Had free day and chance to utilize MPMRC membership for a wampum history and bracelet making event…read more Event was great to see the Gifts of the Ocean exhibit, discuss wampum history with Matthew Pina and then also make a bracelet within the art room at KTJ. Overall great experience and would recommend some of the classes for anyone interested to have a little artistic fun while here in Mystic!

Admission was free, and it was a great space to see pieces from both local artists and ones they…read morehad in residence. The gift shop was also a good place to purchase locally made items!

I have known of this lovely framing/gallery shop for most of my life. I finally had the…read moreopportunity to use their services. I decided to upcycle some beautiful old frames and move some art & photos into some lovely frames that my mom already had. I called the owner Donna, she was quite lovely and suggested that I come in at 10 the next day. I needed the frames done quickly, Donna told me that she could get them done within 24 hours. Seeing that Donna had a great eye, I let her choose the mats and she completed everything quickly and beautifully! I'm so grateful for her prompt and beautiful service. I highly recommend working with Donna!

While in Mystic, my friend and I stopped by the Trade Winds Gallery. This is a very small store…read morewhere they sell artwork, antique maps and frames. This really isn't a gallery, the art peices are randomly placed all over the store. Some are a bit difficult to get a full view of because others are blocking it. My friend found an original 1917 map of West Hartford, the same area where his company's office is located. This was a large map at approximately 30 by 40 inches. It was in excellent shape. Despite it's age, nothing had been fading, all of the words were still legible. It came with a protective cover, covering each edge and corner, the front and back. It was $250. My friend is very happy with his new art piece. He talked to Brian the owner of Trade Winds Gallery for a while. He was very personable and knowledgeable about the maps and the artwork in his store. If you're interested in antique maps and art, please stop by the Trade Winds Gallery in Mystic.

Fabulous treasures inside. Maps, globes and art. Owner is personable and knowledgeable. Don't miss…read moreit!

I discovered them at a vegfest & was glad I did. I bought something for my friend for her birthday…read more& she loved it. Getting something handmade that is woman-owned is really important. Gotta support small businesses. My friend was so happy w/ it & gave me a bug hug. It was a small white dish w/a wolf howling image. Forgot to take pic.

What a tremendous outcome. I commissioned Glaze and its owner Lyndsay to make mugs for my dad's 92…read morebd. From design to creation she is superb. They are fabulous and she was a joy to work with. And mine made it all the way back to California after the weekend. Thank you Glaze and Lyndsay.

My friends and I booked a group event here for my friends bachelorette. There were so many…read moredifferent projects to choose from and they're very customizable with all the different stains and paint colors to choose from. Some of us had been drinking and needed extra help with our projects. The staff was very helpful and made sure everything came out great.

This place is amazing!!! I was a little nervous at first, but the women who work there are great…read moreand help you through every step. The process is fun and you get to customize every aspect of the project. In the end every single person had something that looked beautiful and professional. I will be back soon to create many more pieces!

A little disappointed. It's not bad by any means but it was very underwhelming. I will say I'm not…read morereligious by any means, so those that are may feel different, but for me it was a 'meh' experience. Maybe I built it up in my head too much, as I had never even heard of it until a video came up on my fb feed. That said, getting there is a little tricky. There is a guard/checkpoint you have to pass through. The first time I didn't know that and wasn't expecting it and turned around. Today I when I came the checkpoint was unmanned. Apparently if you tell them you're going to enders they'll let you through, but I've heard of people getting turned away.

What a hidden gem! Lovely, tranquil, and healing! So picturesque there is no way you can take a…read morebad photo. The water views are gorgeous, the gardens and landscaping equally so, with many nooks and crannies to sit peacefully and meditate or ponder. The Arts and Crafts style house for functions and retreats is stately with hand-crafted tile work trim. The chapel itself is beautiful and rustic - plus it holds a bona fide relic of St Edmund of Canterbury!

One of my favorite stores to visit! Unfortunately it seems…read morethey've gone out of business - makes me sad I loved visiting that store - so many great finds!

Ever go into a thrift shop and suddenly realize that you really need a tray table for breakfast in…read morebed?! Or, what about realizing that you have a complete and utter love for all things reclaimed wood? Eyeballing things you definitely don't need? Then, you're my kind of people, and you belong at MINE. This great little off the road second hand store is filled with great finds from all eras, and will definitely have your mind in overdrive of home improvements and DIY's. From hooks to paintings from artists unknown, to records, dolls, dishes, and chairs galore. This is a great way to spend an hour or two by just poking around and thinking if you need this or that. Prices are a little higher than most, but overall, a pretty decent selection. Wonderfully friendly owner - so ask if you're looking for something in particular!

