Got Mail vibes!
Out on March 1st.
??
This book has sat on my TBR (to be read) list for a long time. I figured with it being winter and the book revolved around hockey — no better time to read it.
In this small town, we meet the people that make up Beartown. The hockey team is about to go to the semi-finals and have a good chance of winning. Unfortunately a violent act happened and it affected the entire community.
This may be the first book that I have no idea how to rate. I disliked it so much but was it the content? The writing was beautifully done but there were so many unnecessary details. I don’t know.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I’ve been hearing about Rochelle Weinstein’s books for the last year. I have yet to read any so I was excited to pick up my first book of hers.
We are transported to an inn, where we meet 10 people - the inn owners, 3 couples and a mother/daughter duo who are guests. They all went on a getaway to the inn carrying a lot of secrets and lies.
Whoa, what a whiplash. It was a slow start, I struggled to get all characters straight but then the drama! I couldn’t put the book down.
Thank you to NetGalley and for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
FAVORITE
It was perfect timing to read this book. I had just finished binge watching the Blue Bloods TV show. Kevin Wade is the writer/producer of the TV show. He wrote this book during the pandemic.
We follow Police Chief Jeep who lives on Long Island — they had just discovered a body that happens to be Jeep’s childhood best friend, Johnny.
I throughly enjoyed this crime procedural read - it was very bingeable. It reads like a long episode of Blue Bloods in a book, so if you’re a fan of the show, you’ll love this!
How are the books rated:
Favorite — LOVED the book / Couldn’t put it down!
Highly Recommend — Great book / Enjoyed.
Liked — Good book / Liked it while reading, but will not remember.
DNF — Did Not Finish / Do not recommend.
No Rating — I do not give ratings on sensitive subject/memoirs.
explore the wonders of mystic aquarium
Mystic Aquarium is home to thousands of marine life from penguins, beluga whales, seas lions to fishes. It’s so easy to spend the entire day there. It’s no surprise that Mystic Aquarium was named one of the best aquariums in the United States.
The aquarium is opened year round as it has both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The indoor exhibits include fishes, octopus, jellyfishes, sharks and many more! Another indoor exhibit is Dino Seas which is an interactive exhibit on the history of dinosaurs. The outdoor exhibits include beluga whales, seals, sea lions and penguins. There is also a marsh area where you can find turtles.
To make your visit more fun, look into the encounters with animals where you can interact with penguins, sea lions and seals. These experiences have an additional cost on top of admission cost. It will be worth it to have a memorable experience! I enjoyed my experience of feeding the stingrays — I was scared at first but then had fun!
What I love about the aquarium is the easy flow of the layout, I always start the visit at the beluga whales exhibit. Look for my friend, Juno. They are so fun and I love it when they are playful with the visitors. I head over to the penguins and watch them waddle and paddle! If I’m lucky, I enjoy watching them during feeding time. The sea lion show (indoors) is a must, it never gets old. The aquarium does a good job of switching up themes of the shows yearly. I tend to spend most of my time there at the outdoor exhibits. At the end of the visit, I always do a walkthrough of the indoor exhibits. It’s fascinating to watch the jellyfishes!
How I found out about the aquarium was through their Animal Rescue/Rehab Center. I attended a seal release in Charlestown, Rhode Island back in 2012/2013. I was very intrigued to learn about all they do for injured animals and how they get rehabbed for releases. They do several seal releases which I try to attend — it’s heartwarming to watch them go back in the ocean! To follow when seal releases happens, Mystic Aquarium Animal Rescue Program post updates on their Facebook page here. I do have to warn, these events do get very packed! I suggest getting to the beach early.
If you get hungry during your visit at the aquarium, there is a cafe where you can order food. There are several tables inside and outside where you can dine. Don’t forget to stop in the aquarium shop located next door. Pick up a souvenir to remember your fun memorable day there!
You can purchase tickets online at their website. There are ways you can save on your tickets, through a membership, special discounts for Military, First Responders, UConn, Foxwoods, etc. If you’re a resident in Connecticut, many libraries provide a day pass for discounted tickets. All information about hours, pricing, discounts are available here on their website. Parking is free on site.
things you should never say to a deaf person
Interacting with people who have never met a deaf person can sometimes make an interesting encounter. I had to compile a list of questions/comments you should never say to a deaf person:
“Can you hear me now?!” (covers mouth and screams)
I can’t tell you how often this happens; more frequently when I was younger in middle and high school. I played for a co-ed soccer team which my dad helped coach practices. One day I had a male teammate that asked me if I could hear him now as he covered his mouth and screamed (my dad heard him). I stood there puzzled having no idea what he had even asked me. I’ve even had people come up to my ears and scream “Can you hear me?!”.
