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!

My friend Sherry mentioned this gallery, improbably located at the Amtrak station located just…read moreoutside downtown Westerly. I was skeptical but as I had a couple of hours to kill before an event at the United Theater I had nothing to lose by stopping in. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, to discover what a find this gallery was. I love art, museums, and galleries, and this was well worth my time. There are several rooms of art ranging from jewelry to glassware, pottery, prints, paintings and more. I had no intention of buying anything and I was tempted by the paintings, most of which were in my price range, but succumbed to a gorgeous bracelet, a charming bowl, and a set of wine glasses (all shown below). The person at the front desk greeted me but then let me roam to my heart's content. When I checked out she explained that the gallery rotated its items on a monthly basis (I think that's what she said). I spent an hour there appreciating every one of the items on display; the prices varied so you are sure to find something there at your price point. There was also a special small exhibit featuring African American artists, which I very much appreciated as an African-American myself. This gallery is a hidden gem. One more reason for me to return to the town of Westerly soon, and I am sure not to leave empty-handed!

I was entertaining guests for the holiday season and wanted very much to visit the gallery…read more A few days ago, we stopped by the front door and checked the hours they were open. According to the posting on the front door, they are open on Wednesdays. Today, we checked the website and and verified the hours they were open as well as Google indicated they were open. We drove all the way to Westerly only to find the place closed up tight. No where did it say they were going to be closed today. We are very disappointed in the lack of communications as to their actual hours. The only avenue we did not exercise was to make a telephone call to verify they would be open. Lesson learned on our part. If they cannot adequately advertise the hours they will be open, they should at least tell people who visit their website, to CALL FIRST; before showing up to closed doors. We gave this place every opportunity but we will not bother going back. If their communication skills are any indication of how the place is managed, I do not think it is worth our while to visit. I am thinking they are closed because there is nothing on Exhibit. The walls were vacant. If there is nothing on Exhibit and you take the time to announce the next Exhibit on your website, you might want to inform potential visitors that the Gallery is CLOSED between Exhibits. Most reputable art galleries have rotating exhibits. This allows the Gallery to be open daily and a variety of artists to display on a rotating basis. We are very disappointed but thanks for an important lesson. Trust no one without a call first.

Wonderful smaller musuem; you can see just about everything in a few hours. I took advantage of a…read morerainy morning while my friend ran errands to check out a couple of the exhibits here. DON'T miss the Tiffany exhibit, some great pieces of his glass AND paintings, and very interesting family history as well. My plan was to see the Tiffany works, but the wonderful surprise (to me...) was the "Exquisite Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist" exhibit showcasing the EXTREMELY detailed works this talented couple and their AMAZING, tiny still lifes, landscapes, and just about everything in the tiniest detail. VERY interesting!! Great diversity of offerings for a smaller/mid-size museum. Thought I could see "everything" in a couple of hours, but ran out of time and will have to plan a return visit. Beautiful building, well-laid out exhibits, friendly staff... VERY worthwhile to visit if you're in the area!!

A great museum able to see all in a couple of hours Many…read morefriendly hosts September is a great time to visit

My second time here. It's an interesting building. Now this time the regular collection was not on…read moredisplay. They were nice about it and discounted the admission price. What was on display was Shirin Nishat Born of Fire . It's a pretty good exhibit.Iranian- American photographer. Wouldn't go out of my way to go but if you're in the area, worthwhile!

Parrish Art Museum is kind of hidden when you get past the main sign. It is in this building that…read moreon the outside you would not know that it is a museum. When you walk in there is a gift shop with very pretty objects. This museum is not big by any means but its a good size and has a few exhibits. One exhibit we saw was kAWS which I loved. This museum also has a cafe where you can get snacks and drinks. They also have some seating there. This museum is on a great piece of land so it has greenery all over. The staff here were nice and helpful.

The RISD Museum is worth a visit. I'm sharing photos of the pieces that stood out to me most. I…read morestarted in the RISD student galleries, which were full of impressive work. my favorite was a floor installation that looks like a woven rug but is actually made entirely of salt. So many pieces made you stop and think, "How did they do that?!" I visited the whole museum, but my favorites were the Costume & Textile galleries, the exhibit on kingfishers in art and poetry, the European Grand Gallery with its oil paintings and the 18th/19th‑century American rooms in Pendleton House. I also loved how the museum's architecture fits together like a puzzle across several older buildings and street entrances. That was a surprising add-on to the visit. Extra tip: street parking is nearly impossible. Check their website for the free weekend parking lots (within walking distance) they make the visit much easier.

I get to visit the RISD Museum for free as a Brown University student!…read more Had fun spending a morning walking through the exhibits on all the floors. There was a room dedicated to costumes and textiles from different cultures around the world! As a sewist and costumer, this was very fun for me to have the room to myself and go through the drawers (everything was behind glass). I want to say I was here for roughly 2 hours and saw everything and took lots of photos.

Wow- Molly gave us the best tour of this house that really brings you back in time. It's a great…read morething to do if you are in the area.

This famous house museum is a must see in the area. Wonderful reenactments, a view of the harbor,…read moreand a house that feels like it was left untouched after the original owners left it. Because it is a "living" house museum, everything looks like it was recently used which makes the place really come alive. The staff here are dedicated to their work and it adds the finishing touches on an already incredible experience. Fun fact - did you know there were over 10 different types of spoons used at a typical dinner service?

