Our Local Favorites Guidebook
Activities
Journey into the aquatic world at this combination tourist attraction and research facility, where every underwater creature is more amazing than the last. Exhibits put you in close proximity to whales, penguins, sea lions and a 30,000-gallon tank, where exotic fish from around the world strut their stuff.
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Mystic Aquarium
Journey into the aquatic world at this combination tourist attraction and research facility, where every underwater creature is more amazing than the last. Exhibits put you in close proximity to whales, penguins, sea lions and a 30,000-gallon tank, where exotic fish from around the world strut their stuff.
This is our favorite local beach. Compared to other local beaches, this is not nearly as crowded, and there are shops and great restaurants located there. There is also a carousel for the kids.
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Watch Hill
This is our favorite local beach. Compared to other local beaches, this is not nearly as crowded, and there are shops and great restaurants located there. There is also a carousel for the kids.
This park has it all. It is very open with ample lawn space for relaxing or games. It has scenic trails for walking (some overlooking the ocean) and a beautiful beach. It has picnic tables if you'd like to eat there. There are historic houses and stables, as well as an absolutely stunning historic mansion with gardens on site. This place is a family favorite.
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Harkness Memorial State Park
275 Great Neck RdThis park has it all. It is very open with ample lawn space for relaxing or games. It has scenic trails for walking (some overlooking the ocean) and a beautiful beach. It has picnic tables if you'd like to eat there. There are historic houses and stables, as well as an absolutely stunning historic mansion with gardens on site. This place is a family favorite.
If you like shopping, eating, or just want a local place to walk around, Mystic Village is great! They also have a small duck pond here which kids love.
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Mystic Village station
If you like shopping, eating, or just want a local place to walk around, Mystic Village is great! They also have a small duck pond here which kids love.
If you're traveling during the fall, Clyde's Cider Mill is a local favorite! Fresh cider and donuts.
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Clyde's Cider Mill (seasonal) opens sept. 1st
129 N Stonington RdIf you're traveling during the fall, Clyde's Cider Mill is a local favorite! Fresh cider and donuts.
For fresh-fruit picking, fresh-baked goods and bread, local artisan candles and soap, Holmberg's Orchards is the best! Depending on the season, they also do hayrides, a corn maze, and wine tasting.
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Holmberg Orchards & Winery
1990 Orchard LnFor fresh-fruit picking, fresh-baked goods and bread, local artisan candles and soap, Holmberg's Orchards is the best! Depending on the season, they also do hayrides, a corn maze, and wine tasting.
Foxwoods has something for everyone... shopping (high-end and a recently-added outlet portion), dining, gambling, entertainment, and a salon & spa.
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Foxwoods Resort Casino
350 Trolley Line BlvdFoxwoods has something for everyone... shopping (high-end and a recently-added outlet portion), dining, gambling, entertainment, and a salon & spa.
Mohegan Sun is smaller than Foxwoods, but still offers a variety of activities and something for everyone. Shopping, dining (our favorite here is the Tuscany's brunch), salon & spa, as well as an arcade for kids.
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Mohegan Sun
1 Mohegan Sun BlvdMohegan Sun is smaller than Foxwoods, but still offers a variety of activities and something for everyone. Shopping, dining (our favorite here is the Tuscany's brunch), salon & spa, as well as an arcade for kids.
From tall ships and museum exhibits to a recreated seafaring village, history enthusiasts can uncover America's maritime past at Connecticut's must-see Mystic Seaport. With prebooked tickets to this family-friendly attraction, you enjoy a self-guided tour of the living historic village. Stop by the blacksmith's shop, board ships along the waterfront, and even chat about maritime history with the on-site historians—all included with the price of entry.
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Mystic Seaport Museum - Membership Office
From tall ships and museum exhibits to a recreated seafaring village, history enthusiasts can uncover America's maritime past at Connecticut's must-see Mystic Seaport. With prebooked tickets to this family-friendly attraction, you enjoy a self-guided tour of the living historic village. Stop by the blacksmith's shop, board ships along the waterfront, and even chat about maritime history with the on-site historians—all included with the price of entry.
This is about a 25-30 minute drive from the house but a great place for kids who love dinosaurs. They have outdoor activities and indoor, as well as a splash pad and ice cream.