“I’m sorry.”
Why? This is the most awkward thing you could say to a deaf person. I don’t feel sorry. This is my life. This is all I know. I can still do normal things. I can play sports. I can read books. I can travel. I can write. What’s there to be sorry about? When someone says that to me, it makes me feel weird and I never know what to say back.
“Can you drive?”
Why do you need your hearing to drive? “What about the firetrucks and ambulances?" I can SEE them! Some first responders don’t use the sirens, but use the lights. Deaf drivers are statistically proved to be safer drivers than hearing drivers because of high alertness and quicker motor reflexes. I can spot a flashing light from an emergency vehicle probably a mile behind or ahead of me, quicker than others. I have pulled over so many times with people around me not realizing that emergency vehicles were coming.
“You don’t look deaf.”
How can I look deaf? The hearing loss is inside my ears.
“I know ASL!” and flips the bird.
This is pretty old… I have gotten this reply so many times that it’s just [eye-rolling].
“Where are you from?” (accent)
This may be my favorite. I love it when people think I’m from another country. Sometimes I do have fun with this one, saying that I’m from (whatever country I feel like that day). Sometimes I would just say Upstate NY (where I am actually from) and people give me a strange look.
“I don’t know how I could live without music if I was deaf.”
I don’t know what I’m missing out on with hearing music. I still can enjoy music in a different way so it’s not missing from my life just because of my deafness. I went to a Flogging Molly concert last spring and wrote about it here. This comment is no different than saying that you don’t want my life. I happen to love my life!
“Tell her I said (this and that)” (Talk to my interpreter/friend/family like I’m not standing there).
I’m standing right there. You can ask me directly, look at me and whoever is with me will help to communicate. You can ask “How are you?” and they will sign “how are you” to me. If you say “Ask her how is she?”. They will sign “ask her how is she?”. It’s just confusing.
“Can you lipread?”
Almost always I want to reply “Can you read my sign?”. Read here.
“Why didn’t you get cochlear implants?”
People always think cochlear implants is an easy fix but it’s a huge decision. I wrote about my reason why I didn’t get them here.
“Wow! You can talk.”
Some deaf people talk. Some deaf people don’t. It’s a personal choice if they want to use their voice. I learned speech/talking first before sign language. Still, when I get that from people, it makes me cringe. I feel like it’s one of the more degrading comments you could say to a deaf person. We have the ability to do anything but hear.
“What’s the sign for (swear/dirty word)?”
One of the most annoying questions that I frequently get. When I meet a person who asks me that, it makes me feel like they’re not really interested in getting to know me as a person. I’m not your walking personal dictionary. Look it up yourself.
“I want to learn sign language.”
This is the most overused phrase that deaf people get. It's flattering when people are serious about wanting to learn sign language. Unfortunately, the majority of people who have said this to me ended up not doing it. Learning sign language is a commitment, so don’t say that unless you really mean it.
I do understand that most of time when those things are said to me, it’s not people’s intention to offend me. I’m hoping this list helps everyone to think about what they ask before meeting a deaf person for the first time.
Now here’s a list of responses I’ve got from people once they found out that I’m deaf:
“I’m so sorry, I will pray for you.”
“Oh, so he’s your hearing aid.” (referring to my husband).
“Have you tried antibiotics?”
“Haha, yeah right, you’re pretending to not understand me.”
“Can I try on your hearing aids?”
“Wow, your family is hearing? How is that possible?”
“Are those radios in your ears or something?”
All opinion in this blog are my own. It does not reflect the opinions of other deaf members.
Mystic Cabin Fever Charity Chowder Cook Off
It’s almost time for some wicked chowda!!! Olde Mistick Village hosts their annual Cabin Fever Festival every winter. The chowder cook off donates all the proceeds to a non-profit agency, Always Home that works on preventing family homelessness.
When the month of February rolls around, I get excited for this event! I attended my first chowder cook off event in 2012 shortly after I moved to Connecticut. Since then I have never missed the chowder cook off event.
The ironic part is that I didn’t like seafood, I never even tried clam chowder. I became annoyed attending so many local events that offered seafood, I felt that I was missing out. At my first chowder cook off event, I caved and decided to take the first bite of chowder! Once I took that first bite, I never looked back. Clam chowder is one of my favorite food now!
