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Mystic Seaport is on the tidal Mystic River (doesn't that just sound cool and mysterious?) and drew me like a moth to wool. Once a year there is a marathon reading of Moby Dick aboard the Charles Morgan, a wooden whaling ship now in drydock, but a vessel that really did chase whales to bring them aboard and render their blubber for valuable (at the time) oil.
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Touring the "blubber room" below deck while the words written by Herman Melville filtered down to my ears, well, it was pure magic. The particular passage was about sighting a whale and giving chase and here I was standing in a room on a ship where it all actually happened.
The marathon happens in conjunction with Melville's birthday in August, and there was even a white whale sheet cake at the conclusion.
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A few tips: Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. There is plenty to see at the seaport and it is the size of a village. Food and drink are plentiful, budget accordingly to eat on site or pack a picnic cooler for a trek back to the parking lot afterwards.
Nearby: The Sea Swirl is a family favorite, a clam shack that also features ultra fresh seafood, hot dogs, ice cream, French fries like you remember then from your childhood. Downtown Mystic offers many more choices from sit-down dining to ice cream and sandwiches.