Successful Meetings - February 2008 - (Page 76)

Meeting Sites > Destination Close Up Meetings Magic Small groups in search of serenity will find it in a Mystic autumn By Anne Marie D. Lee B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill, founded in 1881, is a steam-powered cider mill on North Stonington Road in Mystic, CT, and the oldest in the country. You can’t miss it. Cars will be parked bumper to bumper along the street, since the parking lot is usually packed. A cup of Clyde’s hot cider is simple, pure, and sweet. And what is true of the apples is true of the town of Mystic, where life appears uncomplicated—and the air is, too. Attendees should find the lodging in the East Wing at the Inn at Mystic to be like a comfortable stay at their grandparents’ house. If, that is, their grandparents are from a quiet New England seaboard town. Each room has a working fireplace, fresh firewood, and a small patio area that is accessible through a sliding glass and screen door. (Wi-Fi is sketchy in the East Wing, so you may need to walk over to the main entrance of the Inn to connect to the Internet.) The property has a small private cove for kayaking, as well as a tennis court and a nature path that is perfect for limitless afternoon walks a la Henry David Thoreau. For a grander experience, guests can stay at the Mansion, a stately colonial house that overlooks the Mystic Harbor and Long Island Sound, and has 15 acres of landscaped property that includes apple, pear, peach, and cherry trees—not to mention 47 species of songbirds. According to owner and innkeeper Jody Dyer, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall honeymooned here; today, a host of pink daisies line the asphalt driveway leading to a columned entrance. The mansion provides ample space for group dinners, business events, and cocktail receptions for mimegasite.com groups of up to 40. For larger groups, 100 to 200, the Inn’s wedding facilities offer elegant options on the premises. SEE WORTHY Mystic is home to many worthwhile tourist sights such as the Old Lighthouse Museum and the Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration. The latter is not just an attraction but has been a leader in marine science since 1973. Its undersea environments and exhibits can provide a unique backdrop for corporate events and parties, and groups can also participate in education programs. The institute is home to beluga whales, seals and sea lions, sharks, and numerous other species of sea life, including, not least of all, penguins. In addition to the animals, Mystic Aquarium also features an XD Motion Theater—an experience involving FEBRUARY 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS 76 http://mimegasite.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - February 2008

Successful Meetings - February 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Trade Shows
Events
Research
On the Record
Suppliers
Associations
Planner's Spotlight
Websites of the Month
Technology Talk
Personal Success
Food & Beverage
Pre-Event
On Site
Tools of the Trade
Pre-Event
The Rainbow Connection
The CVB in Your Backyard
Welcome to the Webolution
The Rail Deal
Spas with a Sense of Place
Places & Spaces
Mystic, CT.
Barcelona
Hong Kong
Florida’s East Coast
Atlantic City
Maui, Kauai, & Lanai
Aruba
Houston
Gurus

Successful Meetings - February 2008