Many local restaurants will serve a 3 oz cup of their chowder at this event. Sometimes, you get to see a fun chowder recipe being tried out. I’ve seen some quite weird ingredients such as alligator, chicken & waffle, and many more! Once you sample all the chowder, you can select your favorite on the ballot provided and they will announce the winner for people’s choice. The restaurants are also competing to win one of the specified categories which includes most creative, heartiest, best use of regional ingredients and best flavor. These categories will be judged by a team of celebrity judges. The awards are given at the end of the event at the meeting house (church).
I love attending this event every year. This draws many people of all kinds - couples, families, singles attend. It’s so much fun for everyone! There’s always talk among people about where the good chowder are so it’s good to get that intel and plan your route for the day!
The chowder tickets are $2/each or $20 for a dozen tickets. You can purchase the tickets on the day of at the event at a marked location through the village. The village is an outdoor shopping mall but with 18th century New England vibe. Each of the restaurants will be in a shop so you can get to do a bit of shopping while you’re sampling the chowder or waiting in the lines. Olde Mistick Village is good about marking which shops have chowder and which have the tickets for purchase.
Looking forward to having some of the delicious chowder.
Read this blog for more information about Olde Mistick Village.
January 2025 reads
January was a good month with mostly 4 stars books! I kicked off 2025 with a 5 stars read. I also focused reading a lot of ARC’s (advanced reader copy) that I received via NetGalley (website) this month. Many great books are coming out this year! I’m looking forward to them.
FAVORITE
Taking place in Vermont, we meet Abby who owns a coffee shop. Her town is hosting the first-ever Hanukkah festival. Abby has been put in charge of the festival since she is Jewish. Seth is the other Jewish local who enjoys going to the coffee shop every morning. Abby needs inspiration to plan the festival and Seth needs help to get his mom to stop playing matchmaker. Abby visits Seth’s parents in NYC and is in a fake relationship with Seth. I enjoyed the Hanukkah festitives in NYC and the description of the food — I literally could smell it! This is officially my favorite Hanukkah themed read!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Adrienne Young is one of the best storytellers. All of her books have been AMAZING. This newly released, A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS was beautifully written. There were twists and secrets! It’s one of those books where my mind was reeling trying to figure it all out. It is an emotional packed mystery/thriller taking place in a small town read. The bond between the twins, whew! You never can go wrong with Adrienne Young!
*Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the ARC - all opinions are my own.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I am a big fan of Tracey Lange’s books. Her beautiful storytelling and family saga books are always an enjoyable read. This newly released book was no different. It was a beautiful read, VERY emotional. I was invested in the story of Casey and Kyle from the beginning to the end. I’m in awe how Lange has the ability to make the story flow so perfectly. This book has a lot of hope, love, family connections, strong small town community and many more. Highly recommended to read!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I was excited to read another book from Lindsay Hameroff! NEVER PLANNED ON YOU introduces us to Ali, a wedding planner who hooked up with a British guy named Graham years ago and they also got matching tattoos. Ali bumps into Graham years later when she is planning his wedding. This rom com read was so fun and lighthearted. I enjoyed all the pop culture references in the book (the nostalgia!) and the humor. I couldn’t put down this book! You’ll want to put this on your TBR - perfect read for Valentine’s Day.
*Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Out on February 18th.
REALLY LIKED
Jennifer Coburn did it again with a very well-researched historical fiction book. It was a gripping read about Theresienstadt, one of the camps during WWII that created propaganda films. The films were shared with the public that the Jews were thriving in the camps. I wasn’t familiar with Theresienstadt so it was educational read for me. I liked how there were two different POVs. I did found it to be slow at the beginning, but I knew it would be worth it to continue. I’m glad that I did because it is a compelling book. It was tough to read too!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
How are the books rated:
Favorite — LOVED the book / Couldn’t put it down!
Highly Recommend — Great book / Enjoyed.
Liked — Good book / Liked it while reading, but will not remember.
DNF — Did Not Finish / Do not recommend.
No Rating — I do not give ratings on sensitive subject/memoirs.
winter in mystic, Connecticut: cozy activities
The best part about Mystic, Connecticut that you can visit year-round. I’ve visited some towns across New England where many businesses shut down for the winter. There’s no shortage of things to do in Mystic during the winter. After the holidays, it is the quietest you will ever see Mystic.
