Weekend Excursion

As autumn creeps up, warmweather weekends will soon be behind us. Now is the time to get out and explore the local waterfronts before mittens and ear muffs become part of our daily attire.

Mystic Seaport, most commonly associated with the 1988 indie favorite Mystic Pizza, is the country's leading maritime museum, featuring the largest collections of boats and sea-related photography in the world. "Two-thirds of the world is covered by the sea," the museum's website says. "And all of the sea is covered by our exhibits and special events."

The historic landmark lies on the site of three defunct shipyards, which collectively produced more than 600 vessels between 1784 and 1919. Converted into a museum in 1929, Mystic Seaport today features a village, exhibit galleries, a shipyard where visitors can still see wooden shipbuilding in action, and a boat ride and rental service.

This Sun., Sept. 23, Mystic Seaport presents "By Land and By Sea," an antique motor vehicle show featuring cars, trucks, and motorcycles from the turn of the century. A Model-T Ford will be built during the day and displayed in the Grand Parade at 3 p.m. Visitors will also have the opportunity to ride in several of the antique vehicles on display. Perfect for car lovers, history buffs, and grandparents, the event even includes a farmer's market. For more information about the event, call (860) 572-0711, ext. 5056.

When you've had enough of the antiques and boat rides, head into the town of Mystic for a slice of the pizza Julia Roberts made famous. Located at 56 Main St., Mystic Pizza was established in 1973 by the Zelepos Family, and since the release of the 1988 film of the same name, it has acquired a legendary reputation as "a slice of Heaven" and "mystic indeed." —Katherine Hill

The ships and exhibits of Mystic Seaport are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the museum grounds are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located in Mystic, Conn., it is approximately one mile south of I-95, exit 90. Amtrak serves New London and Mystic on a daily limited schedule. Regular admission is $17 for adults, $9 for adolescents, and free for children under five.

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