The Local-ish Coastal Town That Sounds Perf For Your Next Staycation

Julia Roberts. Nope, she wasn’t one of the many celebs who have been spotted in Newport this summer. (And don’t even get me started about the numerous Bill Murray sightings in and around Rhode Island last week!) Anywho, Julia got her start in a wonderful little movie called Mystic Pizza about a small coastal town pizza parlor and the three young women working there, that I highly recommend watching if you’ve never had the pleasure.

In addition, I also suggest motoring over to real life Mystic Pizza in Ct. The movie put Julia on the map pre-Pretty Woman. The really good news, though, is that people are STILL flocking there, snapping photos of the sign outside, and eating pizza which really does live up to the hype.

If you're looking for a few other reasons to take a mini road trip over to Mystic soon, it just so happens that I have a few spots you will def want to add to your sightseeing itinerary.

Spicer Mansion

Photo Courtesy of the Spicer Mansion Instagram

A boutique hotel by the same ppl behind resorts like the Ocean House in Watch Hill and the Weekapaug Inn? Spicer Mansion is everything you'd expect and more. The meticulously restored former sea captain's house (circa late 1800's) is an eight bedroom oasis tucked away on a picturesque side street that's quite literally a few minutes walk from the town. They also have bikes and a BMW at the disposal of their guests who's rather ride in style to their destination.

I had lunch (including a mocktail and a vegetarian version of one of their pastas) on the Veuve Clicquot umbrella-ed patio not long ago, and it was marvelous! And I feel like it would also be a perfect place for a September weekend when the weather is still pretty mild and many of the other out-of-towners have headed back whence they came.

Sift Bake Shop

Most of the scones I've had run the gamut from meh to rock city, and no, I'm not talking about Detroit. The one I sampled at Sift, however, was hands down the best one I've ever had in my whole entire life.

So, suffices to say that the bakery does in fact live up to the ballyhoo and buildup, including but not limited to their winning 'Best Baker In America' from the Food Network earlier back in June.

And as with the Spicer Mansion, there's a Watch Hill connection…last season they opened their very first outpost in WH, which I'll bet dollars to donuts (didn't see any of those, but everything else in the Mystic shop looked scrumptious and there were lines when I arrived) is doing crazy great business again this year.

Photo Credits: Thumbnail image used with licensing and permission from IStock/Getty Images; Spicer Mansion photo courtesy of their Instagram; additional photos by Patty J