Connecticut

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It really helps to have friends and coworkers who love to travel. Aside from blogs, most of the places we visit on our travels come from friends. When we were planning our weekend getaway to the Inn at Mystic, I spent a lot time asking around for places to visit in Mystic, especially restaurants. The Oyster Club came up as a recommendation again and again, and it became a must-visit for our trip.

Oyster Club Mystic

Oyster Club is located in downtown Mystic steps from the harbor. It features an outdoor “tree house” sitting area that wasn’t open for the season yet, but that would be well worth a visit now that it’s nice out.

Oyster Club Tree House We arrived at around 1:30 for lunch, and the Oyster Club bar and dining room were both bustling with activity. Everyone was super friendly, and we didn’t mind waiting a few minutes for a table to be cleared.

oyster club wine

We were soon whisked over to a table by the window, sweet wildflowers providing a burst of seasonal color.

wildflowers

There’s always something to celebrate, so we toasted with a glass of pink bubbly and the house Dark n Stormy.

cocktails

At the Oyster Club, you have to get oysters, and I have been having huge oyster cravings lately. We stuck with a dozen briny, medium-sized Fischer Island oysters, and as always, I could have eaten a dozen more. What is it about oysters?

oysters

It was a bright and sunny day, but the air still had a cold bite to it, so a bowl of the Oyster Club quahog chowder was a hot, filling must-have. Chunks of potato, bacon, and clams were brought together by a light cream broth. It was a really excellent chowder.

clam chowder

The Oyster Club was a really great recommendation and a place that I would visit again on another trip to Mystic. If you have a plan to visit Mystic anytime soon and are a fan of oysters and other seafood, definitely add it to your itinerary.

Tags: Connecticut, mystic, oysters, Travel, travel blog, Travel Tuesday

I’ve been going on and on for years about how great some Massachusetts wines can be. Longtime readers and friends know I recommend Travessia every chance I get, and I have also enjoyed many trips to Westport Rivers; their Farmer’s Fizz was our bubbly of the summer last year!

I knew little about Connecticut wine though, and this weekend while visiting Mystic and dining at the Harbour House, I learned CT is making some excellent wines.

 

Saltwater Farm Vineyard

We spent part of Sunday visiting two Connecticut wineries, which included a relaxing stop at Saltwater Farm Vineyard. Surrounded by salt marshes and countryside, the vineyard was beautiful and serene, a lovely place on a cloudy spring day, so I can imagine it would be gorgeous in the summer.

 

Saltwater Farm Vineyard

The winery building is an old airplane hangar with high ceilings, beautiful wood, and lots of nice little touches. A wedding the night before had left their lights strung up, and it added a twinkly magic to the afternoon. Or maybe that was the wine? 🙂

Saltwater Farm Vineyard

We did a tasting of all of the available wines. After our night at the Inn at Mystic, I was very familiar with the Saltwater Farm rosé of Cabernet. This wine is right up my alley, super dry and crisp with fresh strawberry notes.

 

Saltwater Farm rose

Other favorites included the Gold Arc Estate Chardonnay, barrel aged for toasty coconut notes with a lemony background. Connecticut, like Long Island, can be great for growing Chardonnay grapes.

Saltwater Farm Chardonnay

Ever being a lover of Cabernet Franc, I was a huge fan of Saltwater Farm’s Cab Franc – Merlot, mixing spice and earth with juicy berries for a beautiful wine and new favorite. You better believe a few bottles were tucked away for us to add to our collection.

wine tasting at Saltwater Farm Vineyard

Saltwater Farm is a great stop along a Mystic getaway, and the wines, scenery, and friendly staff make it well worth the visit. Cheers to #WineWednesday!

Tags: chardonnay, Connecticut, rose, rose wine, vineyard, wine, wine travel, Wine Wednesday

It was a beautiful New England weekend, perfect for a getaway to Mystic, Connecticut. The kind people at the Inn at Mystic  invited us to be their guests for a night, and since I hadn’t been to Mystic since I was very young, we were excited to make a weekend of it.

There’s a ton to do in Mystic, including shopping, great eating, visiting the Mystic Seaport and all of the historic boats, and I will share more on that later. Our home base for the trip, Inn at Mystic, could not have been better. Located just at the edge of town, the inn is perched atop a hill, giving it stunning views of Mystic Harbor and Fischer’s Island Sound.

inn at mystic

Everyone at the inn, and everyone in Mystic, in fact, was really friendly and welcoming. It’s a happy little town, and being that it’s so beautiful, it’s easy to see why.

Our room was absolutely lovely. My favorite features included a gigantic Jacuzzi tub and a wood burning fireplace, along with our balcony with beautiful views.

Inn at Mystic Jaccuzzi

Decor was simple and classic, blues, whites, and browns creating a relaxing and comfortable vibe. The room featured a variety of high end toiletries and a coffee maker, both nice touches. Every little comfort was thought of, and we felt so well taken care of.

 

Inn at MysticInn at Mystic

 

The Inn at Mystic’s restaurant Harbour House shares the stunning views that our room had, and offers guests an expansive patio for enjoying food and drink and a bit of sunshine.

 

Harbour House Mystic

Inside the restaurant was equally as sunny and bright. What an inviting space!

Harbour House Mystic

The bar had a great cocktail menu, and I had a delicious Manhattan during Happy Hour while we chatted about our day and started to get hungry for dinner.

Inn at Mystic cocktails

 

Our stay generously included dinner at Harbour House, and we stuck with the seafood theme we had kicked off at lunch. Ahi Tuna Tacos were some of the best fish tacos I have ever had. I don’t need to eat fried fish tacos ever again! Everything in the tacos was bursting with flavor, citrus, spice, and an addictive wasabi dipping sauce.

 

 

Harbour House dinner

 

The seafood tower we ordered was the stuff of my dreams. Giant shrimp, lobster, clams, and oysters, all with spicy cocktail sauce and mignonette made for a filling and healthy dinner. It also provided fuel for dancing into the night.

 

seafood tower

 

Harbour House was just getting started when we finished dinner, so some Connecticut wine and dancing rounded out our night, all in all a beautiful and really fun experience. The Inn at Mystic went above and beyond and clearly knew the true meaning of hospitality from start to finish. I would return again in a heartbeat; in fact I am trying to convince family and friends to meet us there for a weekend getaway.

Mystic CT sunset

 

The Inn at Mystic welcomed us as their guests, and our room, dinner, and breakfast were hosted. All opinions are my own. 

Tags: Connecticut, CT, hotels, inns, Travel, travel blog

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