Into the Mystic

Other than a good pint of ale and a superb piece of Yankee Pot Roast at the Griswold Inn in Essex, I’ve maintained a somewhat fleeting relationship with coastal Connecticut over the years. In my haste to reach those favored tidal sanctuaries north of the “Constitution State,” I’ve all too often overlooked those delightful and interesting communities that have greatly contributed to New England’s rich nautical history. During a recent run up to Rhode Island, I made it a point to have a long leisurely lunch in the seaport village of Mystic.

 

Besides being known for its world-class maritime museum, Mystic offers a charming waterside retreat for those road-weary warriors that have had enough of the rush on nearby Route 95. There are a number of good pubs in town, but my favorite spot to watch life go by on the Mystic River is in the upstairs taproom at the S&P Oyster Company.

From this exceptional vantage point one can watch the hourly raising of the bascule bridge that allows safe passage to the tall ships, and those commercial and pleasure boats that make  these southern New England waters home.

Mystic is one of those places that allows us to see that the quality of ones journey is not just about where we’ve been, or where we are going–but it is also about those stops that we make along the way.

Posted by: Chris Poh, American Public House Review  

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