Here are some things you can do in Mystic during the winter:
Go shopping — Olde Mistick Village is opened year round! There are plenty of shops and restaurants that you can enjoy. I’ve dedicated a blog about this fun Mystic destination here. In February, they host annual clam chowder festival and Ice in the Village event. Downtown Mystic has plenty of shops that you can visit. You can find warm sweaters at Tidal River Clothing, fun socks at Hang the Moon, mugs for those hot drinks during winters at Manufaktura and pick up lotion from Main Street Soap Emporium.
Visit the museums. — Mystic Aquarium located next door to Olde Mistick Village (you can make a day out of it at both locations!), the aquarium has indoor exhibits that you can enjoy. The outdoor exhibits where you can see the sea lions, beluga whales and penguins will be opened if you dare to brave the cold! Mystic Seaport Museum is opened during the winters but only half of the grounds. I would suggest waiting to visit to see all it has to offer. However, if you only can visit during the winter, don’t let that stop you from visiting the Seaport. You can see Charles W. Morgan whaling ship, which is one of the best exhibit at the museum. They also host Wintertide every Presidents’ Day weekend in February. Mystic Museum of Art is a small museum with beautiful curated art works. Opened year around with free admission (unless there is a special exhibition) but donations are appreciated.
Watch movies or get books — Watch a movie at the Mystic Luxury Cinemas (located at Olde Mistick Village) in the comfy plush chairs with some movie snacks. It is a nice theater and I enjoyed my visit there when CODA movie played. I went back second time to watch CODA because of the movie and the theater atmosphere! If you’re not a movie-goer, maybe you’re into books? There’s two bookstores in Mystic that you can visit! Bank Square Books has an impressive collection of the latest released books. No Other Books Like This, a used books bookstore located across the street from the train station. Worth a visit to check out the impressive collection of rare/antique books!
Eat your way through Mystic — we tend to load up on the carbs during winters, right? There’s plenty of recommendations in Mystic! Get the most delicious pastries at Sift Bake Shop, eat pizza like Julia Roberts at Mystic Pizza, missing the lobster roll? The Mariner has them year-round. The best waffles you can find at Popover Eatery. Get your seafood fix at S&P Oyster and enjoy the best waterfront views. In the mood for cozy tavern atmposhere? Look no further than Daniel Packer Inne. You can’t go wrong with any restaurants in Mystic!
I love Mystic during the winter, it’s so calm and peaceful. The quietness is perfect for that coziness vibes when I dine or visit a small business. It’s also fun not having to worry about parking so much! Enjoy your winter getaway to Mystic. If it inspires you to return for a spring visit, make your plans with my spring recommendations here!
A Christmas stay at Harbor View Landing
December always bring out all of the fun festivities in Mystic, Connecticut! As a local I love to check out all what Mystic has to offer including accommodations. I’ve heard a lot about Harbor View Landing over the years. Once it was used as a filming set on Hallmark’s Mystic Christmas, I was even more intrigued to check out Harbor View Landing! The hosts were gracious and gifted me a night stay after I reached out to them.
ABOUT HARBOR VIEW LANDING
Located in West Mystic, Connecticut right on the banks of Mystic River. Harbor View Landing is a compound on 2 acres consisting of cottages, houses and even a riverboat! The coastal retreat offers you amazing waterfront views within 1 mile driving distance of Downtown Mystic. There is a parking area for all the resort guests. During warmer months, there are kayaks and bicycles available for the guests to use.
MY FIRST IMPRESSION
The road leading down to Harbor View Landing is mostly private so the whole compound is isolated from rest of the neighborhood. I was in awe of how beautiful all the cottages and houses were! I loved how each house had a coastal themed symbol on it such as lobster, whale, etc. Walking up to my unit — The WATERFRONT views! Wow, it was gorgeous and stunning. The day I went was overcast, I only can imagine how beautiful it is on a sunny blue sky day! The inside of the unit was beautiful. I knew it would be after seeing it on the Mystic Christmas movie and various photos on Instagram from others who have stayed there. I loved the coastal theme through out the unit, from the art on the wall, to doorknob details, and the shades of coastal blue. The kitchen was so cozy and cute!
