What do you tell tourists?

Do tourists stop you when you're walking or working to ask what they should do or where they should eat?

Ever since I moved here almost three years ago, I’ve been asked those questions daily during tourist season. (Actually, the first question I was ever asked by a tourist was, "Do you realize your skirt is tucked into the back of your underwear?)

Figuring I must be a resident since I'm out and about walking a funny-looking dog (half beagle, half basset hound), visitors want my opinion. Many, I was surprised to learn, only stop in Mystic for a meal on their way between New York City and Boston. The most frequent question I’m asked?  "Where is Mystic Pizza?"

The movie, Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts certainly put Mystic on the map for non-seafaring folks like me--and that's a plus. But there is so much more to Mystic than pizza! After all, Mystic was named top “100 Adventure Towns” by National Geographic! Our quaint seacoast village is so lovely that even Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart honeymooned here.

Wanting a quick and easy way to inform tourists, who often hold up traffic on Route 1 to shout out questions about restaurants and point of interest, I designed a free Mystic Seafarer’s Trail map to hand them. (I designed the trail using, with permission, maps from the book, Landmarks You Must Visit in Southeast Connecticut, by Constant Waterman.) Now visitors can be sure to walk, bike or drive past "The 7 Wonders of Mystic" and the haunts and homes of our area’s famous sea voyagers--living and dead--plus Amelia Earhart. Along the way, they'll see plenty of places to shop or grab a bite, bike, boat ride or kayak. People shouldn't just stop in Mystic for one meal, they should spend a week here—at least!

If you would like my Mystic Seafarer’s Trail map to hand out to tourists, or link to your website to draw them here (I include where the Amtrak train or Peter Pan bus will drop them off), you are welcome to download or link to the following: http://www.authorlisasaunders.com/files/66496116.pdf

When I learned all our area has to offer upon moving here in the summer of 2010, I chronicled my adventures--and misadventures-- in my latest book, Mystic Seafarer's Trail. During my research, which included interviews with bridge tenders, lawyers and historians; and reading through dusty old files and 19th century New York Times articles; I uncovered the secrets behind Amelia Earhart's Noank wedding, Captain Sisson's ill-fated search for gold and the clipper ship era, and the stories revealed by the shoes found at Titanic's watery grave. While walking my hound Bailey along the Mystic Seafarer’s Trail (which includes Noank, Mystic and Stonington), I even met a blind sailor who invited me to join her on my first epic sailing adventure.

If you would like to learn more about my book, Mystic Seafarer's Trail, the first couple of chapters are available for free viewing by clicking on the LOOK INSIDE feature. I will be discussing and/or autographing my book at the following upcoming events:

Saturday, April 27, 1pm
Monte Cristo Bookshop
13 Washington Street
New London CT 06320
More info: (860)574-9056

Saturday, May 4, 10-1 pm
Bank Square Books
53 W. Main Street Mystic, CT 06355
More Info: (860) 536 - 3795

Saturday, May 18, 9a.m. - Noon
West Marine Mystic
14 B Clara Dr Mystic, CT 6355
More info: (860) 536-1455

Thurs, June 20, 6:30 p.m.
Local Authors @ The Groton Senior Center
"Amelia Earhart and the Mystic Seafarer's Trail."
More info: 860-441-6750