Winter Weekend Getaway: Mystic to Newport
On our one-year anniversary, Isaac and I decided to take a trip from Mystic, CT to Newport, RI. It was one of the coldest weekends of the year, and it was freezing, but we had so much fun and we can't wait to do it again!
Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic Aquarium
If you know me, then you know that I love the ocean. So when we decided to go down to Mystic, it was a no-brainer to stop by the aquarium, even if it meant freezing to death.
It was a whopping 11°F outside, but we still managed to sip on our Dunkin iced coffees as we took a tour. Out of the hundreds of species on exhibit, we both loved jellyfish and the beluga whales - one of which was even trained to take pictures!
Pro tip: If traveling to Mystic Aquarium on a very cold day, make sure to check their social media accounts before buying your tickets. They were running a 25% off all tickets deal due to the cold and only promoted it on socials so we missed out!
Our Failed Attempts at Mystic Seaport + The Village
After braving the elements at the aquarium we quickly realized we were both too cold to stay outside any longer. It was the sort of cold that took your breath away and we weren’t up for the challenge. We decided to skip Mystic Seaport or Olde Mistick village, but we’ll definitely be back in the warmer months for sure!
We hit the road and headed towards our hotel in South Kingstown, Rhode Island to find some grub.
South Kingstown + Wakefield, Rhode Island
The second half of our day was spent munching on yummy food, taking a dip in the hotel pool, and catching a local improv show.
Food
Audrey’s Coffee House + Lounge
While we were looking for a place to eat, we ended up at this cute cafe. As we were sipping on our iced lattes and people-watching, I noticed that there were literally tons of Nick Viall's books on every single counter. I finally realized that we were at Bachelor-royalty Jared Haibon and Ashley Ioncanetti's cafe. Aside from Nick's book, there wasn't much else Bachelor-paraphernalia. The atmosphere was really chill, but we didn’t totally love our lattes and they were out nearly all of the lunch options. :(
Gansett Wraps
We’ve both been to Gansett Wraps a handful of times before, but after being let down and left hungry at Audrey’s we decided to try something that was familiar. We both prefer wraps over grinders, so we were very happy there was a Gansett nearby. We grabbed the wraps to-go and headed to our hotel to scarf them down. As expected, they were very yummy.
Tavern On Main
After a short nap and a quick dip in the hotel’s indoor pool, we were ready for a night out. We debated for a few minutes where we wanted to eat before going to a show at the Contemporary Theater Company and finally decided on a place called Tavern on Main. It’s a great restaurant with a cool atmosphere and eclectic but delicious food. I ordered the Blackened Shrimp salad, which was loaded with black beans and corn salsa and topped with fresh pineapple and a tangy mango-lime vinaigrette dressing. I think it was the best salad I ever had.
Drinks + A Show
Contemporary Theater Company
One of the main reasons we chose to stay in Wakefield, rather than Newport or Mystic, was because I discovered this amazing theater troupe on Instagram. We went to their show, "Whodunit? An Improvised Murder Mystery.” It was a hilarious show, from beginning to end, and it gave CLUE vibes. Isaac and I had one of their “murder” themed cocktails at the bar, a delicious oatmeal cookie, and we both left with a stomach ache from laughing so much. I highly recommend seeing a show if you’re in the area!
Newport, Rhode Island
Shopping
We’ve been to Newport a handful of times and both absolutely adore the city. This was our first time coming in the winter, so we weren’t too sure what stores would be open since it is a shoreline, summer town. Here’s a list of our favorites from the weekend:
Sips + Munchies
The Nitro Bar
We're always on the hunt for the best coffee around, no matter where we're going. We've been talking about The Nitro Bar ever since we first visited Newport together. Well, we finally stopped in for a coffee and we weren't disappointed. We made the big mistake of getting iced lattes on a cold day, but we slurped it down so fast that we didn’t even have time to lose the feeling in our fingers.
The Red Parrot Restaurant
Before we made the hike to the Breakers Mansion, we stopped for some lunch at The Red Parrot Restaurant. Isaac had the Maui Ahi Tuna Wrap and I went for some delicious flatbread pizza. It was a great lunch and we were stuffed to the gills.
The Breakers Mansion
Our final excursion of the weekend took us to The Breakers Mansion. Although we had been to Newport many times before, we had never been to one of the renowned Newport mansions. The Breakers was stunning, and since we are both history buffs, we had a blast learning about every room and the Vanderbilt family.
After exploring the beautiful interior of the mansion, we had the opportunity to take part in an underground tour called “Under the Breakers.” During this tour, we learned all about the “Gilded Age Technology” that powered the Breakers. It was truly fascinating.
