We've been coming to Mystic every year for a while, and this is the first time we discovered Mystic…read moreBoat Adventures. My daughter and I had an absolute blast piloting the boat, and once we got over the fear factor that we were going "too fast" and gained confidence in piloting the boat for the first time, it felt like second nature. We did the 3 hour Mystic River tour which ended with a "free sail" hour at the end. However, we opted not to go out into the Sound due to heavily windy conditions, so we stayed in the channel in the "playground" area doing donuts and figure-eights. Before we knew it the 3 hours was up. Rob was a great host and he taught us how to pilot the boats in no time. He was also very knowledgeable of the Mystic seaport area. We had a great time and will absolutely be making this a regular part of our yearly Mystic trips!

I decided to book a 3 hour tour with Mystic Boat Adventures to surprise my hubby for his birthday…read moreat the end of July. The reviews were all highly praising and it looked like a fun experience. I have to say: don't hesitate! Book them! Rob was a pro guide and made sure we understood how to operate our boat safely and how to get the most fun out of it. Yes, there are safety things that you need to be aware of, but he was very encouraging of us trying out what the boat can do. We loved getting to do donuts in our boat! The tour itself was very informative, and we really got a feel for the area. We're already looking forward to returning for another season with a full group of friends to rent out all the boats. This is a must-do activity when visiting Mystic. Be sure to arrive on time as requested so that you can be briefed on the safety. That is so important, and that is why they tell you in advance that you will be turned away if you are late to the safety briefing. For those of you who may be wondering, there is ample parking, and it was about a 15-20 minute drive with traffic from downtown Mystic. Again, a huge thank you to Rob for being an awesome guide and helping us have the best experience possible for my husband's birthday surprise. Hope to see you again soon!

my kids had so fun here. and Kennelly loved it here my son goes there he said that he going to miss…read moreall the fun they had, LOVE YOU GIYS!

More people should do this! Project Oceanology gives hands-on boat outings geared towards families…read more These include lighthouse expeditions, oceanographic research cruises (summer), and seal watches (Feb/March). It is the only organization with permission to bring visitors to New London Ledge Lighthouse, which features incredible views from smack dab in the middle of Long Island Sound. Great fun for lighthouse aficionados and those who want to get out on the water! But be warned that other than the AMAZING views, there isn't much to actually see inside the house. If you're expecting a museum or activities for your kids, you might be disappointed and would be better off taking a science cruise. For the lighthouse trip, you will take a boat out to the 1909 working lighthouse and then be given a tour. Don't worry if boats make you nervous, this one is built to keep school kids safe and happy so you will feel very secure! The whole trip is about 2.5 hours and you spend 1.5 hours at the lighthouse. The architecture and history are really cool. The rest of the time you're cruising on Long Island Sound, which is a fun and relaxing activity in itself! The science expeditions are really Project O's forte. The super knowledgeable staff provide a hands-on experience you will love. You will be taught some basic marine science and geography of the area, then you take over as the scientists. Some of the activities include: collecting and testing water and mud samples at depth, visiting the captain to learn about navigation, and best of all: pulling in a trawl net full of Long Island Sound critters! If you are looking for a half-day activity that a gets you out on the water, familiarizes you with the area, is educational, and/or is just a little different than your usual tourist exercise: this is for you. You can certainly manage to stay clean and dry on these cruises but you will have much more fun if you go prepared to get wet and dirty! The boat's cabin is heated. However, you will want an extra layer of clothing for when you're outside. That's where all the good stuff happens. The price is very reasonable: just $19 for adults and $16 for kids. Make sure you call ahead... they will cancel the cruise if they don't get any reservations in advance and on popular days they can sell out! There is a very basic cafe for sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, drinks etc in the building but it's nothing to rave about. However, it's worth leaving a little extra time to wander around the immediate area. The building is located on the UConn - Avery Point campus which is beautiful and easy to walk. Project Oceanology also offers summer camps, scout programs, and birthday parties. I don't know why the website isn't listed here but there is lots more info at http://www.oceanology.org

What a fun and off the beaten path experience for a random Sunday night! I always love being a…read moretourist in my area, so I thought I would book a ticket for myself on the Ghost Tours of Newport evening jaunt around the city. Having never been on one of these tours but always seeing them when out walking, I figured at best, it would be a new activity to recommend to friends and clients, and at worst, it's 90 minutes long and the cost of a cold brew and cookie. I'm so glad I went on the tour, because it was very engaging and enjoyable. The start point at the Marriott is easy to find and has very clean bathrooms (use before you go- no bathroom stops on the tour), and from there, the walk was a simple half mile with no sharp inclines or strenuous walking, making this ideal for guests of any mobility. I will say that comfy shoes are a must, as you are standing for the whole time, and there are cobblestones. Our Ghost Hostess with the Mostess, Kathy, was fantastic! It turns out she is very active in the Rhode Island theatre community, and we had a lot of mutual friends. I hope to share the stage with her one day. She kept the group interested in the stories, and you can tell she's definitely got lots of performance experience, which added to the overall fun of the night. The stories told were mostly from Newport's Golden Age of Piracy in the 1700s and 1800s. I did find the content very historical and interesting, however, due to the nature of some of the stories (real pirates, after all), I would recommend the tour for children ages 8-10 and up. I would absolutely add this to any Newport adventure, especially as we get into Spooky Season!

