We've been on the Mystic for a couple of decades, and have been members of the seaport longer than that. We dinghy up there all summer, usually spend a few nights at the dock just to experience the seaport at night. There is a dinghy dock in downtown Mystic just south of the highway bridge right where there are many restaurants, ice cream shops, and curio stores. A little farther south on the west side is a small town dock where you can tie up and go to the Daniel Packer Inn. Go to the pub in the basement and order the goat cheese medallion salad. If its morning, walk two blocks north and stop at Sift, an incredible bakery, or across the street at Rise, an awesome but more traditional breakfast diner. Just a touch further south on the east side of the river, but still north of the railroad bridge is Red 36, a relatively new but great restaurant with a wonderful view of Fort Rachel, the marina I stay at. Just south of the restaurant is it's dinghy dock. They have a chocolate creme brulee which is incredible! If you are going to come to Mystic, remember that the swing rail bridge is hailed by locals as "mystic rail" and the bascule bridge just north of the rail bridge is "mystic highway". If you hail either as "mystic bridge" you will be soundly ignored. During the day mystic rail is open unless there is a train coming so don't ask for an open if it's closed. However, if it's open check in with the bridgemaster when you're approaching Brewer's marina to let him know you're coming. The highway bridge opens every hour at the :40. If you ask the highway bridge dumb questions you will be ignored. Check the tides, when the bridge opens boats with the current have right of way. If you attempt to violate this most sacrosanct of rules the bridgemaster will scold you and all the onlookers downtown will mock you. Yup, a lot of us carry portable vhfs. Channel 13 btw. If you don't want to stay at the Seaport (you can also anchor just north of the seaport but watch your depths), call Fort Rachel Marina. I believe it is the best marina on the Mystic. The rail line is a breakwater so it is as flat as a mill pond and you are a short dinghy ride or walk from everything. Oh, and Don the manager and the rest of the guys (and Laura) are amazing.