Nearby RI: Close By, Worth the Trip – Olde Mistick Village, Shopping, Dining & Strolling Experience

(Photo, top: Duck pond at Olde Mistick Village in Mystic, Connecticut. Photo: Naufragiosus / Wikimedia Commons / CC0.)

By RINewsToday News Team – This is the first in our new summer series – Nearby RI: Close by, Worth the Trip – enjoying your summer with limited investment of time and money – and some things for the whole family or just for two… Ideas? Send to [email protected] – Go? Send us pix!

What does the top U.S. importer of Polish pottery have in common with an immersive Alice in Wonderland-themed bookshop filled with Victorian treasures?

They’re both just steps away from one of the top-rated restaurants in Connecticut’s top-ranked tourist destination — and all three are part of Olde Mistick Village – a short 45-50 minute field trip from Providence.

Conveniently located just off I-95 as the Gateway to Mystic, Olde Mistick Village is one of New England’s premier shopping, dining, and strolling destinations. Each year, more than 2.3 million visitors from Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, and beyond make their way to this 22-acre village of independent shops, restaurants, gardens, and gathering spaces.

With 53 unique merchants, Olde Mistick Village is home to the largest collection of independent retailers in New England. The village setting is part of the experience: free-standing shops, wide walkways, landscaped gardens, a central green, a gazebo for live music, a duck pond, and even a meeting house where free weddings are performed every Valentine’s Day.

It is easy to see why Hallmark movie producers have been drawn to the setting — and why visitors return year after year.

Olde Mistick Village offers the kind of relaxed, friendly shopping experience that has become harder to find. Dog bowls are a fixture outside many shops, and four-legged visitors are warmly welcomed. At Raining Cats & Dogs, pet lovers can find everything from breed-specific specialty items to upscale everyday essentials.

The village is carefully curated, family-owned, and deeply rooted in the Mystic experience. Merchants are individually owned, and there is a waiting list of businesses hoping to become part of the destination.

(Publisher’s Note: You won’t find what’s become a cookie cutter pick of shop – sunglass chain store, chain ice cream shop, beauty store, kids clothing, etc. – found at almost every mall these days. The convenience of negotiating multiple mall locations seems to have overtaken the more successful – we predict – job of curating independent shops.)

Among the standout shops is Manufaktura/Janelle Imports, the No. 1 importer of Polish pottery in the United States. Each handcrafted piece is made in Bolesławiec, Poland, using the centuries-old tradition of artistically crafted stoneware.

For those looking for something whimsical, two Alice in Wonderland-themed immersive shops offer a browsing experience that has to be seen to be believed. Filled with Victorian-inspired items and imaginative displays, they are more than stores — they are destinations within the destination.

Bestemors, whose name means “grandmother” in Norwegian, has been part of Olde Mistick Village for more than 40 years. Shoppers return for specialty items from Norway and Sweden, as well as what is known as the largest selection of clogs in the Northeast.

When it is time to eat, Trattoria Amalfi brings the flavors of the Italian coastline to Mystic, with fresh local seafood, seasonal ingredients, and house-made pasta. The restaurant has been recognized by Tripadvisor as among the top 1% of restaurants worldwide.

Olde Mistick Village is also known for its seasonal events. The upcoming Strawberry Festival will feature local farmers, exhibitors, musicians, and vendors lining the walkways with produce, handmade items, and summer treats. In September, the popular Garlic Fest draws roughly 25,000 visitors over the weekend.

That blend of distinctive shops, memorable food, family-friendly events, and walkable charm has made Olde Mistick Village a New England favorite for more than five decades.

Recognized with Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Award for 2025, Olde Mistick Village ranks among the top 10% of destinations worldwide — a fitting honor for a place that continues to offer something rare: an experience that feels local, welcoming, and unlike anywhere else.

What we love about Old Mistic is you can get there easily and conserve on those road trip gas guzzlers – on a whim, even! – and shop until you drop – dine in style – and even stay at a local hotel for an extended staycation – OR – stop by with the strollers and walk around, look at the ducks in the water, buy a trinket or two, get some fudge or candy, buy a Christmas tree ornament to remember your trip by, and grab an inexpensive meal or a snack – and – what is right nearby? Mystic Aquarium!  Something for everyone! Benches to sit and linger – and in close proximity to Westerly and the Stoningtons – you might even plan two trips this summer – one with the family to check out a festival or the Aquarium – and one for a romantic interlude.  You won’t be disappointed!