20 Fun Things to Do in Eastern Connecticut (Hidden Gems)

1. Pachaug State Forest (Voluntown)

📍 Location: Voluntown, CT 06384
🎟️ Admission: Free
🥾 Highlights: Mount Misery overlook, Rhododendron Sanctuary boardwalk, and primitive camping

"Pachaug is so massive that you can hike for hours without seeing another soul. Mount Misery isn't actually miserable at all—it's one of the best sunset views in the county!" — CT Hiking Community

Spanning over 26,000 acres, this is the largest state forest in Connecticut. It features freshwater swimming, quiet rustic campsites, and miles of peaceful trails like Mount Misery. See how it ranks on our master list of the 15 Best Hiking Spots in Connecticut.

2. Harkness Memorial State Park (Waterford)

📍 Location: 275 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385
🎟️ Admission: Free for CT registered vehicles ($15 out-of-state parking fee)
✨ Best For: Seaside picnics, historic estate tours, and kite flying

"The gardens are meticulously kept and the views of the Sound are breathtaking. Bring a picnic blanket, grab a spot near the mansion, and watch the massive kites float in the breeze." — Waterford Regular

Stroll through elegant botanical gardens, tour the historic Eolian mansion, and enjoy sweeping views of Long Island Sound. It is the premier spot in the state for a seaside picnic.

3. Ledyard Glacial Park (Ledyard)

📍 Location: Avery Hill Road, Ledyard, CT 06339
🎟️ Admission: Free
⚠️ Warning: Avoid visiting on rainy days; the wet boulders become exceptionally slick

"Walking among these massive, mossy boulders feels like visiting a lost prehistoric world. Hike it clockwise for the absolute best perspective." — Local Hiker

A short but surprisingly dramatic hike featuring massive geological formations left behind by shifting glaciers. This is a highly rewarding detour for amateur geologists and children alike.

4. Haley Farm State Park (Groton)

📍 Location: 24 Haley Farm Ln, Groton, CT 06340
🎟️ Admission: Free
🚲 Best For: Easy walking, jogging, cycling, and exploring historic stonewalls

"Haley Farm is flat, wide, and incredibly relaxing. It's connected directly to Bluff Point by a pedestrian bridge, so you can easily combine both into one long afternoon hike." — Groton Jogger

Preserving a historic 19th-century dairy farm, Haley Farm features scenic, flat trails lined with beautiful, historic stone walls. It's an easy, relaxing spot that is perfect for walking, biking, or dog-walking.

5. Ross Cliffs (Danielson / Killingly)

📍 Location: Ross Road, Danielson, CT 06239
🎟️ Admission: Free
✨ Highlight: Sweeping panoramic views of the Killingly pond and forests below

Located inside the Old Furnace State Park system, this relatively short, uphill trail leads hikers to the top of dramatic 100-foot granite cliffs. The panoramic views from the peak are incredibly breathtaking, especially during peak autumn foliage in October.

6. Bluff Point State Park & Coastal Reserve (Groton)

📍 Location: 56 Depot Rd, Groton, CT 06340
🎟️ Admission: Free
🌊 Highlights: Long, undeveloped sandy spit, pine forest loop, and saltwater views

"It is one of the last major undeveloped stretches of coastline left in CT. Walking out to the very tip of the spit feels like you are standing on the edge of the world." — Coastal Hiker

An incredible coastal sanctuary, Bluff Point combines rugged hiking, mountain biking, and coastal views. The flat, wide trail loops through a canopy of oak and pine before depositing hikers out onto a magnificent, wild beach projecting directly into Long Island Sound.

7. Rocky Neck State Park (East Lyme)

📍 Location: 244 W Main St, East Lyme, CT 06357
🎟️ Admission: Free for CT registered vehicles ($15–$22 for out-of-state)
🏖️ Highlights: Soft white sand beach, stone Ellie's pavilion, salt marsh viewing platforms, and crabbing

Featuring a beautiful crescent of soft, powdery white sand, Rocky Neck is a premier CT beach destination. Beyond the beach, the park is home to a spectacular historic stone pavilion built by the WPA, diverse hiking trails that weave over salt marshes, and excellent crabbing along the tidal channels.

