Driving from Annapolis MD to Mystic CT
 

Hi Fodorites

We are taking an excursion to Mystic Ct and decided to make it an enjoyable time. We're looking for any enjoyable places to stop, look, and see the sights.

We'll also be looking for sights not to be missed in Mystic. So thanks in advance for your help.
LN

Hi LN - if you give me some more info I could help you a lot more - how many people, what ages, what's your budget, what are your likes and dislikes (for ex., like hiking, hate shopping...). Then we'll get you started...

Oh, and when you're coming, too - the summer schedules from places like Mystic Seaport, etc., are out for various lobsterfests, etc.

Also, how many days' activities do you want?

I agree with AHaugeto & Howard about giving more info. How long do you want this trip to take before you get there? When & what
day(s) of the week are you traveling? Summer Fridays can be murder. Do you want to stop in NYC or do you want to avoid it?

One thing you might consider to break up the drive, maybe in one direction, is taking the ferry between Port Jefferson, Long Island (NY) and Bridgeport, CT. It won't really cut down on miles. You'd just head east or west on LI rather than on I-95 in CT. Here's the website for info
http://www.bpjferry.com/2-12-2004.htm

There's also a ferry between Montauk LI, (at the eastern tip of LI) and New London, CT. Montauk has fabulous beaches, good seafood & a lighthouse. It would also take you through the Hamptons which are quite picturesque but also very busy in summer.

There are a number of previous threads on Mystic if you do a text search. :S-

the New London - Montauk ferry is a passenger ferry.

The New London - Orient Point ferry carries vehicles and passengers. Orient Point is the tip of the north shore.

Wow - what great response!!

Number of people 2 - hubby & me

time period - next week (nothing like taking advantage of good weather)

We have set aside a week but can take up to 9 or 10 days.

Sight seeing!! We're history buffs and since we're from an old town too - we love to walk and explore old towns but not really hiking per se.

Not really into upscale B & B's - enjoy nice, comfortable motel/hotels.

Shopping?? No - enough outlets around here

Ages?/ Middle-aged

Hope this is enough to help. I'll check out the New London - Orient Point ferry on the maps. That sounds pretty good.

If it were me and I had that kind of time I might also check out Bucks County, PA (New Hope/Doylestown), and the Stormking area of NJ near the Palisades Parkway.

I live in the DC area and am originally from CT, so I know this drive. I have to tell you I would get past NYC as quickly as possible and get a room somewhere along 95 for the night. The traffic on 95 in CT can be of epic proportions.

There are some cute shore towns once you get east of New Haven. Until that point, well, I just want to get beyond the point where 95 goes east and the other road (81?) goes north. The problem is the beach traffic so you may have some slow going.

Hi, again LN. Next week is good because the height of the beach season won't have started. I agree with the Bucks County suggestion (New Hope, Pa., Doylestown & Lambertville, NJ.) There have been several threads here on the area so by doing a text search you should get more info. I've never stayed in a hotel/motel in that area, but there's a place called the Stockton Inn in Stockton (where I've eaten) that was immortalized in the Rogers & Hart song "There's a small hotel" (with a wishing well). This place is it. It doesn't look grand & seems more like a motel. In searching for contact info for you, I found this website

http://www.pedal-pa.com/river_ramble.html

which describes a river ramble biking weekend for next weekend. Not suggesting you join them, but the website mentions historic places of interest (including the spot where Washington crossed the Delaware) & a number of other places to stay including a Best Western with an indoor pool.

As I said earlier, you might want to head east via CT on I 95 & then go back via LI by taking the ferry-or vice versa. Thanks to Ronkala for correcting my info on the Montauk ferry. Here's the ferry website for New London/Orient Point.

http://www.longislandferry.com/

If you come or go through Orient Point, you can then drive west on the north fork of LI where there are now many vineyards/wineries to visit. If you want to go to Montauk and/or the Hamptons on the south fork, you'll have to take 2 more SHORT ferry rides-Greenport to Shelter Island-then drive from the north to the south side of Shelter Island (this is a <i>charming</i> Victorian era place. Stop &amp; have a look around) &amp; take a really short ferry from Shelter Island to Sag Harbor. From there you'll have to drive about 40 mins west to get to Montauk to see the lighthouse etc. No reservations are needed on the 2 ferries to Shelter Island. The south ferry between SI &amp; Sag Harbor seems always to be much quicker than the north ferry.

Have fun &amp; post back if you need more info. I can tell you about places to stay on the south fork if you want, but decide where you'd like to be.

Hi again Fodorites

Thank you for the assistance you've given. We're looking forward to starting out on our trip tomorrow.

The ferry sounds really great for out return trip and since most feel that we should get ahead of NY I guess we'll head straight up and start finding neat places around Mystic.

We've been to Bucks County PA a number of times so we won't be stopping there but we will try to check out the Stockton Inn the next time we're near.

Mclaurie - you have a very descriptive way of helping people. It's great and I'm sure most everyone you help feels as I do - thanks very much.

Thanks to all of you - I know we'll have a great time getting to mystic and visiting all the special places around there.

Hi again LN - if you want info on local events and attractions for your trip, check out www.mycoast.com - if you'll be up early this coming Friday, there's a very nice wine and food festival at the Garde Arts center in New London, and I think the shad festival is going on this weekend in Essex, a beautiful and historic town up Route 9 on the Connecticut river (about 35 mins. or so from Mystic).

As far as cool sights, I always recommend the excellent US Submarine Museum just up Route 12 in nearby Groton, where you can tour the world's first nuclear submarine and see all kinds of exhibits from plans for the Confederate Hunley up to the modern-day Seawolf and Virginia Class boats. I especially like the flags sewn by each submariner crew during WWII, and there's one from a boat where the crew actually went ashore in Japan and blew up a train - Jack Aubrey lives!! You'll probably also enjoy Mystic Seaport (maybe skip the aquarium - Baltimore's is so much better!) and in Mystic I'd recommend eating in the downstairs pub at the Capt. Daniel Packer Inne at the end of Water street (most places downtown are tourist traps, with the exception of Drawbridge ice cream - their Mystic Mud is great).

If you continue down Route 1 Eastbound through Mystic you'll eventually get to Stonington Borough, a beautiful waterside enclave teeming with New England architecture and antique shops. Take their Water street to the end to get to the Point, where you can park and enjoy the view of three states - RI, NY, and CT - and then backtrack to have dinner at the excellent Water Street Cafe, run by a husband and wife team. Their stonington shrimp and scallop dishes are superb.

Another unique and historic museum here is the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, next to Foxwoods casino up Route 2 off of exit 92 from 95 in Stonington. I skeptically went a few years ago and was blown away - they have spent serious, serious cash on this to make it beautiful, informative, and almost completely interactive. You can spend a few hours there, easy.

Anyways, have a great time, and let us know how it goes!!

Thanks

I thought I'd do a last minute check and Voila!!

Great info AHaughto -looking forward to this very much - and we're off

Thanks everyone for your great help
LN

Would you believe??

We were driving north on I-97 towards Baltimore when the cell phone rang --

No need to go to Mystic - meeting has been cancelled!!

I'm disappointed and hope that I do get thee sometime over the summer. Again thanks for all your assistance - I've added all that wealth of knowledge to a file for future use.