How to Spend the Perfect Romantic Day in Mystic Country

Start your day off properly caffeinated at one of the region’s many quaint coffee or bakery shops. The charming Victoria Station Café in downtown Putnam is the perfect spot to fuel up for the day. They specialize in homemade pastries and also serve up great coffee and espresso drinks, particularly their “world-famous Chai.” For a flaky croissant that rivals Paris, try Sift Bake Shop in Mystic, and for a funky downtown vibe, complete with a view of the Thames River and delicious coffee and baked goods, head to Muddy Waters in New London.

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Mystic Country has plenty of great places to take a walk, whether it be strolling a historic main street, exploring a downtown waterfront, or hiking in the woods. If the latter is more your style, check out Bluff Point Coastal Reserve  in Groton, Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown or Salmon River State Forest in Colchester. You will love stumbling upon an unexpected waterfall, and of course, the Comstock Bridge, one of Connecticut’s only remaining covered bridges, is the perfect romantic photo opp mid-hike. If a slow stroll with your sweetie is more your pace, the historic streets of Putnam, Water Street in Stonington or downtown Mystic should all do the trick.

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Nothing says romance like sipping on some wine, and there is certainly no shortage of vineyards in the area to achieve just that. The charming barn at Jonathan Edwards Winery in North Stonington is a picturesque backdrop for a romantic outdoor picnic. They are currently opened for wines by the glass or bottle with outdoor seating, so bundle up and don’t forget the blankets! Other vineyards of note include Stonington Vineyards, Sharpe Hill Vineyard in Pomfret and Maugle Sierra Vineyards & Winery in Ledyard. Over at Taylor Brooke Winery in Woodstock, their winter winery experience is now taking place at their brewery just down the hill. Make sure you get there early to secure a toasty covered spot by the fire pit!

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You have gotten your exercise and unwound with some vino, now it’s time to feast! Whether you are craving steak or seafood, hearty pasta or a refreshing salad, these places will have you feeling the love long after dinner is over.

Over in Putnam, Elizabeth’s Farmhouse is a cozy, rustic little spot with a gourmet menu and homemade desserts, including a double chocolate hostess cupcake cake that will bring you back to your childhood in the best possible way. In other words, it was delicious! If the Mystic waterfront is more your style, you can’t go wrong at S&P Oyster. Their current winter patio setup includes romantic café string lights and your own personal firepit. Add a glass of red or white and you have got yourself a recipe for romance. If an historic colonial pub on the Mystic River, complete with stone wall fireplaces, sounds more your speed, try the Captain Daniel Packer Inne. Want to make a night of it? The Inn at Woodstock Hill offers multiple fine dining options and a 21-room inn that’s just what you’d expect of a classic New England bed and breakfast, right down to the four-post beds.

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