Mystic, CT: Where to Eat, Stay & Play

Hi friends!  We just got back from a mini vacation to Mystic, CT for my hubby's birthday and we had such a great time!  It's about three hours from us and we timed it right so we hit minimal traffic = happy toddler, happy parents.  There are so many fun things to do that I wanted to share a bit with you! 

To Eat: 

We love finding new restaurants to try out and pretty much eat every type of cuisine.  We've found that most of the restaurants there had kids menus and were very family friendly.  A few places that we loved were:

{via:The Pita Spot}

1.  The Pita Spot  - this was our favorite! Olivia ate about three plates of freshly made hummus and their falafel pita wraps were to die for.  We also tried the mozzarella flatbread and Rob had a lamb gyro.  Definitely family friendly and SO good! It kind of looks like a small store front restaurant but they cook right in front of you and it had a fun, Mediterranean vibe.  We will definitely go again when we visit.

2.  Mystic Soup Company - We stumbled upon the Mystic Soup Co. while trying to figure out a quick lunch before heading home and we were so happy we did! We literally drove past it, it's so small and somewhat hidden.  Clearly, it's a local favorite!  There was a huge line and almost every table was filled.  The tables sat along the water and it was such a nice view.  The soup menu changes daily and they only have a few each day - I love that!  I had a sweet greens soup with avocado, cilantro, lime, and white beans.  Rob & Olivia both had broccoli cheddar and they really enjoyed it as well.  We also got two panini and they were huge...definitely enough to share.  Considering that there was a line out the door, I'd say that's a good place.  

{via Gumdrops & Lollipops}

3.  Gumdrops & Lollipops Candy Store - This is a really cute, old fashioned candy store.  We got ice cream and a few handmade chocolates as a special treat.  Known for it's old-fashioned seaside charm, they also sell homemade fudge, nostalgic candies, bulk candy and have a diner style menu.  It's definitely a fun little store for kids.  

To Stay:

1.  Mystic Marriot Hotel & Spa - This hotel was absolutely spotless and beautiful.  The rooms were spacious and clean...exactly what I look for first.  It was quiet the entire time, with only very little hallway noise in the morning and the beds were super comfortable.  There is a Starbucks in the lobby, which is always perk;) and a Red Door Spa connected to the hotel. If we were without Olivia, I'd definitely be stopping there. Most of the rooms start at $169, but we were able to use a government discount which cut it down to $96!  Definitely ask if you're that applies to your family - this includes police officers. It was also a very short drive to the aquarium and downtown Mystic.  There are also a handful of hotels very close to the aquarium including, the Hyatt & Hampton Inn. 

To Play: 

1.  Mystic Aquarium - This is always one of our first stops, as Olivia loves fish, whales & everything in between! There are many outdoor habitats where you can see the animals very close - perfect for little ones.  There's also sting ray exhibits, where you can touch them and feed them.  The Beluga whale was one of Olivia's favorites. It swam so close to the glass and she was amazed. 

We arrived in time for the sea lion show, which was so fun for all of us! The trainers and sea lions put on a little show and also give information about the mammals.  It was perfect for her age, not too loud and definitely kept her attention.

There were tons of fish, sharks, and jellyfish to look at inside, along with some fun facts and displays.  The price is slightly high, about $40 per adult, but if you are staying for a few days they are good for three days.  Again, show a government ID and you're able to get in for free and your family goes for half price.  

2.  The Book Barn - This was the coolest place with tons of used books.  There's five locations, with one especially for children's books.  There were so many books everywhere! A huge selection of the children's books were like-new condition and varied from $1-$4.  Olivia was thrilled to spend time there reading and exploring.  They even had a little play area at one location, complete with a goat to feed.  So fun! 

3.  The Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut -  This was a cute little place that I would definitely recommend for toddlers or younger children.  It was so nice that she could run around and touch and play with everything! There were little areas with different themes, including a kitchen, fire truck, shadow room, mirrors, and lots of other fun play areas. There were also frogs, lizards, and turtles for her to look at in their tanks.  We happened to go when it was half price admission because they opened later in the day, but normally their admission is $7 per person over the age of 1.  

I hope you enjoyed a glimpse into our favorite places in Mystic! Do you have any places your recommend to eat, stay, or play there?? I'd love to hear! XO

Our Long Weekend: Brunch + Parades + S'mores

Hi everyone! Hope you enjoyed your long weekend.  Ours was filled with fun activities and Olivia was exhausted from all the fun! On Saturday, I made a big brunch for us because Rob had to work all weekend so I love to spend some family time when we can. Also, any excuse for brunch is a good one.  We enjoyed chocolate croissants, scrambled eggs, maple bacon, berries and fresh grapefruit - Livvy's favorite! We also snuck in lots of naps this weekend...

On Sunday, we went to a BBQ in New Jersey at my dad's side of the family and she had a blast playing corn hole with my brother, also known as Uncle DoDo. 

On Monday, we went to our town's Memorial Day parade in the morning.  Last year, Olivia was terrified so I assumed she'd be over it as she's older now... I was wrong.  The poor thing started screaming as soon as she saw the firemen marching down the road.  We watched the entire parade from a safe distance, with the occasional "move back, Mommy" ;) 

Later that night, we had a BBQ at my sister's house and the girls had a great time running around and enjoyed s'mores and strawberry shortcake.  

I hope you all enjoyed your Memorial Day weekend as well! If you follow along on instagram: @thebirdsnestblog you can see more pictures as well as my favorite iced coffee recipe that is now in full swing as the temperatures are rising! XO 

Our Weekend [Flowers + A 'Rodie]

This weekend we planted our vegetable garden and a few planters for the front steps and Olivia had a blast helping.  I'm hoping she doesn't inherit my black thumb...or lack of watering skills ;) We went to our local nursery and picked out lots of vegetable plants, including basil, parsley, tomatoes, kale, red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, red and orange bell peppers, dill and brussel sprouts.  Last year our garden was seriously ginormous (any Elf fans here?!) and I'm hoping for the same thing this year.  Isn't it so great eating fresh from your own garden?  We also bought a lavender plant (my favorite) and flowers for two planters.  I followed the rule of "tall, sprawl, and flower", which I may or may not have made up? Hahah...it sounds good and worked nicely ;) I used the Pinterest trick of adding diaper beads to the potting soil so I'll keep you updated with how that works.

Some ice cream was well deserved after all that hard work! On Sunday, we went to church and the girls had some fun afterwards playing outside.  Olivia's new favorite song is Ring Around the Rosie, which she has shortened to A 'Rodie!  It's the most adorable thing when she grabs Brynn and they both start flying around in a circle singing "a rodie, a rodie, ashes, ashes, down!"  

Hope you all had a great weekend too! XO