MY STAY
I had the first floor of the Bluff House during December for a night. It was a chilly wintery day, so I had to turn up the temperature (I easily get cold!) And I was impressed with how quick the unit heated up. It was very cozy in the living room with the waterfront views. I enjoyed sitting on the couch watching TV and looking out at the water! The bedroom was large and spacious. There was an extra room off the bedroom with a daybed/couch. I thought it was a cute corner for reading a good book. I spent some time in the kitchen recreating a scene from the Mystic Christmas movie — frosting sugar cookies. It was a fun time, especially being in the actual filming location for that scene! The first floor also had a wrap around patio that had chairs you could sit on to enjoy the water views. If only it was warmer for me to do so! I did get to see the full moon from the patio the night I stayed there. I thought the unit overall was just the perfect size — not too small, had enough space.
GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT HARBOR VIEW LANDING
The unit I stayed in didn’t have a stove. It wasn’t an issue with all of the restaurants nearby in Downtown Mystic. Mystic Market West is also a 5 minute walk — where you can get sandwiches, sides, salads, groceries, etc.
If you’re coming to have a Hallmark Christmas stay — Mystic Christmas was filmed on the first floor of the Bluff House and the Nantucket Cottage.
Great communication from the hosts! I had an issue with the unit and texted them. Within minutes, I heard back from them and they resolved the issue.
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT HARBOR VIEW LANDING
It’s a perfect spot for weddings, a family reunion, birthday party or a retreat. I’m amazed how this is located in Mystic — it feels like a vacation resort. I had to catch myself a few times remembering that I’m still in Mystic. If it caught the eyes of Hallmark production to film there, you can understand why it’s a beautiful setting for your stay!
BOOKING INFORMATION
How to have a Hallmark Christmas in Mystic, Connecticut
Before the 2023 holidays season began, Hallmark graced us with a movie based in Mystic, Connecticut. The movie, Mystic Christmas starred Jessy Schram, Chandler Massey and Patti Murin. We follow Juniper (Jessy Schram) who comes to Mystic to work at the rehabilitation center at Mystic Aquarium. She previously had a fling with Sawyer (Chandler Massey) who owns a pizza shop. They reconnected again and Juniper has to decide if she wants to stay in Mystic permanently. Fun fact: Tim from Mystic Pizza movie made an appearance in this movie too!
This movie is a love letter to Mystic! It was so fun to recognize all the familiar places in the movie. I thought I’d share here how you can re-create your own version of Mystic Christmas by visiting the filming locations:
MYSTIC AQUARIUM
It’s a real life aquarium with a rehabilitation center! Mystic Aquarium has a rehabilitation center helping rescued seals from beaches across CT and beyond. During the day hours, you can attend a seal show. That’s always my favorite part! To add a Christmas touch to your visit at the aquarium, I’d recommend you to check out the Home for Holidays — Lights Extravaganza event. It happens on selected nights where you can have a holiday stroll through the aquarium at night, enjoy the aquarium decorated in holiday lights.
MANGO’S PIZZA
The pizza shop is based at Mango’s Pizza in Olde Mistick Village. The pizza are really good, even earned a visit from Barstool Pizza Review with Dave Portnoy. The environment is very cozy and perfect for a lunch during your Christmas visit to Mystic.
SIFT BAKE SHOP
There is a lot of love for Sift in Mystic! It made quite a few appearances in the movie. I highly recommend you to go visit early in the morning before the lines gets long (trust me, they do!). You can’t go wrong with any pastries they offer from croissants, macarons, cookies and more. During the month of December, they have specials such as peppermint croissant and peppermint macarons.
FRIAR TUCK’S TAVERN
One scene in the movie showed the crew going to Friar Tuck’s Tavern for trivia night. I love eating at Friar Tuck’s and have been since they opened in their old location! They do host trivia nights so be sure to check their social media for specific nights. The bar is also decorated with the cutest Santa sleeves on the chairs.
HARBOR VIEW LANDING
The two homes (Candice’s house and the one Junpier stayed in) are located at Harbor View Landing. It is a luxury waterfront stay that you can rent. Make a weekend out of it and stay in the very house where they filmed (either Bluff House Floor 1 or Nantucket Cottage)!
DOWNTOWN MYSTIC & RIVER PARK
Several scenes shows Junpier and Sawyer walking across the drawbridge and the festival in Mystic River Park. While there won’t be a festival, you can enjoy the Christmas tree in the park! The downtown area is also decorated for the holidays where you can support the small businesses!
BANK SQUARE BOOKS
In one of the scenes, they went to Bank Square Books to pick out books for each other. While the filming location was at the former location in Downtown, they have since then moved to Stonington town line (80 Stonington Rd). The charm and books selection are the same at the new location. Worth a stop to pick up your holiday reads!