8. Ocean Beach Park (New London)

📍 Location: 98 Neptune Ave, New London, CT 06320
🎟️ Admission: Paid parking/entry (varies seasonally; typically ~$30 per car)
🍿 Highlights: Half-mile wooden boardwalk, vintage carousel, Olympic-sized pool, and sugar-sand beach

"It is a total throwback to the mid-century summers of our childhood. Walking down the classic wooden boardwalk at dusk with some fried dough and watching the lights of the rides turn on is unmatched." — New London Resident

Frequently rated as one of the best family beaches in New England, Ocean Beach Park is a beautiful coastal playground. It offers incredibly soft sand, a historic wooden boardwalk, mini-golf, amusement rides, a water slide, and live music on the pavilion stage all summer long.

9. The Book Barn (Niantic)

📍 Address: 41 Main St, Niantic, CT 06357
🎟️ Admission: Free entry
🐈 Highlights: Rescued farm goats, beautiful gardens, and roaming shop cats

"It is more like an outdoor amusement park for bookworms than an actual bookstore. Petting friendly cats in a sunny garden while finding a vintage $3 paperback is pure bliss." — CT Book Lovers Group

A bibliophile's dream spread across three locations near the coast. The main location features lovely outdoor gardens, cozy themed reading sheds, and over a dozen incredibly friendly resident cats. Check out their official site at Book Barn Niantic.

10. Logee’s Greenhouses (Danielson)

📍 Address: 141 Liberty St, Danielson, CT 06239
🎟️ Admission: Free to wander (plants available to purchase)

"Walking into the lemon greenhouse in the dead of winter is absolute magic. Smelling citrus blossoms while there's snow on the glass roof is a vibe you can't get anywhere else." — Quiet Corner Local

Operating in Danielson since 1892, Logee's Greenhouses is a family-owned botanical wonderland. Walk through six historic, warm greenhouses packed with over a thousand varieties of rare, tropical, and culinary fruiting plants. Be sure to check out their famous "American Wonder Lemon" tree planted directly in the ground back in 1900—it still reliably grows five-pound lemons today!

11. Gungywamp (Groton)

📍 Location: Gungywamp Road, Groton, CT 06340 (Private property; guided tours only)
🎟️ Admission: Scheduled public hikes with DPNC: $30 non-members ($25.50 members) | Private 2-hour guided hikes: $200 (for up to 8 people)
📞 How to Book: Pre-registration is required. Book online at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center (DPNC) or contact Public Programs Director Jess Morris at (860) 980-3732 / jmorris@dpnc.org.

"Walking into the stone chambers at Gungywamp feels like exploring an ancient ruins site in Ireland. The history and theories behind who built them are absolutely fascinating." — CT Archaeology Buff

An archaeological site shrouded in folklore, Gungywamp features mysterious stone chambers, glacial erratics, petroglyphs, and ruins dating from both Native American and early Colonial eras. Because the site is partially on private land and is designated a State Archaeological Preserve, you cannot visit without a DPNC guide. Scheduled tours meet at the Shepherd of the Sea Chapel parking area on Gungywamp Road, Groton, for a fascinating 1.5-mile hike across uneven terrain.

12. Roseland Cottage (Woodstock)

📍 Address: 556 Route 169, Woodstock, CT 06281
🎟️ Admission: $15 for interior guided tours (grounds are free)
✨ Historic Highlight: Once hosted Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant

This striking pink Gothic Revival historic home from 1846 famously hosted four U.S. presidents, including Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant. Learn more and book a tour on the official Roseland Cottage Historic Portal.

13. The Velvet Mill (Stonington Borough)

📍 Address: 22 Bayview Ave, Stonington, CT 06378
🎟️ Admission: Free entry (pricing varies by vendor)
🍿 Highlights: Award-winning craft beer (Beer'd Brewing), local artisanal cheese, bakeries, and fine art studios

Dating back to 1888, this spectacular, beautifully repurposed velvet manufacturing mill has been completely transformed into a buzzing indoor community collective. It serves as a creative sanctuary housing dozens of independent local artists, craft woodworkers, cheese makers, and boutique eateries. Explore the historic, raw-brick architecture and taste your way through some of the finest localized micro-brews in New England.

