Beluga Whales or Caviar await you in Mystic

The octagon-shaped open kitchen with a flaming grill is just one of the many charms of the Octagon restaurant at the Marriott Hotel & Spas in Groton CT, five minutes from the village. The huge painting "Le Sommelier" by local artist Roy Carruthers which dominates the south wall is another. That' Director of Restaurants Patrice Conde who is all over his guest with Gallic charm and Executive Chef Rosemary Brodeur handing me my signature Octagon 24 ounce Rib Eye bone-in steak.

A beautiful Fall weekend in nearby Mystic Connecticut

By Walter & Patricia Brooks

Mystic is a bit over a two hour drive from Cape Cod on I-195, and these wonderful, bright Fall days are a great time to spend a  couple days in this lively and fascinating seaport.

The Vidalia Onions were grilled, stacked on Heirloom Tomatoes and sprinkled with Gorgonzola.

The 24 ounce Octagon Signature steak was a bone-in Rib Eye. See the rest of the menu.

Pat raved over her King Salmon steak.

The hotel is elegant, Click image to see it larger.

All you Catboat sailors around here already know about the Mystic Seaport and the charming village which surrounds it. This isn't a Williamsburg recreation- this is the way it really was during the age of sail. And since the village is an active seaport, the food is superb.

Whether you are seeking Beluga caviar or Beluga whales at the local Mystic Aquarium, you find both here because there is a Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa right on the interstate a five minute drive from the village where you can cater to your aching appetite or your aching body with equal success.

Chances are, you'd go for the caviar and your children would rather see the whale, but you and your family can have both in Mystic, Connecticut 125 miles to the west.

Dinner in the Octagon

Let's start with the Beluga caviar and other taste treats at the Marriott's posh Octagon restaurant. The dining room is lovely, and the service impeccable. The only problem was deciding between the outrageous choice on the menu.

On our first evening I started with the Grilled Vidalia Onion and Heirloom Tomatoes in a Balsamic-Bleu Cheese Vinaigrette while my wife had some of the best Crab Cakes ever served with Jalapeño Tartar Sauce.

For entrées we shared a grilled, Chili-rubbed, 24 ounce, bone-in Rib Eye steak and King Salmon steak. I won't even admit we had two desserts afterward.

A Great Hotel

The extraordinary dinners are beautifully served in a large stunning room with an open kitchen and roaring fire. A fine selection of wine is available, perfect for relaxation after a busy touring day.

But it's easy to unwind and relax at this place with or without the wine. This is a peaceful hotel because of its size - at 6-stories, with 285 guest rooms, it's not too big and not too small, and it's also quiet because of its location overlooking a lake.

This AAA four-diamond hotel is also attractive to look at from the outside, since the yellow U-shaped building blends well with the surrounding hills and its rich Fall foliage. Not only does the Marriott look good from the outside in, but also from the inside out. Many of the rooms face the large reservoir across the road, and the stately trees surrounding it are mirrored inside.

The marble-floored lobby is large but doesn't feel cold because it's divided into two sections, each with comfortable seating and stunning rugs. Those unused to Connecticut tranquility (say, those with children) who feel they need a jolt, can walk to the end of the lobby where there's a small Starbucks and a less formal restaurant called Vines.

Behind the Red Door

Relaxation is also possible at the well-maintained pool, whirlpool and fitness center, especially since two hours a day only adults are allowed in the pool. This is wonderful for those who don't like children screaming in their pool.

Right next to the pool is the elegant adults-only Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa which offers hair-dressing & barber services, manicure and make-up facilities, nice to find such high-end luxury in a medium sized hotel.

The Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon is at the entrance of the hotel.

Men are often squeamish about a massages, so the Red Door offers a fast, abbreviated 25 minutes version. If I could persuade your own "Metroman" to try anything, it would be a facial at the Red Door. Think of it as a massage for the brain.

The spa itself not only provides standard spa treatments, but also their own signature packages and rituals. For example, there's a cream and sugar scrub, olive oil exfoliation, and even a specialized pregnancy massage, etc.

The service at the spa and throughout the hotel is excellent, and you feel that everyone is going out of his/her way to provide not only efficient but friendly service. For those used to hotels in more "glamorous" locations, like the Caribbean, or Florida, or New York, the Mystic Marriott will prove to be a pleasant surprise, as is the fact that there is so much for adults and children to do and see in this area.

Mystic is for everyone

Conveniently located half way between Boston and New York, the Mystic area is filled with places that will entertain the while family. 

Twenty minutes from the Marriott, adults can spend time at the Foxwoods or the Mohegan SUN. There's a shuttle service from the hotel that goes directly to these Indian-owned casinos each evening, but remember to bring plenty of wampum there.

During the days, children (and their parents) will enjoy the Mystic Seaport, a recreation of a maritime village with special exhibits such as female pirates and sea captains. This classic New England attraction is an easy walk from the village center where we had the best chowder ever at the S & P Restaurant next to the drawbridge. There is also an excellent new Thai restaurant at the RR station nearby.

There are also sure hits for kids at places like Nature's Art in Montville with a dinosaur exhibit, or Groton, which houses the USSNautilus. This is America's first nuclear powered submarine, and you can now tour it and see how tight the quarters are.

The seaside village of Stonington is four miles east, and is as elegant a New England town as exists.

Perhaps the most popular place in this region for families is the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration, which is like a small theme park. It's filled with splashy aquatic exhibits from all over the world and this is where you'd find the big Beluga whale.

Not only can you watch these graceful mammals in the Alaskan Coast exhibit, but they have a special whale-touch program where you - or more likely your child - can touch their backs and belly and see up close how they breath, spout and "sing."

Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa
625 North Road (Route 117 at Exit 88 on I-195)
Groton, CT 06340 USA
Phone: 1 860-446-2600
To make reservations by phone, call 1-800-228-9290