MYSTIC SEAPORT MUSEUM
There were many scenes filmed at Mystic Seaport Museum. South Entrance building was featured as the train station and where they had the town meetings in the movie.
Anchor Cafe and Sweets was where Junpier meets Sawyer again. It is a cafe located in the Mystic Seaport Museum gift shop offering food and drinks.
In the opening scene when Juniper was at a holiday party for work, it was inside the North Entrance building.
Lantern Lights Village was featured in the movie too. It is an annual event happening at Mystic Seaport Museum during December on selected nights. Be sure to check their website for more details and information.
Several more scenes were filmed at the Seaport. It is a beautiful grounds with seafaring history. December is one of my favorite months to visit because the grounds is decorated with beautiful seasonal garlands and wreaths.
HOLIDAY LIGHTED BOAT PARADE
The annual lighted boat parade was featured in the movie. The event has passed for 2024, but if you’re considering to come to Mystic for a future Christmas themed trip — definitely look into coming for the parade! It’s unique and always fun.
ABBOTT’S LOBSTER
The filming location took place at Abbott’s Outpost in Downtown Mystic which is no longer opened anymore. I do suggest a visit to Abbott’s in Noank during spring/summer!
ESKER POINT BEACH
The seal release in the movie happened at Esker Point Beach in Groton, Connecticut. While you won’t see an actual seal release (unfortunately!), the scenery at Esker is beautiful. From the shore, you can see Morgan Point Lighthouse and Mouse Island (an island with three homes). It is a small beach so it would be a quick stop to appreciate the beautiful shoreline.
Mystic is a beautiful coastal town with charm! Especially during the holidays. I’m so glad that Hallmark could see that and decided to capture it in the movie. I’m not the biggest fan of cheesy movies but this was a very well done movie portraying Mystic at Christmas time. There is plenty more to do in Mystic during Christmas which you can read more here: Celebrate Christmas in Mystic, Connecticut.
Happy Holidays!
Celebrate Christmas in Mystic, Connecticut
’Tis the season! One of the best time of the year is when Mystic gets festive for the holidays. As a Mystic local, I’ve got all the best recommendations for you. Here are some events happening in November & December that you can’t miss!
MONTH LONG EVENTS:
Enjoy the largest lights display at Olde Mistick Village
The lights show usually begins around Thanksgiving week. It is the largest lights display in southern New England region with over half a million lights! It’s decorated through out the village. You can also pop in the small shops to do some holidays shopping or dine at one of the establishments there.
Dine at Santa’s Sleigh Station
Taquerio converted to Santa’s Sleigh Station for the winter. Enjoy the food and drinks from their Christmas menu (they also offer the regular menu). The restaurant is decked out in Christmas decor inside and outside! While you dine, there are several Christmas classic movies playing throughout the restaurant. Read more about it here.
Home for the Holidays - Lights Extravaganza at Mystic Aquarium
The aquarium is decorated with festive lights that you can enjoy in the evenings. You will be able to see the beluga whales. There are photo opportunities and refreshments available to purchase. Also if you look at the schedule here, you’ll see a special guest!
ON SATURDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING:
Watch Santa’s Arrival on Tug Boat
Santa arrives on the John Paul tug boat to the Mystic River Park. You will have photo opportunities with Santa and the Mystic Park Christmas tree.
Attend the Mystic Christmas tree lighting
Right before the lighted boat parade, the Christmas tree in the park will be lit.
Enjoy the festive Holiday Lighted Boat Parade
I love this annual tradition where people decorate their boats! I’ve seen many creative ones over the years and it never gets old. It does get crowded so I suggest getting there early to get a good spot on the boardwalk in Mystic River Park!
Support the mom and pop shops for Small Business Saturday
It’s a day to support the independently owned shops and you can’t beat the friendly customer services. I’ve listed all of my favorite Mystic shops here.
SPECIFIC DATES:
Get in the holiday spirits at the Downtown Mystic Holiday Stroll
The community spirit is high during this annual event on the first Tuesday of December! The shops in Downtown Mystic stay open late and some offer free finger foods/beverage. There are several musical groups performing through out Downtown — whether it’s a band or caroling group. You’ll also see some characters such as Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Reindeers and even the Grinch!
Transport back to 1876 during Lantern Light Village at Mystic Seaport Museum
At this event, you’ll see townspeople dressed from that time period and share stories. There are other activities such as horse-drawn carriage rides, bonfires, carolers, games and more! It’s a popular event in Mystic that can’t be missed. For the dates and times, please visit their website here.