Our visit here started out horribly because the parking lot for the museum is across the street, so…read moreafter we parked and walked up to the corner, we pressed the crosswalk button to cross the street. Having just come in from that same direction, I was well aware that the stoplight that we initiated by pressing the crosswalk button is right around a blind curve. I made sure that the first car actually stopped before I started through the crosswalk, but just as we were almost to the other side, I heard a huge crash that shook me to my core. We turned around, still partially in the street to see that a vehicle that had come around the corner was unable to stop in time and smashed into the car that was stopped at the crosswalk. Luckily no one was injured, but the sound and the proximity and the fact that there was some sort of lingering feeling that our crossing the street caused this accident put me in a really bad headspace. We stayed out in front of the museum for a while to make sure everyone was okay and the cars were moved out of the street but there was debris everywhere and I did have to sit down at a picnic table for about 5 minutes to calm down. All that being said, we actually enjoyed this Museum quite a bit once we got past what had happened. We have visited multiple Maritime museums in the last month and I can honestly say this was probably the best one. If you're at all interested in Maritime history, or just history even, sailing or boat craftsmanship, anything like that really, you will enjoy your visit here. This is not really a museum in the traditional sense. It's kind of like walking through a village in time. You can wander through historic buildings and watch live demonstrations of traditional skills like blacksmithing or rope making or sail stitching. Don't be afraid to go inside the buildings and interact with the employees. The immersive parts of this Museum are the best because they help you to feel like you're really experiencing what it was like instead of just reading about it. I think my favorite part was getting too board and tour a historical boat that was moored in the river. I don't recall what it is named, but you can board and walk around and even go down below deck. You can really get a feel for what life was like on one of these boats. I'm 5'7 and I had to duck the entire time. The beds were so tiny it was as if they were for children. It's crazy to think of grown men being packed down there like sardines. We also enjoyed checking out the lighthouse. They show a little movie inside but you can't actually go up. That was a quick stop and a little photo op but fun nevertheless. We ended up spending a lot longer here than we had anticipated because we really enjoyed the demonstrations and the historical feel of it all. It was dog friendly which is important to us but we also found a little reading room and a nice playground area so I know it would be great for children as well. Even after such a rocky start, I was really glad that we visited here and I highly recommend a stop if you can. Plan to spend at least a couple of hours here and wear comfortable shoes because the ground is gravelly and you will cover more of it than you think.

Mystic Seaport continues to be one of the most thoughtfully run and genuinely enjoyable attractions…read morein New England. Every visit feels like stepping into a living, breathing piece of history, and the amount of effort that goes into maintaining that experience is impossible to miss. The staffing is exceptional. Everyone--from the interpreters in period dress to the shipyard craftsmen to the folks running the exhibits--brings an energy that makes the place feel alive. They're knowledgeable without being overwhelming, friendly without being scripted, and clearly passionate about what they do. It's rare to find a team that consistently elevates an entire visit, but Mystic Seaport pulls it off. The shops are charming and well-curated, offering everything from nautical gifts to handcrafted items to books you won't find anywhere else. They strike a great balance between being tourist-friendly and genuinely interesting, and it's easy to lose track of time browsing. As for the overall experience, it's simply entertaining from start to finish. Whether you're wandering through the recreated 19th‑century village, stepping aboard historic vessels, watching demonstrations, or exploring the rotating exhibits, there's always something engaging to see or do. It's the kind of place where you can spend hours without realizing it, and every corner feels like it has a story waiting to be discovered. Mystic Seaport remains a standout destination--beautifully maintained, thoughtfully staffed, and endlessly enjoyable. A true 5‑star experience. Enjoy

If you're into anime, you've gotta check this place out. It's packed with figures, plushies, manga,…read moresnacks from Japan, and all kinds of cool collectibles. Last time I went, I grabbed some imported ramen and a cute pair of chopsticks. I'm planning to bring my kids next time since they're obsessed with anime and ramen. I thought it was cool that they have a little spot where you can make your ramen right there, and some people were even eating outside on the patio, it just adds to the whole vibe. I did notice that some stuff, like the Hello Kitty ramen I usually get at Target, was more expensive here, but honestly, the variety, the atmosphere, and how nice the staff is make it worth stopping by. We'll definitely be back, and I'll probably end up buying even more stuff next time.

Very cool store! I heard so many great things about it and I couldn't wait to visit. If you like…read moreanime , this place is for you! Snacks, books and so many other fun things to discover and enjoy. My daughter ended up buying a collectible item and the price was very reasonable.