CONNECTICUT - Mystic/Eastern

As you approach the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, the sleek profile of the high-rise buildings with their jaunty, jagged roofline is a clue that you are in for something bold and uninhibited. Inside the casino, you’re sure of it. Whether or not you gamble, the Sun is a jaw-dropping wonderland of design, architecture, entertainment, dining, and … shopping. The main concourse is packed jaw-to-jaw with an unusual array of shops, from major brands in outdoor wear at Trailblazer to lavish cut crystal jewelry at Swarovski to Fisher Price toys. Even if you leave your plastic in your pocket, you will still enjoy the spectacle.

“Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below,” a new exhibit at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, opening April 12, 2012, commemorates the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the famous ship. The exhibit is a collaboration between oceanographic explorer Dr. Robert Ballard and Tim Delaney, a former Walt Disney designer. Bringing the legendary vessel’s timeless history to life, “Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below” captivates minds with a glowing iceberg that is cold to the touch, a bi-level adventure area inspired by Titanic’s engine room, hands-on experiences that unfold Titanic’s lingering mysteries, and modern deep-sea technology that led to Titanic’s eventual discovery. Phone: 860-572-5955.

Located in the beautiful small town of North Stonington, Jonathan Edwards Winery, at 74 Chester Maine Road, is situated on a 48-acre hilltop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Jonathan Edwards creates premium California and Connecticut wines to highlight each coast’s climate. The two diverse product lines complement each other and allow guests to sample delicious wines that showcase what each area is known for. Wine lovers are welcome to stop in, taste the wines, tour the winery and vineyards, enjoy a picnic, and browse the gift shop for wine items and local treats. Each season in the vineyard has its own unique charm. Phone: 860-535-0202.

With steel runners below you, horses in harness in front, and heavy lap robes on top, you are ready for a winter sleigh ride – one of the most memorable of all New England winter adventures. Cedar Knoll Farm in Lisbon hosts sleigh rides through the countryside. Cedar Knoll offers hay wagons drawn by horses with a capacity to carry up to a dozen riders. The more traditional sleigh ride with a 19th century sleigh is available for any twosome. These sleigh rides come with warm lap robe and enough jingle bells to put the sound in your mind for days to come. The farm offers the opportunity to host parties in its Party Room, with sleigh rides as the featured event of the day. Whether in intimate couples or as a group, a Connecticut sleigh ride is wonderful winter fun. Phone: 860-376-8110.

One fine way to soothe and encourage the gourmet cook in your family is through a gift-buying trip to Weekend Kitchen at 6 North Main Street in Essex. Founders David and Nancy Smith have created a shopping environment that is beautiful, eclectic, and old worldly. The cookware and kitchenware is a mix of traditionally styled and often hand crafted items along with more contemporary design oriented products. The shop’s faux finished walls, serene mural, and antique fixtures create an inviting setting in which to shop for yourself or a special gift. Come find everything from sculpted copper coffee scoops to panini pans. Phone: 860-767-1010.

Connecticut Audubon Society sponsors a boat tour to view eagles wintering along the Connecticut River aboard the RiverQuest, which departs from Eagle Landing State park in Haddam. On a cruise aboard RiverQuest, you will the beauty and solitude of the lower Connecticut River, home to dozens of migrating bald eagles, occasional golden eagles and harbor seals. A naturalist will talk about eagle biology and ecology, and point out other wintering birds and wildlife that may be seen on this cruise. RiverQuest has a fully enclosed heated cabin, but dress warmly because you will want to be outside for most of the journey observing our wintering wildlife up close. Bring a snack with you or enjoy lunch before or after the cruise at the Griswold Inn or The Black Seal. Cruises take place weekends and Thursdays from February 11 to March 13, 2012. Phone: 860-662-0577.

Here is a project that can keep you busy year-round: explore the 15 world-class museums and historic sites that comprise the Connecticut Art Trail. The trail meanders among historic sites, bucolic farms, art studios and artists' houses to grand and modern art museums in vibrant downtowns. The trail includes a feature called Trail Getaways that presents recommended itineraries along with helpful suggestions for nearby places to visit and dine. In the Mystic region, the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, the William Benton Museum of Art in Mansfield/Storrs, the Hill-Stead Museum in Farmington, and the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain.

