Go Back in Time at Groton Long Point Connecticut
Go Back in Time at Groton Long Point Connecticut
Groton Long Point is a small town on the Long Island Sound. It takes up only about .5 square miles in Connecticut. This quaint town is home to some of our family and friends, so we try to make it up there at least every few years. Being in Groton Long Point is sort of like being back in the 1950’s. Everyone in town knows each other, all of the kids grow up together and stay friends forever, and even when residents do move out of town, they continue to spend their summers here. This is the place to make lifelong friends.
Groton Long Point, Connecticut
The summer population explodes as the streets fill up with children riding their bikes, skateboarding and fishing in the river. You don’t see kids staying inside playing video games or even carrying cell phones. No, these kids are actually doing what kids in the 50’s did… playing with friends outside! It’s so damn refreshing!
Homes, some small and some huge, line the boardwalk along the beach. They are colorful and full of families laden with their floating loungers and folding chairs… all ready for their beach getaway.
The Sound is full of sailboats, stand-up paddle boards, and families splashing in the water all summer long. And, oh… the sunsets are absolutely incredible!
On the weekend of July 4th, there is a huge parade and everyone in the town gets involved. They decorate their cars, their bikes, their children’s strollers, and even their dogs in red, white and blue.
The Yacht Club, sort of a cross between a yacht club and a summer camp for kids is the place to go for an ice cream or trap some blue crabs.
I could go on and on about life in this little town, but I better get on with the information you’re looking for!
Things to See and Do in Groton Long Point
There are not a whole lot of things to do in Groton Long Point, but just chill! But, I’ll point out a few things you can see and do while you’re visiting.
Submarine Force Museum & USS Nautilus
The US Navy Submarine Force Library & Museum is on the Thames River in Groton. It’s the only sub museum managed by the Naval History Command division of the Navy, so they have a lot of significant submarine items on display.
In addition to the library of documents, books and photos, and the over 33,000 artifacts, the museum also includes the very first nuclear-powered sub in the world, the USS Nautilus. Thirty minute self-guided audio tours are available on the Nautilus. This was the highlight of the museum for us!
Bluff Point State Park
Bluff Point State Park is a nature preserve and public park on the Long Island Sound that has over 800 acres to explore! These acres include a barrier beach, steep cliffs, wetlands and forests. In the park you can hike a couple of different trails ( see the trail map here ), go mountain biking, boating and fishing . If you plan to do some shell fishing, make sure you stop at the Groton Town Offices for a shell fishing permit.
Visit the Town of Mystic
The Town of Mystic is just a short drive from Groton Long Point, and there’s all sorts of things there to keep you plenty busy.
Take a stroll down Main Street and do some window, or real shopping. Watch the amazing Bascule Bridge open and close as sailboats glide along the Mystic River. Visit the historic Mystic Seaport or the Mystic Aquarium. See my post on the charming Town of Mystic.
Relax on the Beach
Get to the beach early and claim your spot! In the summer it can be difficult to get a position on the beach… the population of the town increases dramatically.
Just about every home on the beach is occupied, floats, beach toys and bodies cover almost every inch of the beach, and sandcastles take up the other spots. But, once you find your little slice of heaven on this beach, you’ll enjoy every second… from the time you put your chair in the sand until the sun goes down on the Sound.
Join a Parade
The Fourth of July Parade on Groton Long Point is something in which it seems every single resident and visitor participates. Each bicycle, car, child, adult and even pet, is decorated in the Red, White and Blue. It’s really an amazing sight, and something you just have to do if you’re here for the 4th!
Go Crabbing
Get some chicken backs, necks, wings, or any other part of a chicken and stick it in a crab trap, then head to the water. There’s nothing like fresh blue crabs for dinner!!
Take a Drive to Newport, Rhode Island
Tour the Mansions of Newport
Just an hour’s drive from Groton is the town of Newport, Rhode Island. This is a great day trip, or even better, an overnighter.
The city of Newport is on Aquidneck Island in New England. It’s harbor is filled with yachts and sailboats, and its land is filled with some incredible mansions that are now museums.
Of all of the mansions lining Bellevue Avenue, the most famous one is the Renaissance style palace, The Breakers, also known as the Vanderbilt mansion, was built in 1895. It’s now owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County.
You can visit The Breakers, as well as the Marble House, the Elms and Rosecliff by self-guided audio tour, or take a guided tour. In these tours you’ll hear personal stories of the people who lived in each mansion.
Bowen Wharf
After going through some or all of the mansion, the perfect place to go grab some lunch is Bowen Wharf. This is a really cute area on the water with brick walkways and granite quays. It was once a very busy maritime wharf, but now you can find some good seafood, and do a little shopping while listening to music and watching sailboats in the harbor.
If you plan it right, you may find yourself there for one of their many seafood or boat festivals. And, if not, you’ll find plenty of activities to keep you busy. Take a harbor sail, go parasailing, or take a sunset cruise.
Attend a Lobster Boil at The Ocean House
Another really awesome thing to do while in Newport is head to the beautiful Ocean House for one of their Lobster Boil & BBQ events. This is an incredible event with tons of delicious food right on the beach behind the hotel. You get all the lobster, clams, oysters and mussels that you can possibly eat! See their calendar of events here.
For a real treat, book a room for a night if you’re able. The Ocean House is absolutely one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen!
Annual Festivals and Events
Plan a trip around one of the annual festivals and events in Groton Long Point, Connecticut or Newport, Rhode Island.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit is in the summer, when the days are a perfect temperature… usually around 75/80 at the most. But bring a jacket because the nights can get pretty chilly on the Long Island Sound.
If you plan on being here on a holiday weekend, like the 4th of July, I suggest making reservations for your accommodations at least a year in advance… seriously!
How to Get to Groton Long Point
The closest airport to Groton is the Newport Airport (NPT). It’s about 40 miles away. However, you’ll probably get cheaper flights flying into either Providence (PVD), which is 43 miles away, or Hartford (BDL), about 51 miles away. See how to get the best deals on flights.
Train
Amtrak has a station in Mystic, which is just a short 15 minute drive to Groton Long Point.
Drive
Take Exit 88 off of I-95 in Connecticut and head east… it’s that easy!
How to Get Around
Once you get an Uber or rental car to Groton Long Point from the airport, put on your walking shoes. This is the best way to get around. Plus, for non-residents, the parking fees are steep.
Share Your Travel Tips & Comments
As always, if you have any of your own travel tips to add to this post, any remarks on the article, or if my information needs an edit or addition, please leave your comments below. I value all of your input.