OT - New London, Uncasville, Norwich area

[cockhrnleghrn]

I will be visiting your beautiful state in less than 2 weeks for the South Carolina/St. John's MBB game at Mohegan Sun. I'm staying in New London; does anyone have any seafood recommendations or any cool/quaint things to do while there? I'll be up there for a couple of days. Many thanks.

 

[DaddyChoc]

bring your fishing pole... and snow boots

 

[j66kicker]

I will be visiting your beautiful state in less than 2 weeks for the South Carolina/St. John's MBB game at Mohegan Sun. I'm staying in New London; does anyone have any seafood recommendations or any cool/quaint things to do while there? I'll be up there for a couple of days. Many thanks.

Be sure to eat at Geno's Fast Break Food Court at the Mohegan Sun. Not your typical cheesy food court. You won't regret it

 

[FairView]

Be sure to eat at Geno's Fast Break Food Court at the Mohegan Sun. Not your typical cheesy food court. You won't regret it

Not typical, but not very good either.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

bring your fishing pole... and snow boots

I hope it snows; I don't always get a good snow every winter here.

 

[AndyCT]

I will be visiting your beautiful state in less than 2 weeks for the South Carolina/St. John's MBB game at Mohegan Sun. I'm staying in New London; does anyone have any seafood recommendations or any cool/quaint things to do while there? I'll be up there for a couple of days. Many thanks.

Used to live there but it’s been a while –

Since you’ll be on that side of the river, the Coast Guard Academy has a pretty little campus right along the river - the cadets would be away on leave after exams, but I think the Eagle would be in.

Mystic Seaport would probably be the most “cool/quaint” thing you could do, besides the ships and boats, there’s a small village and they do things like caroling this time of year.

When I lived there, favorite places we liked to eat in the Mystic area were Anthony J’s (just down river from the Seaport) and Bravo-Bravo (just downriver from Anthony J’s, basically at the bridge); on the other side of the bridge, the Daniel Packer Inne was also good - used to hang at the bar downstairs on Friday evenings.

Mystic Pizza is also right near the bridge, so you can visit if you’re a Julia Roberts fan but as we’ve discussed in our past annual best pizza thread, it’s not really great the greatest pizza.

Someone who is still in that corner of the state may know better, but Stonington` was probably the better seafood in the area (that’s where the boats dock). They also have wineries in Stonington that you can tour and work on that pre-buzz if so inclined.

And if you don’t want to drive up to enemy territory (i.e. Storrs) to catch a game, you can always drive down to Avery Point and catch the other UConn Women’s Basketball Team

 

[DaddyChoc]

enjoy the casino life... and nightlife

 

[HoopsFan21]

I hope it snows; I don't always get a good snow every winter here.

Not a whole lot of snow falls in New London either. It is the least snowiest part of the state with only about 23 inches per year. It's been very warm here the last few months, and the weatherman says it may make the 60s this weekend, so pack your shorts!

 

[huskeynut]

U.S.S. Nautilus/ Museum - next to the Groton Sub Base.

 

[vtcwbuff]

Be sure to eat at Geno's Fast Break Food Court at the Mohegan Sun. Not your typical cheesy food court. You won't regret it

Not your typical food court but the food is not very good. If you decide to eat there try the adjacent Geno's Pub.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I will be visiting your beautiful state in less than 2 weeks for the South Carolina/St. John's MBB game at Mohegan Sun. I'm staying in New London; does anyone have any seafood recommendations or any cool/quaint things to do while there? I'll be up there for a couple of days. Many thanks.

Here one guide to the area, seafood places incl., hope it helps.

http://www.mystic.org/

 

[Duncan Idaho]

And for fried whole belly clams this shack is open all year.
http://skippersseafood.com/

 

[Intpseeker]

Go Fish has consistently excellent seafood and sushi. It is at one end of Old Mystic Village and the Steak Loft ( killer aged prime beef) is at the other:

http://www.gofishct.com

Mystic Seaport has many events, and is just down the street from Old Mystic Village:

http://www.mysticseaport.org

Daniel Packer Inne, S&P Oyster Co., and the Oyster Club are also worth the short trip fron New London to Mystic, and would give you the opportunity to see Mystic itself.

 

[vtcwbuff]

The only New London restaurant we frequent is Tony D's, a very good Italian place. Mystic and Stonington have the best seafood places. Our favorites are S&P Oyster House, Captain Daniel Packer Inn in Mystic and Go Fish for sushi. Both are located in the seaport area. In Stonington, Noah's has been a long time favorite but the last time we went there it was disappointing. They may have changed owners. Also in N. Stonington is Buon Appetito our current favorite.

The Mohegan Sun also has fine dining restaurants. I can recommend Michael Jordan's Steak House, pricey but great food. Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville is easier on the wallet but it can get crowded. Game night recommendations - Bobby Flay's Burger Palace, Geno's Pub (crowded on game night) Frank Pepe's Pizza.

Stuff to see = Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Village and the Nautilus museum.

