Contents
- 1 The Best Mystic, CT Fall Activities
- 1.1 1. Walk around downtown Mystic
- 1.2 2. Try apple cider from the United State’s oldest cider mill, B.F. Clyde’s
- 1.3 3. Go trick-or-treating at the Mystic Seaport Museum
- 1.4 4. Celebrate the season at a fall festival
- 1.5 5. Enjoy the fall foliage while shopping at Olde Mistick Village
- 1.6 6. Find your new favorite wine on the Connecticut Wine Trail
- 1.7 7. See the fall foliage up close on a hike at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
- 1.8 8. Take a spooky Mystic ghost tour
- 1.9 9. Go for a fantastic fall foliage weekend getaway
- 1.10 10. Visit one of Connecticut’s casinos when the weather gets too cold
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Autumn is finally here! How ready are you to finally taste a pumpkin-spiced latte or enjoy cooler weather?
All along the Connecticut coastline, you’ll find stunning fall foliage. But if you’re over on the east side of Connecticut, you need to check out the many fall activities in Mystic, Connecticut.
While this 19th-century seaport town is one of my favorites to walk around on a day trip in the summer, the quintessential New England city transforms for the autumn season.
Whether you’re looking to attend one of the season’s local events or simply want to get outside and appreciate nature, there are great spots to visit all over Mystic in the fall.
The Best Mystic, CT Fall Activities
1. Walk around downtown Mystic
Mystic has so many things to offer, starting with downtown! This charming town has a quintessential New England coastal community vibe.
The windows of Main Street’s historic buildings are lined with gift shops like Mystic Disc and The Spice & Tea Exchange, sweet shops like Sift Bake Shop, Candy Shop or Young Buns Doughnuts, and boutiques like Rochelle’s On Main and the Mystic Army Navy Stores.
Along with lovely boutiques and tiny local businesses, there are several infamous places, like the Mystic River Bascule Bridge, the nearby Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream shop, and Mystic Pizza–yes the same pizzeria from the Julia Robert’s movie of the same name.
I don’t know about you, but window shopping and leisurely wandering around the different shops sounds like my perfect autumn afternoon!
2. Try apple cider from the United State’s oldest cider mill, B.F. Clyde’s
Although it’s made from apples, hard apple cider isn’t the same as apple juice.
While apple juice is boiled, cider is fermented and typically comes out much lower in sugar than its non-alcoholic counterpart because the yeast transforms the sugar into alcohol.
It is alcoholic and frequently carbonated, giving it a fizzy taste while sipping.
At B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill, you can taste fresh apple cider from the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the country. Opened in 1881, the mill opens on the first of September each year–a true fall activity in Mystic!
Enjoy one of my favorite fall activities in Connecticut on a perfect autumn day, tasting their fresh ciders, local treats, and their fresh apple cider donuts.
3. Go trick-or-treating at the Mystic Seaport Museum
The Mystic Seaport Museum hosts several events during the autumn season!
The museum opens its doors for Community Trick-or-Treating on Halloween from 3 PM to 6 PM.
It’s a great activity to celebrate Mystic CT in the fall for families looking for a festive night out–without the scare factor!
All ages are welcome, and the event is free to attend.
4. Celebrate the season at a fall festival
If none of these celebrations interested you, Mystic and its surrounding towns host several other town fairs.
The area is called to a few of Connecticut’s most fun fall festivals, like By Land & By Sea at Mystic Seaport, the annual Garlic Festival at Olde Mistick Village, and the Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival in New London.
If you’re interested in learning more, I have a full guide on my favorite fall fest and fairs throughout the state with this year’s updated information.
5. Enjoy the fall foliage while shopping at Olde Mistick Village
In the 1970s, a colonial village in the style of the 1720s was built across the street from the Mystic Aquarium.
While meandering down cobblestone streets, visitors can peruse more than 40 unique businesses, including Alice in the Village, Munson’s Chocolates, and Gineva Murano Glass Jewelry (made with hand-blown glass from Murano, Italy).
There’s also a pond with ducks and a waterwheel, a gazebo, a bungalow-style structure with colorful facades, colonial-style shop signs, and more.
If you’re spending a day in Mystic, it’s a fun place to stroll through stores and pop into shops while enjoying the leaves changing for the season.
6. Find your new favorite wine on the Connecticut Wine Trail
The best way to warm up on a cool fall day in Mystic? Stop for a tasting or two on the Connecticut Wine Trail!
Connecticut boasts one of the fastest-growing wine regions in the country, so it only makes sense to try some while you’re here. The vineyards closest to Mystic on the Connecticut Wine Trail include:
7. See the fall foliage up close on a hike at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center
One of the best fall activities in Mystic is hiking or walking through the brilliant autumn colors at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.
Since 1946, the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center has worked to keep Connecticut wildlife safe through conservation and education.
It has nearly ten miles of hiking trails through woodlands and marshes, as well as 17th-century stone walls dispersed across the property.
The Nature Center is divided into two areas. Animals, paths, and the Visitor’s Center may be found at the Pequotsepos Road location. Or you can visit the Coogan Farm, with its newest Meditation Walking Path.
8. Take a spooky Mystic ghost tour
Are you fascinated by haunted history? Seaside Shadows hosts history tours of Mystic (and other New England towns like Westerly, Rhode Island, and Concord, Massachusetts) with a paranormal twist.
With different options like tours, pub crawls, and special events, you can wander around downtown Mystic and discover all the haunts where hauntings have been spotted.
9. Go for a fantastic fall foliage weekend getaway
With the Connecticut River Scenic Byway running through Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire, and tons of quaint New England towns that look beautiful in the fall, you can enjoy the season all over New England.
I have a complete guide on the best New England towns to visit during the fall months to see stunning autumn colors.
10. Visit one of Connecticut’s casinos when the weather gets too cold
With the Connecticut casinos just a quick drive away, they’re a great place to spend a cool fall evening close to Mystic.
Foxwoods is a 20-minute drive from downtown Mystic, or you can reach Mohegan Sun in just under a half-hour.
Great restaurants, sports arenas, concert venues, and classic casino games like slot machines and cards await you on the casino floors.
You can also shop at the Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods or visit the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.
Mohegan Sun offers excellent family entertainment areas, restaurants, and several concert halls. Make sure to visit Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana restaurant while you’re there, a New Haven, Connecticut apizza favorite!
Spending a weekend at one of Connecticut’s premier casinos also makes for an excellent winter getaway in the New England region, too.
What are your favorite things to do in Mystic in the fall?
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