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center serves as a fantastic alternative to the other animal-based…read moretourist attractions in the area of Mystic, CT. Though I am quite a big fan of the Mystic Aquarium, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center is a fantastic getaway from what can sometimes be a very jam-packed and overwhelming institution. I visited in late January, which admittedly is probably not the best time to be visiting here, but a five star review should tell that even in the colder months, this place still was as warm and as welcoming as one could expect. Though you're not going to be seeing anything huge, the live animals on display are very exciting still. Collections of herptiles, such as Painted and Spotted Turtles, New England Wood Turtles, snakes, and one of my personal favorites, the Diamondback Terrapin all call this institution home. In addition to that, the Nature Center also has a robust Bird-of-Prey collection, with Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls, and Broad-Winged Hawks, a relatively rare species in captivity around here. Many of these birds are permanently injured I believe, or unsuitable for release, and it is the job of the nature center to care for them, which they do fantastically. I understand the general public might see these as "cages", but I've been to a multitude of animal facilities across the United States and I was very impressed with the level of care that these species receive. While the live animals are quite interesting to look at, dead ones are too! The nature center has a huge assortment of local species in taxidermized forms, showcasing the incredible wildlife that we have in our very own backyards in New England. It allows you to get a closer look and a deeper appreciation for some species you typically don't get to see up close. I have a background in sociology and one of the things that my professor has turned me onto is the sociology of bathrooms and how they're presented, so I tend to take a picture of every bathroom at every institution I end up going to. Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center did not disappoint. I thoroughly loved the tiling on the walls of native wildlife. A very good touch. The entire facility is filled to the brim with education on the native wildlife habitats and species you can find around Mystic. It's very good. For birders, this place is a fairly decent way to find more native species. Red-Bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpecker, tons of sparrows, and my friend has even spotted a Belted Kingfisher here in the warmer months. Overall, this place is fantastic. The front of desk lady was extremely helpful and kind. I only had wish I had gotten her name, she made this experience a memorable one. If you're in the area in the future, whether it's looking for nature trails or even visiting the aquarium or the seaport, please find some time to check out this location. It's a quick stop but absolutely worth it to learn a lot more about the nature around us. I look forward to stopping by once again in the warmer months. I am hoping that they take proper precautions with the oncoming Avian Influenza however.

Must see if in mystic. The owls were so cool and learning about rehabilitation makes you want to…read morebecome a conservationist. Even if the building is closed, you can still enjoy the trails. Don't forget to donate to keep this place going.

One of the best places to go in the Hartford area. It has an amazing collection of classic artwork…read moreand rotating collections of modern art. I've been many times and somehow I'm still surprised by some of the pieces on display (Van Gogh, Monet, Dali, etc.). They run various events and community days, and membership costs are very reasonable. Support the Arts!

Went back here after a decade, the employees were incredibly friendly and helpful during the…read moreticketing/admission process and were more than happy to answer questions about where certain pieces were (even if they weren't currently residing within the Wadsworth).

Had my sons birthday there. Is such a large space set up games, artist, popcorn bar,dj, and lots of…read morespace for kids to run around. You can use the restaurant type kitchen which makes it super easy. Makes it affordable we did all the food and brought in drinks/beer/wine. Or use caterer if you want. They have a bar area with cooler, lights, and ac. Part of the deal is you set up and then put back tables/Chairs. The best part is working with the staff they are super helpful and accommodating. John is the manager and will help you out with anything. What a great venue!

Townspeople cooperated to preserve this building occupied by the national guard among others. It is…read morefilled to the brim with artifacts and memorabilia from all wars and has a section about the history of the community and its events. The volunteer docent was very enthusiastic and knowli

I recently checked out this event at the Newport Art Museum with a few of my girlfriends and we had…read moresuch a fun night. It was the perfect excuse to get dressed up and try something new, with a twist of course... delicious cocktails. The Edgar Allan Poe experience itself was really well done. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their roles. I loved the costumes and the dramatic personalities. It made the whole evening feel immersive without being over the top. I'm actually at the museum about once a month for meetings, so it was fun to see the space used in a completely different way. My only wish is that we had a little more time to wander and take in the current exhibits, because it's such a beautiful setting. My one real downside is parking. With the recent changes, it has become pretty difficult to find a spot that is easy to get in and out of, especially during a New England winter. Definitely something to plan ahead for. Overall, such a unique and memorable night. I would absolutely recommend grabbing your friends and checking this out if it comes back around.

Beautiful space to view some art. I believe the whole place is a historic mansion rennovated for…read morethe museum. There are actually 2 buildings and both were beautiful with some stunning pieces. Small, but lovely, and still somehow incredibly grand. I didn't get to go into the main/large room because they were installing a new exhibit but there is a good amount to see beyond that one space anyway. The gift shop was small and no one was manning it so I didn't get to buy a souveneir but I enjoyed walking around the history and art that was everywhere. Also worth mentioning, but they had some good pieces by woman artists (c. 1940s) which I feel can be extremely hard to find. For this museum, the women tended to be friends of the original owners or at least ran in the same circles and some were even founding members of the museum's art association. Always so nice to see women's art (and some were my favorite pieces!) That being said, most of the art was very high brow white upper class with an emphasis on orientalism, which I feel simply encourages conversations about the zeitgeist of the early 1900s. I did really enjoy the pieces they had from Edward Mitchell Bannister which were on loan from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. There was also a members juried exhibit which brought some breath into the traditionalist art space. Well worth the visit!!