Connecticut - 2003
Updated: 11/30/08
Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison, CT)
Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration (Mystic, CT)
Sailing on the Argia (Mystic, CT)
Nuclear Submarine - USS Nautilus (Groton, CT)
Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison, CT)
This was the first we had thought about ocean tide.
We spend the afternoon and evening being beachbums - walking the beach and watching the sea gulls feed at low tide. The seagulls were very ingenious. If they couldn't get the catch out easily, they would pick up the shell and fly back to the asphalt road and drop it to break it open.
Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration (Mystic, CT)
The aquarium provides some outdoor and indoor exhibits for children. Their main focus is intensive deep sea exploration. Both were enjoyable, the deep sea exhibits were fascinating..
A Beluga whale and a two-month old sea lion ...
This Penquin was just slowly swimming around.
And the Sea Lion show was a favorite of kids of all ages.
Inside were exhibits of any under water creature you could think of. The Jelly Fish exhibit was especially interesting.
Their deep sea exploration has discovered a treasure store of artifacts. Some of which have been recovered and displayed.
We visited the Mystic Seaport with the tour group and went back the following day. The ticket is good for two consecutive days and we took advantage of the second day - the tour gave us only two hours. Plan on a lot of walking on your own after the guided tour.
They have three tall ships on display. All available for boarding.
L. A. Dunton
(Fishing Schooner)
Charles W. Morgan
(Whaling Bark)
Joseph Conrad
(Training Ship)
... The Charles W. Morgan ...
The cargo hold and the hull. No space was wasted.
Can you tell which is the crew bunks and the captain's bunk?
... L. A. Dunton ...
... Joseph Conrad ...
The Joseph Conrad is made of steel and was used as a training ship for young men ages 12 to 16. The students were taught all aspects of sailing. The crew kept the wood and brass in "A-1" shape. The ship is currently used during the summer for training.
The
current day student sailor has decent bunks.
Mystic Seaport has a working preservation shipyard. Their goal is to remain historically correct. They have a lathe that can turn a one hundred foot mast.
This
dry dock is used to take each of their ships out of the water for maintenance
and repair.
A
scale model of Mystic showing one mile of the Mystic River in historic detail is
in progress.
The collection of boat figureheads caught our interest in addition to many other studios of art and artifacts.
Mystic
Seaport is a 40 acre facility containing more than a million artifacts. It is a
seaport brought to life as they were in our history - ships, homes, shops and
trade buildings . It is well worth your time. It depends on your interests, we
were there five hours.
Sailing on the Argia (Mystic, CT)
(An 'under way' photo.)
The weather did not look too promising for our sail. As you can see, it turned out to be a beautiful morning and we had a great cruise in Fishers Island Sound.
We motored out of the harbor and the crew asked for help raising the sails. When we were returning, the crew took care of lowering the sails.
The crew made all the passengers feel old.
First Mate - Captain - Mate
Nuclear Submarine - USS Nautilus (Groton, CT)
Our
first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, was decommissioned in 1980 and
set up for tourist. It has glass panels separating the visitors from the torpedo
room, attack center, control room, living quarters and dining areas. It still
gives an idea of what 'living' on a sub was like - tight spaces. You entered
thru an enclosed room and used a hand-held electronic device which gave you
information as you walked the sub.
The control room and periscope area ...
Space was limited. The bunks were small and the doors were smaller.
The adjacent Submarine Force Museum is very informative using models, films and equipment to present the history of the USA submarine force.