Connecticut!

Leaving Rhode Island (to the sound of Elijah's "When is room time?" and Josiah's helpful response, "No room time. Connecticut!"), we spent our afternoon along the Mystic River at Mystic Seaport, a living history museum depicting coastal life in 19th century New England.

Mystic River

A view of one of the streets

There were lots of ships to look at and climb board and lots of little buildings to explore; way more to see than we possibly could see in half a day.

In the bottom of the Charles W. Morgan, an 1841 whaling ship being restored at their shipyard

Lobster traps! 

In front of Joseph Conrad, a training ship, built in 1882

So many hands-on, real life things for the boys to enjoy

The children's play room was full of many hand-carved toys and puzzles

Ship building materials

Beautiful playground

The boys loved it! Mystic Seaport did a really good job at being educational and engaging for all ages.

And then my camera battery died, so no pictures of the delicious sea food from the tiny family-owned seaside restaurant, boasting of the best lobster rolls in New England (it was delicious!). The boys were fascinated by Dustin's whole lobster, but very content to eat their mac and cheese and apples.

Now onto Vermont!

Travel and Rhode Island

We had a lovely trip to New England! The boys basically play Revolutionary War all day every day, so I think the trip was a success. Although, they deviated from their fighting tonight to play with lobsters,; sometimes cooking them for Dustin and me, sometimes making them pets. They were tucked into bed tonight with the lobsters and story about the USS Constitution.

The boys were fabulous airplane travelers....lots of coloring and playdough. 

We flew into Providence, Rhode Island around midnight and headed straight for Newport. In the morning, after enjoying the hotel's fascinating pancake making machine, we headed out to tour The Breakers, the Vanderbilt's beautiful home.

From the front 

From the back

 

We walked along the Atlantic coast...

The ocean here was red from some kind of ocean plant

First time in the Atlantic Ocean!

And then, checking Rhode Island off our list, we headed to Connecticut for the rest of the day!