Follow @knotsoloud on Instagram for more recommendations in Mystic, CT!
A festive dining experience at Santa's Sleigh Station
It’s the best time of the year when all the festivities are happening after Thanksgiving through December. From Santa’s arrival on the tug boat, the lighted boat parade, supporting local businesses for Small Business Saturday and the Downtown holiday stroll. I have a NEW suggestion to add to your holiday festivities in Mystic!
For the first time this year, Taquerio converted to a Winter Wonderland! Taquerio is the restaurant located in a vintage gas station offering tacos, margaritas and more. This winter wonderland has been renamed SANTA’S SLEIGH STATION. I went there this past week to check it out and I LOVED IT! It definitely got me in the spirit so much that I came home to watch a Christmas movie.
The restaurant space is decked out in Christmas — like those fancy restaurants in New York City with ornaments on the ceiling, Christmas dishes, etc that you have seen across Instagram. I’ve always had the FOMO (fear of missing out) when I see those social media posts but now we can see it right here in Mystic!
Outside of Santa’s Sleigh Station is decked out with many inflatables, Christmas decor, a curling game you can play and a couple photo stations. Once you go inside, there’s a wall plastered with wish lists to Santa from kids (a bit of nostalgia!). Also more of nostalgia inside the restaurant where there’s several classic Christmas movies playing. There are multiple screens — I saw Home Alone, Grinch, It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street to name a few. The back room is Frozen-themed with icicles hanging from the ceiling and dimmed blue lighting. The bar is decked out with many Christmas ornaments or decor. It was a great conversation piece as my companion and I enjoyed spotting some familiar objects. The bar had the infamous leg lamp from A Christmas Story, there was a Battle Plan map from Home Alone, even something from the Die Hard movie.
The menu was Christmas themed — many dishes or drinks were named after the classics. I spotted ‘Buddy’s Spaghetti’ which is the very same recipe from Elf movie. Spaghetti with maple syrup, candy, chocolate syrup, marshmallows, sprinkles and pop tart. I asked the server about if anyone else had been brave to try it. Since the opening (which was 3 days prior to my dining there), they served 15 of them so far! I was hoping to see one in person but no luck!
The night I dined there, I spotted the appetizer — Santa Salsa and Chips, red and green chips on every single table all around me. They have their regular menu (Taquerio) items, which is very gluten free friendly. The menu is marked well with items that can be made GF or items that already are GF. It is one of the most GF friendly restaurants in Mystic area. I ordered a few tacos and the nachos appetizer. My companion (who is not GF) ordered the chicken and waffles off the Christmas menu. I also had the delicious frozen hot chocolate! We enjoyed everything as it all tasted wonderful!
I absolutely love this addition to the holiday festivities in Mystic. It was such a fun dining experience. They really went all in for Christmas! It took them 3 1/2 days to convert this into Santa’s Sleigh Station. It’s well worth the stop there. I know it won’t be my only visit there.
Visit their website here.
GALLERY: Whittle's Farm [Oct 2024]
Photographed at Whittle’s Farm in October 2024.
GALLERY: FireFighter returns to Mystic [Oct 2024]
Photographed on October 28, 2024 when FireFighter returned to Mystic Seaport Museum from maintenance work in Rhode Island.
A stay at Farmhouse Mystic
One thing about me is that I love to see how people decorate their homes. In Mystic, there are several Airbnbs and it’s always so interesting to see how the owners tie in Mystic into the theme of the home decor. Farmhouse Mystic was no expectation. I’ve followed Michelle, the owner of Farmhouse Mystic, for a couple years (Farmhouse started in 2022) and I’ve admired the beauty of the house through Instagram. Needlessly, I was thrilled to finally have the chance to stay there. Michelle graciously gifted me a two nights stay in the Farmhouse.
Farmhouse in Mystic, Connecticut.
ABOUT FARMHOUSE
Farmhouse is located in Mystic, within walking distance of Mystic Seaport and Downtown. A historical farmhouse built in 1876 with 3 bedrooms (4 beds) and 2 full bathrooms. It can welcome up to 8 guests who book for a minimum of 3 nights. A beautiful coastal farmhouse style is decorated throughout the home. The house has a sunroom, front porch, back patio, spacious yard with a bonfire pit and a private driveway.
Checking in!
The upstairs living room.
Beautiful natural light.
One of the three bedrooms.
The living room downstairs is well stocked with books!
