New London, Connecticut

New London is located in eastern Connecticut, at the mouth of the Thames River, along Long Island Sound. New London is set across the Thames from Groton, and is 47 miles (76 kilometers) southeast of Hartford and 57 miles (92 kilometers) southwest of Providence.

Native Americans had long lived in the area, and the first European settlers arrived in 1646. In its early history, New London was a center for shipping and shipbuilding, and in the 19th century, it was a major center for whaling. (It also has the distinction of having been burned by Benedict Arnold's troops in 1781.) Today, New London's economy is varied, and includes education, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

To explore your town and its history, first head to New London Main Street, in the Historic Waterfront District, to look around, shop, and dine. Then start making your way through the numerous museums and historical sites, including the Hempsted Houses, two historic homes dating from 1678 and 1759; the Shaw Perkins Mansion, which served as Connecticut's naval office during the Revolutionary War; the Custom House Maritime Museum; and the Monte Cristo Cottage Museum, the home of Eugene O'Neill from his birth in 1888 until 1917.

For a dose of arts, head to the Garde Arts Center to enjoy a live visiting performance, including touring Broadway companies, or see a local show courtesy of a company such as Secret Theater, Flock Theater, or the Marterre Theatre Company. For visual arts, make your way to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

For more some adult entertainment, visit Foxwoods Resort Casino, a few miles away in Mashantucket. Foxwoods is the largest resort casino in the world, at nearly five million square feet (464,515 square meters), and includes entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping.

And if you're looking to entertain the younger set, head to the DNA EpiCenter, with exhibits focusing on DNA/genetics and forensics! And every April, people of all ages can enjoy the Connecticut Storytelling Festival.

When you want to explore the outdoors, one stop should be the 20-acre (eight-hectare) Connecticut College Arboretum, which features plants typical of eastern North America. Other great places to get outdoors in and around New London include Ocean Beach Park, with an arcade, playground, café, boardwalk and a half-mile of pristine "sugar-sand" beach; the New London Waterfront Park; and Fort Trumbull State Park, with historical exhibits, trails, and picnic and fishing areas.

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