I purchased two tickets online on the day off our evening ghost tour provided by Ghost Tours of…read moreNewport. The meeting location was outside of the MainSail (a restaurant inside of the Newport Marriott on Americas Cup Ave). There was lots of seating around, so my husband and I found a cushy spot to wait for the group to gather. We saw your tour guide right away. She checked everyone in by asking to see confirmation emails and then gave us all small, reflective 'Ghost Tours of Newport' stickers to wear (she told us they also offered us ectoplasmic protection). Our tour guide was so prepared and offered us many entertaining stories about the history of the area, the city, and the notorious paranormal figures of Newport. She even had photos that she passed around for the group to look at before certain stops. She kept the group together and safe (crossing streets in Newport has some potential dangers - cobble stone streets and fast driving tourists behind the wheel). Our tour ended outside of Trinity Church (which offers some cool nighttime pictures btw) and that's where the group disbanded. Our tour guide offered to walk people back to the Marriott if any needed, which was really thoughtful and nice. While people were saying thank you and goodbye, I overheard a repeat customer tell her that she did a great job (as they'd taken the tour in the past with her). Note: If you decide to do walking tours like this one, please remember to tip your guides!

I had an amazing time with Mike and Captain John, the experience was amazing I was able to catch 7…read moreblue sharks and some more fish, they knew all the great areas for catching fish and everything was done professionally. I went by myself and was worried about taking pictures but Captain John took some amazing videos and pictures while I was reeling. They had great stories and there was never a dull moment. I would recommend this trip to anybody that wants to fish and I will 100% be coming back soon

I booked a charter for family and friends what a day on the water lots of bass and scup.The group…read moreof us had so much fun and Captian John and his first mate Mike were great host's very helpful and put us on the fish while treating us like family.We will be booking another trip in the near future.If you are thinking of booking a charter I would highly recomend this boat!

Pretty amazing to catch a hardcore show that's walkable from home. It's all ages (ie no alcohol)…read morebut the shows I've caught so far have been awesome with great energy, plus they provide free earplugs for the elder emo's like myself. Parking is down the street behind Del's/Barre Coastal/Corner Thai- don't park at The Pantry in front of the venue. Looking forward to more shows here as it warms up!

Abbey's Lantern is a wonderful find on the back roads between the two casinos, Mystic and Groton…read more This is the second year in a row I have been here and it is just a great place! We stayed in the Country Room at the Inn. A great space that makes you feel like you are on your own and away from the stress of the world! Erika is a fabulous host. She is very accommodating and always willing to help of offer suggestions. Although we did not have breakfast this trip because of our schedule, she is an amazing cook! If you are looking for a place in the area, Abbey's is outstanding!

Abbey's lantern hill was beautiful and relaxing. We rented The Cottage for four days with our…read morelovely Maxwell who enjoyed the stay as well. It was relaxing and a perfect location to explore Mystic and Newport, RI. Peter and Erika are great and the breakfast was very good. We will be back if we are in Mystic. One recommendation is to please add screens to the windows and patio. Maxwell is an escape artist and almost went out of the bathroom window. The sliding screen was not secured enough to keep him from getting out. We caught him on time.

This is one of those places I wish I could give more than 5 stars to. It's that's beautiful…read more Rodman's Hollow is indeed a hollow, sort of a big hole in the landscape. It's a bit under 50 acres and is crossed with hiking trails. 50 acres might not sound like much but since the trails go up and down and all around you can spend hours exploring this place. The Hollow was formed during the last period of glaciation, about 20,000 years ago and is the only know habitat of a small vole like creature. Don't plan on actually seeing the beast because they are reported to be extremely shy, but I have seen very small trails in the grass that might be made by the voles. Unfortunately besides the voles Rodman's Hollow is also home to an enormous amount of ticks. If you do go hiking make sure you take a bath in tick repellent or you might be taking home more than just fond memories. Rodman's Hollow is a relatively short bike ride from the center of town and only a few miles from Southeast Lighthouse. It's a incredible beautiful part of Block Island that unfortunately few people take the time to visit.

BI has done an outstanding job of preserving their green-space. Unfortunately they've done a…read moremiserable job of providing maps of any kind, most significantly lacking in trail maps. Rodman's Hollow is gorgeous and can keep you meandering for an afternoon. If you're an average hiker, or really anyone in good health, the BI trails will not be too challenging and they're full of gorgeous rewards. If you're not up for a long hike or any moderately challenging inclines, you may find yourself facing more of a hike than you'd hoped for since getting information about trails is the only downside to BI hiking.

This place is absolutely AMAZING!!! First I have to say, do not listen to any reviews from…read morebeginners. You have the option to get help and there shouldn't be any reason you don't get through before the hour ends, so the low reviews from that are bull crap. That being said, as a long time escape roomer, this place is top notch. The decor is awesome, the clues are well thought out, and like I said, you can get help anytime you want. It's only as difficult as YOU make it. I've done both the Aftermath and Temple of Laughing God. Both were so much fun! You seriously have to give this place try. You can tell they put a lot of thought and love into it all. Don't miss out!

Went with a group of friends this past Saturday. I will say it as fun and that none of us had done…read morean escape room before. The game god (or whatever he was called) was very nice and helpful! So my critique is not with him! The critique is with the fact that this beginner room was very difficult. I mean maybe they are all this hard, I wouldn't know. But our one hour ran out and we still had the challenge we were working on and three others left. When the game god came in and said time was up, we chatted for a bit and asked what the success rate for this particular room was. He said it was 17%. We thought that was a bit ridiculous for a beginner room. But again, maybe all places are like that. So if you don't mind losing, lol, then yeah, definitely check it out!