NEW ENGLAND BLOG July 9th, 2021 - NEW LONDON and MYSTIC

07/09/21- Breakfast from the hotel before 10am was a bit early for us to get up but we definitely wanted to start the day right.  The dining area, however, was a madhouse with loud kids, sticky floors and limited options.  Basically, all they had was French toast already in containers (most likely for COVID reasons).  We tried to plan out our day at the table but the kids around us were just too loud for that.  Makes me appreciate how awesome our kids were growing up.

The rain is really coming down and supposed to be all day long, but that shouldn’t damper what we have planned too much as most of it is indoors.  Hopefully we don’t get really stuck in bad weather.

The first winery we went to shortly after noon turned out to be closed as they only had outside seating and the rain drowned them out.  With tickets pre-purchased for a castle we wanted to see at 2:15pm we were limited on what to do next.  Instead of wasting time, however, we went ahead and drove thirty minutes to Priam Winery.  We were very happy we braved the rain because the wines were absolutely fantastic and just to our liking.  We ended up buying three bottles but almost paid for a year wine club membership.  Only reason we didn’t is because the owner selects the wines in the shipment every few months and we didn’t have a say in it.  Bummer!

By the time we left we were pressed for time as we had to drive twenty some minutes to Gillette Castle and still fill up with some gas.  Luckily we found a gas station close by and did arrive about ten minutes late, but they let us in the castle with no problem.

William Hooker Gillette wrote, acted and produced many plays in the early 1900s and is best known for playing Sherlock Holmes in a silent 1916 movie.  He eventually paid $1 million to build a castle like home and it was quite quirky to walk around in.  It looked like stone on the outside but all wood interior with secret doors on the inside.

As we were leaving the sun finally came out and the skies opened up.  So weird how it showers and then quickly clears up in the North East.  We drove to another winery and were able to capture their vineyards in perfect sunlight, but their wines were just okay for us.

With it now pushing 5pm we drove an hour to get to Mystic where the movie Mystic Pizza was filmed and based in.  They even have the restaurant there by the same name.  The area was so beautiful as it was by the water and we enjoyed the nice cool air while taking in a few shops.  We didn’t stay more than an hour as we were hungry and wanted to try the famous lobster rolls in the area.  Unfortunately, there was a long line and it took us an hour and a half to get our food and eat it, but the setting was nice.

Back at the hotel, we brought in all seven of our bottles of wine purchased, along with the free glasses given and now are trying to find room in our suitcase for it all.  This may take awhile.  Sharece is such a trooper so I have faith in her ability to maneuver.