Mystic is a small coastal village with a name bigger than its size, split between Groton and Stonington on the Mystic River. It made its money building ships, then reinvented itself as one of New England's most appealing maritime stops: wooden boats, a working drawbridge, clapboard houses, seafood, and enough salt air to make the tourist polish forgivable.
The essential stop is Mystic Seaport Museum, a sprawling waterfront museum with historic vessels, a recreated seafaring village, and the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship of its kind. Mystic Aquarium is the other big draw, especially for families.
Downtown is compact and easy to like. The Mystic River Bascule Bridge lifts for boat traffic, shops crowd the riverbanks, and Mystic Pizza still trades on the film that made its name famous. For a quieter day, head toward Noank, Stonington Borough, or the nature trails around Pequotsepos.