If you are drawn to the Connecticut River by the beauty of its unspoiled marshlands, the Connecticut River Museum on Main Street in Essex offers an exceptional vantage point in all seasons. From its docks you can see bald eagles, migratory birds, and a wide variety of waterfowl. The tidal wetlands that surround the Museum are an environmental treasure. The family-friendly exhibits are filled with art and artifacts that link the river’s stories to our lives today. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 860-767-8269.

Among its other virtues as a hiking and lookout site, Bluff Point State Park off Depot Road in Groton is a rich resource for bird watchers. Many shorebirds can be seen year round. Along the loop trail watch for various shore birds in the river, mudflats and salt marsh. The tangles of vines along the trail and the beach are other fruitful places to view many species. In the fall American pipits are common and in the winter the Ipswich race of the savannah sparrow is sometimes seen, as well as an occasional snowy owl. Various grebes, cormorants, gulls and ducks are often seen from the bluff. Phone: 860-444-7591

A visit to B. F. Clyde's Cider Mill at 1129 North Stonington Road in Mystic is like stepping back in time. This cider mill, built in 1881, is now being operated by the sixth generation of the Clyde family. It calls itself the only steam-powered cider mill in the United States. The season starts in September with hard ciders and apple wines, jams, jellies, local honey, maple syrup, and fudge. Also available in the fall are apples, apple pies, pumpkin bread, gourds, Indian corn, pumpkins, candy apples, kettle corn and apple cider donuts. Cider-making demonstrations are held weekends, 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Open daily, September through late December. Phone: 860-536-3354.

Tova’s Vintage Shop, at 1330 Boston Post Road, on the Connecticut shoreline in Old Saybrook is a trove of fashion rom the late 1800's to the 1970's. Beautiful dresses, sweaters, skirts, jewelry, handbags and accessories. This vintage shop has been named "Best Retro Duds" by Yankee Magazine, and "Best Vintage Shop" by New England Travel and Life ( Boston Magazine). Don’t hesitate; a 1950s Christian Dior dress in perfect condition is waiting to go home with you. Phone: 860-395-1955.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, which is the world's largest Native American museum, offers experiences for young and old, from life-size dioramas that transport visitors into the past to changing exhibits and live performances of contemporary arts. Four acres of permanent exhibits depict 18,000 years of Native and natural history, while two libraries offer materials on the histories and cultures of all Native peoples of the continent. The museum is located on Pequot Trail in Ledyard, near the Foxwoods Resort and Casino. Phone: 800-411-9671

The Windham Textile and History Museum , located in the former home of the American Thread Company at 411 Main Street in Willimantic,, preserves the history of the textile industry and how it affected the economy, culture, and lives of New England people from the 1800s to the present. Nineteenth century working conditions were often harsh in America’s mills. Later, advanced technological change and labor unrest roiled life in the textile mills. This museum displays the workplaces and the people whose lives centered upon the textiles of New England. Guided tours on Sunday at 2 p.m.; self-guided tours during hours of operation. Hours of Operation: Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: 860-377-7755.

Winner of numerous bests-in-Connecticut and readers’ choice awards, the Bowerbird gift shop at 46 Halls Road in Old Lyme declares itself a prime source for “impulsive necessities.” With 4,500 square feet of impulsive necessities from 2,000 vendors, the vast selection of great gifts here just has to satisfy the majority of any gift-giving list. The merchandise, all of it fun, trendy, and useful, includes decorative home and garden accessories, toys, baby gifts, stationery, jewelry, gourmet food. This is a great browsing and shopping stop during a trip to this lovely seaside town. Phone: 860-434-3562.

Olde Mistick Village, on Coogan Blvd. in Mystic, just off Exit 90 of I-95, is a quirky but really fun place to shop, especially as the Christmas season approaches. It is an open-air shopping center set up to resemble a Colonial village, complete with duck ponds, a waterwheel and replica of a steepled New England meetinghouse, where performances and special events take place. Visitors can wander along brick pathways to our more than 40 stores that sell exceptional gift items from the world over. The meeting house and Victorian gazebo host performances of musicians, dancers, and storytellers free of charge, will bring back the nostalgia of yesteryear. Lots of seasonal events include a fest of lights at Christmas and egg hunts at Easter. Open daily, year-round. Phone: 860-536-4941.