Mystic, CT

This summer we decided to head north towards Maine and check out parts of the Northeast since none of us have really been there or remember any of it.  After seeing so many pretty parts of the country last summer on our cross country trip (which I really never finished blogging about) I was looking forward to seeing the northeast.  We decided to take our time up and down and see places along the way.  A lot of those places were suggestions from friends and family.  Our trip was going to be a lot shorter than last year since Joe got jury duty this month and had to be around.

We started north on 95 - what a busy interstate!  We got stuck in traffic in New York but made it to Connecticut to stay the night.  We woke up and went to Mass.  We were so close to Yale University, we stopped by the campus for a quick campus tour so our kids could get familiar with what could possibly be their future :-p  No, we were just so close - had to take a looksie.

We then headed towards the Submarine Museum in Groton, CT.

I've never been in a submarine nor do really know much about them except from what I see in the movies - I've seen a few of them.

For a free museum, I found this place to be very hands on for the kids and very informative!  Although, I wish I had more time to read all the information, I was to distracted with keeping track of the kids.  To be placed in a submarine, with such small spaces and control panels that look like this, seems very overwhelming to me.  However, the kids had fun with all the buttons to press.

After exploring inside the building, we headed outside to check out a real submarine - The Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine.

Talk about tight spaces!  I'm not claustrophobic, but imagining being submerged in water and confined to those spaces, I might as well be.  We took a self-guided tour, each of us with a gidgy-gadget to guide us through the submarine.  It didn't take long to get through it all.

We were able to see our car!

Just some railroad tracks on the way out of the Submarine Museum.

 Near Groton, is Mystic, CT.  I've heard about this place from my cousins growing up and was looking forward to visiting.  I've also heard much about the famous Mystic Pizza made popular from the movie, same title.  Which came first?  I don't really know.  I watched the movie not too long ago - not a big fan of the movie, but the pizza...

was soooo good.  I didn't have high expectations, so I was pleasantly surprised.  Our family likes good pizza!!

Kids got a cheese pizza, Joe & I got a jalapeno, onion and anchovy pizza - mmmmm...

The town of Mystic was so charming.  One of those picturesque seaside towns bustling with people enjoying the beautiful weather popping in and out of shops, getting ice cream or just taking a nice long walk.  I couldn't take any pictures that really captured this cute place.

We took a walk around town and down near the water.  We were lucky enough to catch the bridge go up to let the sailboats through.  The kids liked that.  On the way back to the car, I noticed a cute coffee shop and wanted to get some espresso.  Sort of get something non-commercial, get something local and get a little caffeine in me!  I was surprised when Joe asked me to get him a double espresso.

This is Joe waiting for his espresso with the kids.  A cute place - and it was very good!

We headed to our car and headed over to Dubois Beach.  This was a public beach area where we spent the end of the day.

Some of that rocky shoreline.

Kids enjoying the beach.

Bernadette wore the goggles but never went in the water - so funny, that girl!

Anne was exploring the beach.

Found some crabs that didn't look like the blue crabs I'm used to seeing at home.  All I could think of was, can I eat these?

Tommy is burying himself into the sand.

Max doesn't remember the beach, it was like his first time!

I often find Anne standing like this - this is her stance.  She's growing up!!

We went back to our hotel and went swimming.  Called it a night and were heading to Gillette Castle the next day.