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Der Dinosaurier-Platz
1650 Hartford-New London TurnpikeThis is about a 25-30 minute drive from the house but a great place for kids who love dinosaurs. They have outdoor activities and indoor, as well as a splash pad and ice cream.
Located at the foot of Ocean Avenue in Mystic Country, New London’s premier recreational facility provides excellent public access to the Atlantic Ocean from a beautiful white, sugar sand beach, complimented by an Olympic-size freshwater pool, lockers, and event staging. The 50-acre Park also boasts a beautifully landscaped 18-hole miniature golf course and various attractions. The 8000 square foot Port ‘N Starboard is one of the area’s largest Banquet and Conference facilities. For smaller gatherings, we offer the newly renovated Pilot House and Nautilus rooms, each with access to an Ocean View Deck. Catering is provided by Centerplate. The park hosts our new Boardwalk Café Food Court, as well as ice cream and snack stands. Check out our triple water slide, our spray park, the carousel and rides, our Game Room, all new Nature Walk with Bird Watching observation Deck, Gift Shop, Work out World Health Club, and new play ground areas.
Ocean Beach Park opens on Memorial Day weekend, and operates through Labor Day. The Park hosts a variety of family oriented entertainment, festivals, volleyball tournaments, sporting events, and nightly entertainment throughout the summer.
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Ocean Beach Park
98 Neptune AveLocated at the foot of Ocean Avenue in Mystic Country, New London’s premier recreational facility provides excellent public access to the Atlantic Ocean from a beautiful white, sugar sand beach, complimented by an Olympic-size freshwater pool, lockers, and event staging. The 50-acre Park also boasts a beautifully landscaped 18-hole miniature golf course and various attractions. The 8000 square foot Port ‘N Starboard is one of the area’s largest Banquet and Conference facilities. For smaller gatherings, we offer the newly renovated Pilot House and Nautilus rooms, each with access to an Ocean View Deck. Catering is provided by Centerplate. The park hosts our new Boardwalk Café Food Court, as well as ice cream and snack stands. Check out our triple water slide, our spray park, the carousel and rides, our Game Room, all new Nature Walk with Bird Watching observation Deck, Gift Shop, Work out World Health Club, and new play ground areas.
Ocean Beach Park opens on Memorial Day weekend, and operates through Labor Day. The Park hosts a variety of family oriented entertainment, festivals, volleyball tournaments, sporting events, and nightly entertainment throughout the summer.
This is a historic site where the Battle of Groton Heights took place. It's small, but if you enjoy history or just want a neat place to let the kids run around and have some spare time, this is a great place to check out!
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Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park
This is a historic site where the Battle of Groton Heights took place. It's small, but if you enjoy history or just want a neat place to let the kids run around and have some spare time, this is a great place to check out!
Check times before you go! On days that this is open, you can actually tour the inside of a submarine at the Groton Navy Subbase. They also have a small museum. Great for history buffs and kids...would not recommend if you don't like being in enclosed spaces.
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The Submarine Force Museum
1 Crystal Lake RdCheck times before you go! On days that this is open, you can actually tour the inside of a submarine at the Groton Navy Subbase. They also have a small museum. Great for history buffs and kids...would not recommend if you don't like being in enclosed spaces.
Looking for a rainy-day activity for the kids, or yourself? This is our favorite local library. Great selection of books, a teen room, and an adorable children's section with educational computer games, legos, coloring, and puzzles.
Groton Public Library
52 Newtown RdLooking for a rainy-day activity for the kids, or yourself? This is our favorite local library. Great selection of books, a teen room, and an adorable children's section with educational computer games, legos, coloring, and puzzles.
Sightseeing
For our Christian and Catholic guests, Enders Island is just a short drive from the house and is located just outside a beautiful and secluded neighborhood on the water. It has beautiful gardens and stunning views, a chapel, gift shop, and picnic tables.
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Enders Island
For our Christian and Catholic guests, Enders Island is just a short drive from the house and is located just outside a beautiful and secluded neighborhood on the water. It has beautiful gardens and stunning views, a chapel, gift shop, and picnic tables.