 

[BroadwayVa]

I will be visiting your beautiful state in less than 2 weeks for the South Carolina/St. John's MBB game at Mohegan Sun. I'm staying in New London; does anyone have any seafood recommendations or any cool/quaint things to do while there? I'll be up there for a couple of days. Many thanks.

Lenny's and Joes---best seafood on the east coast. Google it for menu and directions
I make the trip (9 hours) twice a year to eat there. Scallops (sea) are to die for--but get the dinner menu food, best value.
Lenny and Joe's has 3 location so google it for the closet one --I go to Madison.

 

[UcMiami]

For cultural side of things if you have any interested ...
The O'Neill House/Monte Christo cottage in New London is the home of Eugene O'Neill, built by his father a famous melodramatic actor of late 1800s/early 1900s. But it may be closed for the season.
The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center itself is located in the next town over (Waterford) on a beautiful property where you can walk down to the shore and the Waterford Beach Park - it is between two additional state parks Harkness Memorial and Ocean Beach Park - beautiful coastal rambling if the weather is not too bleak.
The Lyman Allen Museum - nice small art museum at Connecticut College located on a promontory just above the Coast Guard Academy with a really nice view over their grounds, and all of New London and the port.
Old Lyme - Florence Griswold Museum - a stunning collection of american impressionist paintings - many painted on doors and wall paneling as payment for rent in lieu of cash. The former owner having turned it into the center of the Old Lyme artist community (similar to the one that developed around Greenwich, CT.) The town is also a really beautiful 'quaint new england' costal village. about 10 miles west of New London.

In general, you want to do your sightseeing along the coast as it becomes pretty bleak as you go inland - lots of former mill towns partially abandoned after the civil war.

A little further afield - Newport, RI - the playground of the barons of the industrial age, has a row of truly stunning 'cottages' along the water - Mansions built from the mid eighteen hundreds as summer retreats for the obscenely wealthy. (Think Great Gatsby)

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

These sound like some great recommendations. I'll only be in SE Ct. for 2 nights before I spend the rest of my vacation in NYC, but I'm sure I'll be able to check some of those things out. I've been to the casino there before so I figured there would be some other things of interest in the area. Thanks a bunch.

 

[pinotbear]

U.S.S. Nautilus/ Museum - next to the Groton Sub Base.

I'd "second" this - I lived in the area for 27 years, and, this is a bit of a hidden gem. The showpiece of the museum is the Nautilus, but, the museum itself has a lot of info on submarine history, particularly WW 2

 

[BroadwayVa]

These sound like some great recommendations. I'll only be in SE Ct. for 2 nights before I spend the rest of my vacation in NYC, but I'm sure I'll be able to check some of those things out. I've been to the casino there before so I figured there would be some other things of interest in the area. Thanks a bunch.

In Mystic (stonington side) on Pequotsepos Rd is a nature preserve and the home of the Denison family. One of their people founded/started Denison Tx as well is the Morgan Family home site is on that road.

 

[CL82]

And for fried whole belly clams this shack is open all year.
http://skippersseafood.com/

Skippers is good for a pick up at the counter kind of place (if you go get the chowder, whole belly clams and some clam fritters) but if you are in the area you may to want consider the Flanders Fish Market. It's a sit down place, though still informal and reasonably priced with fresh seaford.

While you are down there, you can take a walk on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk, which, ironically enough, is actually a concrete path along the water.

It is right across the street from Skippers and about a mile or two from Flanders Fish Market.

 

[brooke84z]

I'd "second" this - I lived in the area for 27 years, and, this is a bit of a hidden gem. The showpiece of the museum is the Nautilus, but, the museum itself has a lot of info on submarine history, particularly WW 2

I live in the area and I third this. My favorite things in the area are the Nautilus submarine, Mystic shops/Mystic area in general, and Mohegan Sun itself.

 

[HuskyPhan]

I will be visiting your beautiful state in less than 2 weeks for the South Carolina/St. John's MBB game at Mohegan Sun. I'm staying in New London; does anyone have any seafood recommendations or any cool/quaint things to do while there? I'll be up there for a couple of days. Many thanks.

Lots of great recommendations here. I live just across the river from New London in Groton. If you are interested in any outdoorsy, recreational stuff, PM me and I'll chat with you about that. As with much of the country, it's been unseasonably warm and the hiking along the shoreline is incredible right now.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

Skippers is good for a pick up at the counter kind of place (if you go get the chowder, whole belly clams and some clam fritters) but if you are in the area you may to want consider the Flanders Fish Market. It's a sit down place, though still informal and reasonably priced with fresh seaford.

While you are down there, you can take a walk on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk, which, ironically enough, is actually a concrete path along the water.

It is right across the street from Skippers and about a mile or two from Flanders Fish Market.

They run a pretty good buffet there too CL?

 

[CL82]

They run a pretty good buffet there too CL?

Don't know. I didn't notice one but I've only been a couple times. I'm not a big buffet guy, so it's not something that I'd pay attention to. The meals that I had were good. I smiled when I saw you post about Skipper's. Going there is a pleasant surprise.

 

[huskeynut]

Steak Loft Restaurant right up by I95. Very, very good food and service.