6 Fun Things to do in Southeastern Connecticut
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Southeastern Connecticut is a wonderful year-round vacation destination. In addition to 2 world class casinos, you will also find numerous options for recreation, including beautiful beaches and state parks. During the summer months, you will want to check out the sandy beaches of East Lyme. The fall season is the ideal time to get out for a hike while enjoying the dazzling colors.
Since moving to the Greater Providence metro, I have spent pretty much every weekend exploring great sites throughout New England. I love the many quaint villages, beautiful beaches, and hiking trails throughout Connecticut.
1. Rocky Neck State Park Beach
Rocky Neck is a great option for those looking for a clean, sandy beach. The sand is soft, the swimming is great due to the calm waters, and the views are beautiful. Camping, hiking, and picnicking are also popular during the summer and spring months.
Best season to visit: summer
How to get here: Rocky Neck is located at 244 W Main St in Niantic, CT. Parking fees are in effect from mid-April until late September. Weekends are $22 per non resident car. Weekdays are $15.00 per nonresident car. Those arriving after 4:00pm will receive a discount ($7 fee).
2. Devil’s Hopyard State Park
This beautiful state park is home to several miles of hiking trails, a stunning waterfall, and a covered bridge. The park really shines during fall foliage season. Autumn is the perfect time to take in the true beauty of the forest as the leaves turn a brilliant medley of yellow, orange, and red hues.
We love hiking the short nature trails here and seeing gorgeous Chapman Falls and the covered bridge surrounded by colorful leaves. Surprisingly, this park stays pretty quiet this time of year besides a few photographers attempting to capture the perfect autumn shot.
Best season to visit: fall for the brilliant leaves
How to get here: Devil’s Hopyard is located at 366 Hopyard Rd in East Haddam, CT. There is a large free parking lot.
3. Foxwoods Casino
With over 340,000 square feet of gaming space, Foxwoods is one of the largest casinos in the world. In fact, it used to claim the number one spot, however, that spot now belongs to WinStar casino in Oklahoma. Nevertheless,
Foxwoods is an incredible resort filled with top notch amenities, including: 6000+ slots, various table games, a range of restaurants ranging from casual to upscale, live shows, shops, bowling, and a full service spa. Personally, I love dining at the Hard Rock Cafe. They serve great comfort food (you can’t beat their mac and cheese) and I love the old time rock n’ roll vibe. Other casual picks include Wahlburgers, Guy Fieri’s, and Sugar Factory.
Two notable features are the bingo hall (one of the largest in the world with over 5000 seats) and poker room (largest in the Northeast and 3rd largest in the world). In terms of lodging, you have your choice amongst 4 different hotel properties.
Best season to visit: anytime
How to get here: Foxwoods is located at 39 Norwich-Westerly Rd in Ledyard, CT. There is a large, free parking garage.
4. Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun is a 5 star casino resort located in Ledyard, about 15 minutes away from Foxwoods. With 364,000 square feet of gaming space, it also stands as one of the largest casinos in the US. The architecture and design are stunning, as is its’ picturesque location on the Thames River. To be honest, I find this resort so much nicer than Foxwoods. It’s more modern and I prefer the dining and shopping here.
I love just strolling around taking the incredible architecture and the beautiful Chihuly glass blown art sculpture. There are some great restaurants here too. I love Tuscany, a wonderful Italian restaurant where you can dine on an indoor patio next to a waterfall. Lansdowne is an awesome Irish pub serving the best seafood pot pies and offering live entertainment several times per month.
One of the highlights here is the Mohegan Sun Arena, which consistently ranks among the best venues in the world. The Wolf Den is another fantastic live entertainment venue; here you will be treated to live performances by popular performers of both today and yesterday.
Other attractions on site include: The Mohegan Sun Shops (a collection of various chain and specialty shops), a full service spa, and a handful of bars/nightclubs. I love shopping at The Olde General store around the holidays – they carry the cutest knick knacks. I found the most gorgeous Christmas snowglobe here one year.
Best season to visit: summer for the concerts and nighttime pool parties at GLO
How to get here: 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd in Uncasville, CT. There is a large, free parking garage.
Check out my Mohegan Sun vacation guide
5. Hole in the Wall Beach
Hole in the Wall is another great beach option in the East Lyme area. Although a bit more rocky, the beach is more secluded, which is great for a lazy day of summer reading. From here, you can take in gorgeous views of the Long Island sound by taking a waterfront stroll along the Niantic Bay Boardwalk.
Best season to visit: summer
How to get here: Hole in the Wall Beach is located on Main Street (Route 156) in East Lyme, CT. Parking is available on Baptist Lane. Passes can be purchased in Tumbleweeds (across from the entrance) or at the parks and recreation office at 41 Society Road.
6. Olde Mistick Village
Olde Mistick Village is an outdoor shopping village located in historic Mystic, Connecticut. This quaint shopping area features historic New England brick walkways, a duck pond, waterwheel, and plenty of landscaping. It’s a great place to stroll around on a summer day, browsing inside unique shops, stopping for a sweet treat, and even catching a show at the art cinema.
Taking a walk through this old fashioned village is like taking a step back in time. I love all the trees, watching the duck, and popping in and out of local boutique shops. There is a great year-round Christmas shop here called Sophie’s Mystical Christmas.
Best season to visit: summer for the beautiful landscaping or winter for the holiday light display
How to get here: Olde Mystic Village is located at
