India, March 16 -- Historic sailboats bob on the water. The ring of a bell signals the Mystic River Bascule Bridge opening, allowing vessels to make their way out to the Long Island Sound. On shore, buttery lobster rolls, freshly made ice cream, and restaurants from James Beard Award-recognized chefs create a vibrant culinary scene. Tucked in Connecticut's southeastern corner, Mystic has all the ingredients of a quintessential New England getaway, no matter the season.

Once a 19th-century shipbuilding powerhouse, the maritime village welcomes visitors year-round to take in the coastal sights. Bruce Flax, president of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce, has lived in Mystic for 32 years and raised his five children in the town, watchin...