Mystic, CT - Bronxville,NY

The seaport. Mystic Village. Little shops. The Nautilus submarine. Do a search for that area. I know there are other things but my mind just went blank lol.

As others have said the Dinosaur Place is great, the Seaport, the Pewuot museum, the nautilus submarine. But also there is Essex steam train nearby, Gilettes castle, rocky neck state park (beach), ocean beach park. You can also take the ferry to block island for the day. Fun stuff, but nothing is cheap either. You are close enough to Watch hill RI too, but they have a rip current out by the sand bars so be careful. Have fun.

The main attraction of Mystic is the seaport! You can also go to Gillette Castle, tour the Nautilis. Have fun.

Definitely the village! Super fun, and easy to spend a whole day there.

We vacationed in Mystic one year while driving up the eastern coast. We loved the Pequot Folk Museum near the casino. Don't miss it! Get the headphones when walking through the "village". It explains everything.

I actually went to the pizza restaurant that was featured in the movie "Mystic Pizza". It doesn't look anything like the movie, but it was kind of cool to be there. (If you haven't seen the movie, rent it. I think it might have been Julia Roberts' first movie, or at least one of them.)

Check out the Dinosaur Place. My kids love it. Nice and relaxing walk through the woods with dinosaurs. Also Dino themed splash pad. Can mine for gold or dig for gems or fossils.

http://naturesartvillage.com/thedinosaurplace/

You mention the Aquarium but I am sure you are going to go to the seaport also. Also if you get a chance their is a nuclear submarine the Nautilus in Groton. Museum and you get to go on the submarine.

We drive there for a day every time we visit my aunt in CT. We don't stay in a hotel bc it's only an hour from her house. The aquarium is fun as is this little village you can walk around. The town itself is fun to walk around, get lunch, go in shops, antique stores, and get ice cream. My kids liked walking a dock, watching the drawbridge go up for boats, and exploring at the edge of the water on a side street (we found a little beach). It's such a cute/fun town. We love it!

It's a short ride to get to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Very good and interest museum that kids love.

I grew up in Mystic and have found my way back (Boston, DC, and NYC in between), and have a 3 and 4 year old. Not sure how old your child is, but aquarium and seaport are main attractions. There is a little children's area they love in the seaport. They have a little trip on the Sabino which goes up the river, which may or may not interest you. I would also take an afternoon or go for ice cream at the end of the day at Watch Hill. It is only a half hour away and is worth the trip. There is the beautiful Carousel right at the beach and St. Clare's Annex for a quick meal and fantastic ice cream. There is also a little candy shop that is very kitschy and old fashioned. On the way to that, stop into Stonington Borough for a drive by. Restaurants there include Dogwatch cafe which serves ice cream during the summer, Noah's, or Skippers Dock right on the water.

In mystic, just stay right in Olde Mystic Village in one of the chain hotels, all right off exit 90. There are all decent except maybe Days Inne, which looks rundown. Comfort Inn, Hilton, Hyatt, are all good and Hampton Suites is new. The only one that is a little misrepresented is Mystic Marriott which is in the next town over. Nice, but not in mystic. Restaurants in mystic that are super kid friendly are Ten Clams and Mangoes in mystic village, and mystic pizza, pizzetta, and margaritas in downtown mystic are ok too. Right down the river are Fords Lobsters and Abbotts which are very scenic and kid friendly. Other restaurants that are good are bravo bravo, s and p oyster, the oyster club, Anthony j's which you could bring kids to, but I wouldn't say they are kid friendly per se. Steak loft is very good too and we bring our kids there.

Ice cream: the favorite is Drawbridge ice cream right at the bridge. Across the street is the Blue Horse children's shoppe. across the bridge is a really cute toy store Mystical Toys.

Breakfast (if you are a breakfast person): mystic diner is decent, but the better ones are off the beaten path to include Somewhere in Time, Kitchen Little and Noah's in Stonington Borough. That is about all I can think of. Oh, and just another 5 minutes from Watch Hill is Misquamicut Beach. I was never a fan growing up but with kids I have a new appreciation for it. Kind of cute. Good luck. Hope this helps.