14. Florence Griswold Museum (Old Lyme)

📍 Address: 96 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371 (Note: Sitting right on the borderline of the Connecticut River Valley and the Eastern Shoreline, this is a perfect scenic gateway to your coastal travels.)
🎟️ Admission: $15 adults, $12 seniors, free for members/children under 12
🎨 Highlights: Historic boardinghouse (the Lyme Art Colony center) and beautiful public garden grounds

"The museum galleries are beautiful, but make sure to wander the outdoor grounds along the Lieutenant River. They are the exact same landscapes painted by some of America's best Impressionists." — CT Art Lover

Widely considered the birthplace of American Impressionism. Set in a gorgeous historic house, their annual "Wee Faerie Village" outdoor exhibit is genuinely magical. Visit the Florence Griswold Museum for tickets and hours.

15. Mashantucket Pequot Museum (Mashantucket)

📍 Address: 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06338
🎟️ Admission: Paid (adult tickets are ~$22)
✨ Highlight: A breathtaking, 185-foot observation tower and a massive, life-size 16th-century Pequot village

As one of the largest tribally owned and operated Native American history museums in the country, the Pequot Museum features massive, walk-through historical dioramas, glacial crevasse simulators, and interactive displays celebrating native history and culture.

16. Custom House Maritime Museum (New London)

📍 Address: 150 Bank St, New London, CT 06320
🎟️ Admission: $10 suggested donation
⚓ Highlights: Hand-crafted lighthouse exhibits, Amistad ship artifacts, and original 1833 custom house design

"The wooden door to this historic 1833 building was designed by Robert Mills, the same architect who did the Washington Monument. It is packed with incredible maritime folklore." — New London Regular

Preserving New London's spectacular, historic Whaling City legacy, the Custom House Maritime Museum is housed inside the oldest, continuously operating custom house in the country. It offers fascinating exhibits on lighthouses, shipwrecks, local whaling crews, and the historic Amistad legal trials.

17. Fox Farm Brewery (Salem)

📍 Address: 62 Music Vale Rd, Salem, CT 06420
🎟️ Admission: Free entry (beer/flight pricing varies)
🍿 Vibe: Exceedingly cozy hayloft taproom inside a beautifully restored dairy barn

"It's widely agreed by beer geeks that Fox Farm makes some of the absolute cleanest wild ales and lagers in New England. Sitting in their loft on an autumn day is pure therapy." — CT Beer Fan

Consistently rated among the best craft breweries in the Northeast, Fox Farm is located inside a beautifully restored dairy barn. Grab a flight of clean, European-style lagers or IPAs and enjoy the peaceful countryside views.

18. Mansfield Drive-In (Storrs / Mansfield)

📍 Address: 228 Stafford Rd, Mansfield Center, CT 06250
🎟️ Admission: Charged per carload (usually $25–$35)
🍿 Vibe: Nostalgic, retro New England summer nights under the stars

One of the very last remaining drive-in movie theaters in New England. It offers a glorious retro evening complete with multiple screens, snack bars, and a massive flea market on Sunday mornings.

19. Garde Arts Center (New London)

📍 Address: 325 State St, New London, CT 06320
🎟️ Admission: Ticket-based (prices vary by show)
✨ Highlight: Breathtaking 1926 Moroccan-style palace interior with gold-leaf walls and plush velvet seats

"The interior details of the Garde are absolutely incredible. Seeing a live show, symphony, or film screening in a beautifully restored 1,400-seat Moroccan palace is a magical New London experience." — CT Theatre Buff

Constructed during the height of the golden age of cinema, the historic Garde Arts Center is one of the few surviving Moroccan-style movie palaces in the United States. Serving as New London County's premier non-profit arts organization, it hosts regular Broadway national tours, legendary musical acts, independent film festivals, and community symphonies.

20. B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill (Old Mystic)

📍 Address: 129 Reids Rd, Old Mystic, CT 06372
📅 Best Time to Visit: Mid-September through November (Peak season!)
🍩 Must-Try: Hot cider donuts, fresh cider slushies, or hard cider tastings

"The smell of hot sugar, cinnamon, and fresh-pressed apples hits your car the second you pull into the gravel lot. Yes, the lines are long, but those warm cider donuts are completely life-changing." — Mystic Regular

The oldest steam-powered cider mill in the United States. Coming here for fresh cider slushies, hot cider donuts, and local apples is a legendary autumn tradition.