MY FIRST IMPRESSION
It was easy to find the house. I was greeted by Michelle, who always greet every guest that stays at Farmhouse. She showed me around the house and made sure that I knew where everything was. She also explains about the attractions of the Mystic area to out of town visitors. She left me coffee/milk/cream, alcohol (beer/wine), and a seasonal treat! I don’t know if Michelle realizes how addicted I am to maple syrup but she left me maple flavored popcorn.
I was blown away by the beautiful details she put into this house. I saw a lot of Mystic throughout: books, wall prints, products from local businesses, and many more. I also loved the coastal farmhouse theme. I was in love with many objects around the house that I took notes for my home!
The house is very clean and well organized as things are labeled throughout the different rooms. Michelle makes herself available if her guests run into any issues.
Having dinner in the kitchen on the first night!
Artistic painting of Farmhouse.
The wrapped sunroom.
MY STAY
My favorite parts of the stay was the huge bathtub, the upstairs living room and the kitchen. I spent a lot of time eating in the kitchen and enjoying the beautiful natural lighting (no matter what time of the day). I took advantage of the bathtub both nights I was there for — Michelle even left a bottle of bubble bath! The living room upstairs is so beautiful that I was in awe of the decor. I enjoyed a good book at the end of the day on the cozy couch.
It was also difficult to pick which bedroom to stay in because they all were beautiful and inviting! Michelle showed me where the sun rises and sets, I picked the bedroom where the morning light would come in. During my stay, the full moon made its appearance so I fell asleep under it shining in, then woke up to the peaceful morning light!
I had some down time to look through the Farmhouse History Book. It contained the history of the house including property deeds and past owner through the years. There was also some historical information about the area and its notable figures. I loved that!
Always checking out the books selections!
Morning time with news and coffee.
Prepping for a bonfire.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT FARMHOUSE
During my stay at Farmhouse, I took a peek through the guest book (I always love to see what others have to say about their experiences!) and there was a common theme of: charming and quaint house, amenities it has to offer, comfortable place to relax, the details in the house. Many families have stayed here for college graduations (UConn Avery Point, Coast Guard Academy and Conn College). There were also many girls weekends/bachelorette weekends. One family even celebrated Thanksgiving there!
Endless compliments about the host! Michelle leaves personalized gifts for the guests. I read in the guestbook that she did a dinosaur hunt for a family with kids, put up holiday decors for a family who stayed there during the holidays and even had Coast Guard Academy cupcakes for a graduate’s family!!
On the Airbnb listing, the Farmhouse is highly ranked in the top 1% of homes based on reviews, ratings, and reliability. On VRBO listing, there’s a rating of 10 for exceptional. It is a guest favorite and one of the most loved homes in the Mystic area!
Enjoying the maple popcorn the host left for me!
WHY YOU SHOULD STAY AT FARMHOUSE
The location of Farmhouse is in an unbeatable location in Mystic. While it is close enough to Downtown, you still have space away from the bustle. It is in a quiet neighborhood. You have the choice to drive or walk to Downtown, it is about 6-10 minute walk (depending on where specifically). It’s also close to Mystic Seaport Museum where you can easily spend an entire day there.
Mystic is known for the restaurants. There are many nearby Farmhouse. If you enjoy Chinese, you’re right around the corner from Wokery in Mystic. A short walk to Lis Bake Shop for breakfast/coffee, Engine Room or Anthony J’s Bistro for lunch/dinner.
Michelle is the ultimate host (direct words from a guest’s comment). She truly has thought of all the amenities you would need for your stay. She goes beyond to include many little things you would’ve not thought of. I always have to travel with a lint roller (dog owners, if you know, you know!) and I do not recall ever seeing them in other stays that I’ve been to. With the bonfire pit in the backyard, there’s even s’mores kit (marshmallows, graham crackers, Hershey chocolates, Reeses cup and rice Krispies treats). The house didn’t have just the basics, but everything! That’s why it feels truly like home away from home.
Looking at the weather outside to decide what to wear for the day!
Morning in the kitchen.
One of products from local businesses in Mystic in the house.
I really enjoyed my stay at Farmhouse and it was hard to leave! I will look back at this stay as a great memory. I badly wanted to share about the stay WHILE I was there. I never do in real time due to safety reasons, but that’s how excited I was to share all about the Farmhouse! Thank you Michelle for being such a gracious host. All opinions are my own.
Got to see one of the most beautiful sunset from the front porch!