djkbooks

We stayed at the Microtel in Uncasville, an easy 2.5 mile drive from Mohegan Sun. The Microtel is excellent for an economy hotel. There’s a Super Shop & Save (Starbucks within) behind and a Chili’s to the side. We had tickets for The Smothers Brothers in the cabaret, a fabulous venue. Tickets are general admission, so you go when the doors open, are assigned seats, and can wander about (or order cocktails) until the show begins. Beautiful room, no bad seats. Fantastic show! Also had tickets for Dancing with the Stars in the Arena. Very nice arena. Spectacular show! Had burgers and shakes at Johnny Rocket’s. Very good. Wait staff performs - great fun. Enjoyed terrific steak (filet tips) sandwiches (with wonderful fries and cole slaw) at the Uncas American Indian Grill (a very nice dining area with moderate prices). Wandered all about the casinos, but did no gambling.

One day, we drove to Bill’s Seafood in Westbrook, a delightful casual waterside restaurant. Huge deck with umbrella tables right on the water. Fresh, expertly prepared, seafood. Drove the scenic route back, stopping at Harkness Memorial State Park - a gorgeous waterfront estate (with back to back weddings). Note that “nominal parking fee” is $7.50, $10 with out of state plates. Another day, we headed to Mystic for a wonderful lunch at S & P Oyster Company, located right next to the drawbridge with umbrella tables on a lovely deck. Excellent food. We also enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Skipper’s Dock in Stonington (also with umbrella tables on a beautiful deck overlooking the marina) in the very romantic dining room. Appealing menu with fantastic food.

While in Mystic, we went to the Aquarium (excellent) and poked around the shops in Olde Mystic Village. Grey Goose is kitchenware heaven! Though Mystic was very busy, there were no traffic problems at all.

Drove the scenic route to Newport, where we stayed at the Newport Harbor Hotel (booked with Hotwire). This hotel is very nice and well located within walking distance to shops and restaurants. We love The Mooring for it’s awesome location on Sayer’s Wharf and the imaginative seafood menu. A bag of donuts is not to be missed! Incredible gelato at Cold Fusion. We drove the 10-mile drive and loved the Sunset Sail on the Adirondack II. Also had an amazing, leisurely, lunch at Castle Hill Inn, a gorgeous property where it’s wonderful to relax and watch the boats go by. Newport, too, was busy, but no traffic problems.

For several days, we were back and forth, here and there, on I-95 in Connecticut. No traffic problems whatsoever. On Sunday, we noted quite a bit of traffic going toward New York, but it was moving normally. Driving to Newport on a Sunday was just fine.

AmyCal

HI it is kind of last minute, but we are tacking on a visit to Mohegan Sun prior to our week in Cape Cod. We plan to drive from Uncasville to the Cape on Sunday stopping in Newport - what is the scenic route you took? Google maps recommends I95 most of the way, but we might prefer the scenic way!
Thanks

djkbooks

If you want to drive through Mystic, take Exit 90, south on Route 27, East on Route 1. S&P Oysters at the drawbridge is a terrific place to stop for lunch. Phone ahead and you'll be seated ahead of the walk-ups.

Otherwise, take Exit 91 and head for Stonington. If you haven't had lunch yet, Skipper's Dock is fantastic. Then take Route 1A East (signs probably read North) and just keep following that.

If you don't care to bother with Mystic or Stonington (both lovely seaside towns), take Exit 92 and then Route 2 South to Route 1A East (North). Follow the signs to Misquamicut State Beach, which is on Atlantic Ave. and right along the shore with a lake on the other side. Go as far as you can and take a left on Noyes Neck Rd, which will take you back to 1A which becomes Route 1. Beautiful as you drive past Burlingame State Park on the left and Ninigret Park/National Wildlife Refuge. Then, you can take either Route 1 or 1A, the same road in some sections, but you should stay on 1A and ride to Narragansett Pier. From there, if you like, go south on Ocean Road past Scarborough State Beach, Wheeler State Park, etc, about five miles down and back (if you want beautiful ocean views). Otherwise, continue on 1A for about 7 miles which will bring you to Route 138 which goes over the Jamestown Bridge, across Jamestown, then over the Newport Bridge and into Newport.

It's a good idea to have a good map along, and there are many free ones all about. If you miss a turn, you could get lost in a quagmire of one way streets.

escargot

Sounds like you had a great time -
I love Newport and this is the first summer in 14 years we did not spend a week there and I am missing it - but you visited so many of my fav places -the drive, Castle Hill, the Moorings, etc that it made me smile - glad you had a such a good visit and the Smother Bros ! I used to love their show-

Lord_Mesron

Sounds like a great trip. My brother and I were just in Newport as well. We had spent the first part of the week in Barre, VT, visiting things in VT and NH. On Thursday we had relocated to Providence, RI. While there we took the ferry over to Newport for the day. We really enjoyed ourselves.

As for I-95 in CT, we ran into a fair amount of traffic when we drove up to VT on the Saturday. The next time I will not follow the directions I had from AAA, and instead take I-684 and I-84. Those 2 roads have worked out much better in the past to get us to I-91. Of course coming back from RI, this route was not an option and we had to stick to I-95.