If you love spectacular ocean views and sprawling historic mansions, then a day-trip to Newport, RI is an absolute must! Newport's enchanting 3.5-mile Cliff Walk is the perfect place for your moment of peace. Panoramic ocean views, crashing waves and the perfect amount of sea breeze on one side and stunning, century-old, Gilded Age mansions on the other.
Newport has a number of other great places to eat, see, and shop..but this activity is our favorite! If you have little ones, you'll want to bring a good (single) running stroller as the walk can get narrow at times and their are small flights of stairs.
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Cliff Walk
117 Memorial BlvdIf you love spectacular ocean views and sprawling historic mansions, then a day-trip to Newport, RI is an absolute must! Newport's enchanting 3.5-mile Cliff Walk is the perfect place for your moment of peace. Panoramic ocean views, crashing waves and the perfect amount of sea breeze on one side and stunning, century-old, Gilded Age mansions on the other.
Newport has a number of other great places to eat, see, and shop..but this activity is our favorite! If you have little ones, you'll want to bring a good (single) running stroller as the walk can get narrow at times and their are small flights of stairs.
Walking/Hiking/Running
For those who enjoy trail running or walks, this is the best local place we have found! The trail is open and beautiful, with places to stop and relax along the way (including a couple of small beach areas). The total trail loop is about 4 miles.
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Bluff Point State Park
55 Depot RdFor those who enjoy trail running or walks, this is the best local place we have found! The trail is open and beautiful, with places to stop and relax along the way (including a couple of small beach areas). The total trail loop is about 4 miles.
Food scene
Engine Room
14 Holmes StThis is our favorite local spot for burgers!
For our fresh-pressed juice and organic smoothie lovers, this is our favorite place to go! My personal favorites here are the Chocolate Avocado Smoothie, the Egg Salad Wrap and the Wakeup Lemonade. Keith loves the Acai Green Juice and the Peanut Butter Bomb Bowl!
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Karma Kitchen Mystic & Juicery
15 Holmes StFor our fresh-pressed juice and organic smoothie lovers, this is our favorite place to go! My personal favorites here are the Chocolate Avocado Smoothie, the Egg Salad Wrap and the Wakeup Lemonade. Keith loves the Acai Green Juice and the Peanut Butter Bomb Bowl!
Mango's Wood-Fired Pizza Co.
27 Coogan BlvdThis is our favorite local pizza!
This is our go-to for seafood! They also have great burgers.
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Go Fish Restaurant
29 Coogan BlvdThis is our go-to for seafood! They also have great burgers.
This is a higher-end dining spot located in Mystic Marriot...if you're looking for a good steak and a more romantic atmosphere, this is one of our favorites!
Octagon
625 N RdThis is a higher-end dining spot located in Mystic Marriot...if you're looking for a good steak and a more romantic atmosphere, this is one of our favorites!
David Burke Prime is our favorite dining spot for special occasions. Hands down the best food!
David Burke Prime
350 Trolley Line BlvdDavid Burke Prime is our favorite dining spot for special occasions. Hands down the best food!
This is our favorite breakfast spot! It is only a short 5-7 minute drive from the house.
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Somewhere In Time
3175 Gold Star HwyThis is our favorite breakfast spot! It is only a short 5-7 minute drive from the house.
Modern Strength
14 Clara DrThis is our favorite local spot for grinders/subs/sandwiches!
Organic/Natural Grocery
For those who love local, organic produce and food, this co-op grocery store is the best! They also carry a large stock of homeopathic and natural remedies, as well as non-toxic personal care products.
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Fiddleheads Food Co-op
13 Broad StFor those who love local, organic produce and food, this co-op grocery store is the best! They also carry a large stock of homeopathic and natural remedies, as well as non-toxic personal care products.
Groceries
This is one of the closest major-chain grocery stores. They also have an in-store pharmacy and florist.
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Stop & Shop
220 CT-12This is one of the closest major-chain grocery stores. They also have an in-store pharmacy and florist.
This is one of the closest major-chain grocery stores. It's a little pricier than Stop & Shop so we don't shop here often!
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Big Y World Class Market
79 Stonington RdThis is one of the closest major-chain grocery stores. It's a little pricier than Stop & Shop so we don't shop here often!
ALDI
688 Long Hill RdFor those who love Aldi, we have one close by!