Photo courtesy of Vanessa Vanacore
If the words "let's make a charcuterie board" get you warm and fuzzy while the words "where's the after party?" make you straight-up shudder... Connecticut looks good on you, babe.
Sailboats (real ones know they're called pontoons), rocky New England shores, ice cream runs at the creamery and sunsets by the marina are the extent of the noise, and we're okay with that. So is Vanessa Vanacore.
We've tapped the lifestyle influencer, CT native and city-dweller @alwaysvaness for some rural inspo this summer, and by rural, we mean "not the Hamptons" rural. Like, Compo Beach at sunset is as close to Surf Lodge as it gets, kind of rural.
Thanks to @alwaysvaness and her careful curation, you're now privy to a three-day summer weekend itinerary to the best of coastal Connecticut, starting with Mystic as your home base.
Mystic, Connecticut is a beautiful coastal town in the Southeast corner of Connecticut (about a 2.5-hour drive from NYC or a 3-hour train ride via Amtrak.)
Home to dozens of cute boutiques and plenty of delicious seafood restaurants, Mystic is what I refer to as a less crowded Hamptons with the same beautiful views.
I think it’s the perfect summer destination for those looking for something a bit more relaxing and low-key compared to the Hamptons or Jersey Shore.
The Inn at Mystic: Right along the river, charming and quintessentially New England. During the summer, they have an outdoor pool and a great on-site restaurant called the Harbor House. Stay includes complimentary breakfast each morning. Website
The Inn at Mystic
The Whaler’s Inn: Beautiful and historic, located right in downtown Mystic. Walking distance from the Mystic River Bascule Bridge and all of the stores on East and West Main Street. Website
Hilton Mystic: Brand new, a bit more affordable, right next door to the infamous aquarium. Two miles from East and West Main Street. Website
Head to Downtown Mystic to shop the boutiques along Main Street and grab an iced coffee, breakfast sandwich or pastry at Sift Bake Shop.
Take a boat tour aboard the Schooner Argia, which sails from the Steamboat Wharf in downtown Mystic around Fishers Island Sound. You’ll see plenty of gorgeous lighthouses along the route. These boats can accommodate 49 people, but it fills up very quickly so be sure to book well in advance.
Schooner Argia
Grab an early dinner and drinks along the water at Daniel Packer Inne, one of the most iconic Mystic restaurants. Be sure to order the Connecticut-style lobster roll while you’re there (warm and buttered as opposed to cold and covered in mayo).
Captain David Packer Inne
Grab breakfast at the Mystic Diner and head over to the Olde Mistick Village for some unique shopping inside a center designed to look like a historic 1720s-style colonial village. There are more than 60 unique shops – like Alice in the Village, Munson’s Chocolates and Gineva Murano Glass Jewelry (made with hand-blown glass from Murano, Italy).
Olde Mistick Village
Relax on the beach: You have several options for beaches here. Locally, you can check out Williams Beach Park, which is Mystic’s only public beach. It’s small with calm waters. For a bit more excitement, you can drive 30 minutes into Rhode Island for Misquamicut Beach.
There’s also Watch Hill Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island (Taylor Swift famously has a house here). Watch Hill is absolutely gorgeous and a bit more elevated. If you plan on visiting, try to arrive earlier in the day because parking can be tricky.
Watch Hill, RI
Head back to Mystic at night to try an indulgent dinner at La Plage. Other great options include Engine Room, S&P Oyster, Port of Call and The Shipwright’s Daughter.
Time to make your way back to New York, but there is so much more of Connecticut to see on the route back.
If you can’t get enough of the quaint New England vibes of the shoreline, be sure to stop in Old Saybrook, Madison or Guilford for beautiful downtown areas filled with shopping, ice cream and plenty of places to grab a lobster roll.
If you’re a foodie, stop in New Haven and go on a mini pizza tour of Sally’s, Pepe’s, Modern and BAR. They’re all renowned for having some of the best pizzas in the country.
BAR in New Haven
If you’re looking for a more elevated experience, try Westport or Greenwich. (Literally just driving through Greenwich feels like you’re inside a museum — every house is a beautiful work of art.) Both towns have downtown areas filled with tons of shopping and restaurants to explore.
Greenwich, CT