Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Mystic Connecticut
On our way to Maine in 2018, we decided to stop in Mystic Connecticut for a couple of nights. It’s a cute little New England town that makes for a great weekend getaway. Here is my list of accessible things to do in Mystic.
Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Mystic Connecticut
Mystic Aquarium
This aquarium has great accessibility and offers a great experience for people of all ages. They have a sea lion show (with an accessible entrance and seating), a touch tank where you can pet a sting ray, and diverse and varied collection of animals. Pathways around the exhibit were paved and generally level. There were no real steep sections that would cause any problems.
My favorite exhibit was the Beluga Whales. I absolutely fell in love and could have spent the whole day watching them. There are two places to watch them, an overlook at the top of their tank and a second viewing area where you can watch them under water.
It was at this second viewing area that I met Juno, a 15-year-old male Beluga Whale. According to the staff, Juno is known for his interactions with guests… sometimes even splashing them to get attention! When he saw me, he was very intrigued and tried to get as close to me as possible, gently pressing himself against the glass.
He would eventually have to go to the surface to get air, but then would come right back down and look for me again. Our eyes met, and we just had this connection. It was quite magical. When I finally went to leave, Juno again came to the surface, this time vocalizing as if to say goodbye. He captured my heart that day and I’ll never forget that experience.
Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport is a living museum and replica of an old sea town that was typical of New England in ages past. As a historic town replica, accessibility is limited. As a result, people with disabilities and their carers have a reduced entrance fee.
When you enter, staff will provide a map that indicates what buildings are accessible. Rolling through town is like going back in time. I really enjoyed living a piece of history.
There was even a carpentry shop where (when we visited) they were doing renovations on the Mayflower replica. Since they wanted everything to be authentic, they were only using the tools and methods that would’ve been used when the Mayflower was originally built.
Everyone who worked there was dressed in period clothes and demonstrated how life was lived long ago. There were several ships displayed throughout the seaport, but unfortunately, they were not accessible. Despite its limited accessibility, I still enjoyed my time here and if you enjoy history, I’d recommend a visit if you’re in town.
There was accessible parking and restrooms available.
Stonington
Stonington is the next town over from Mystic. It is quaint and historic. When I visited, we stopped by to see the Stonington Lighthouse and just wandered around town. The town is full of old buildings from the 1700’s and 1800’s. The main square even has cannons from a battle that was fought there in 1825.
Unfortunately, the lighthouse had steps to enter so it wasn’t wheelchair accessible. The town, however, was easy to roll around despite some uneven sidewalks.
Although I only had two days in Mystic, I feel like we made the most of it. If you are looking for a getaway to a historic and cute New England town, then this is a great option. I hope that my list of accessible things to do in Mystic, Connecticut has piqued your interest and you’ll consider it as part of your next trip.
