A seafaring town since the mid 17th century, Mystic was once bustling ship building center and harbor town. Today, Mystic is one of the most popular stops on the Connecticut coast, where the Mystic Seaport Museum offers a world-class representation of its past history.
   A leisurely drive on both sides of the Mystic River, following Greenmanville Avenue and River Road, is a great way to enjoy this charming New England town. Near the mouth of the Mystic River, where U.S. 1 crosses a narrow section of the river, visitors will discover the Mystic Historic District. Here on east and west Main, restaurants, souvenir shops, sailing schooners, tall ships and the Mystic River Drawbridge all compete for attention. One of the most famous stops in town for lunch, dinner or a snack is the Mystic Pizza restaurant. Once the focus and setting for screenwriter Amy Jones, the Mystic Pizza motion picture made its debut in 1988. The film, earning a dedicated fan-base after its release, followed the lives of three waitresses.
   Believe it or not, the Mystic Bascule Bridge is part of the lure of this small town. With 2200 openings a year, a visit to Mystic may well include the drawbridge in action. Located in the middle of town, as the drawbridge bells begin to ring and the road gates drop, it's a good bet a crowd of tourists will form. Powered by a pair of 1400 pound electric motors, the massive 85 foot span begins to tilt skyward, all counter-weighted by 460 tons of concrete.
   Closed for 48 hours to accommodate a spring restoration project, visitors, ship captains, and town residents quickly discovered the importance of their drawbridge.

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