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Suggest a Feature →New London & the Thames Valley
Where Coasties are made. Two rivers, submarine history, and New England.
The US Coast Guard Academy is a federal service academy on the banks of the Thames River in New London, Connecticut — producing commissioned officers for the Coast Guard since 1876. The Academy complex sits directly across the Thames from the US Navy Submarine Base at Groton, which is also the home of the Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory and the Naval Submarine School.
New London is an old whaling and shipping city of 27,000 that has had a complicated economic history since the decline of its maritime industries. The city has genuine cultural assets — a vibrant arts scene, several historic districts, and a Eugene O'Neill theatrical heritage. The Long Island Sound waterfront is immediately accessible.
The Thames Valley connecting New London to Norwich and the surrounding Connecticut countryside gives access to the full New England experience: fall foliage, colonial history, excellent seafood, and the Mystic Seaport maritime museum complex 10 miles east.
Must Eat
The spots worth eating at before you PCS out.
Timothy's Diner
"New London's classic diner. Breakfast at 6am when the submariners get off shift."
A classic New England diner serving breakfast and lunch to a loyal local and military clientele. The kind of place where the coffee arrives before you ask and the waitstaff knows your order. Hash and eggs, chicken soup, and the kind of apple pie that makes New England worthwhile.
Weekday mornings when the submarine crew rotation finishes. The counter fills with Groton Navy personnel and you understand the dual-mission nature of this corridor.
Ye Olde Tavern (Norwich)
"An 1809 tavern in Norwich. Colonial-era New England at dinner."
Operating since 1809 in Norwich, 15 miles north — a genuine Colonial-era tavern building serving New England comfort food. The roast prime rib on weekends and the chowder are the anchors. The bar has been pouring since the War of 1812.
Captain Scott's Lobster Dock
"Lobster rolls from a shack on the Thames. The right way to eat in New England."
A seafood shack on the Thames River serving lobster rolls, clam chowder, and fried clams — the New England formula executed honestly. The lobster roll is generous. The view of the river and sub base across the water is part of the atmosphere.
Outdoor
Get outside. The land around military installations is usually the best reason to be there.
Long Island Sound Sailing
"The Academy's sailing program. Osprey-class cutters on the Sound."
The Thames River mouth at Long Island Sound gives access to one of the best sailing environments on the East Coast. The Academy's sailing program is available to all personnel and produces some of the most skilled small-craft sailors in the service. Rental and club sailing available through the MWR program.
Harkness Memorial State Park
"A Gilded Age estate on Long Island Sound. Formal gardens and shore access."
A former Harkness family (Standard Oil) estate on the Sound with Italian Renaissance formal gardens, a mansion open for tours in summer, and a beach on the Sound. The free shoreline access and the extraordinary gardens make this one of the best parks in the state.
Pachaug State Forest
"Connecticut's largest state forest. 26,000 acres of New England wilderness."
The largest state forest in Connecticut, 20 miles north of New London — 26,000 acres of pitch pine, oak forest, and Atlantic white cedar swamp with 8 miles of trails, multiple campgrounds, and the Pachaug Trail connecting to the 50-mile Nehantic Trail. Genuinely remote for Connecticut.
Culture & History
Places with stories. Most military towns sit on deep history — dig in.
Mystic Seaport Museum
"The world's largest maritime museum. A recreated 19th-century seafaring village."
Ten miles east in Mystic, the Seaport Museum is the most comprehensive maritime history museum in the world — a recreated 19th-century maritime village with sailing vessels (including the Charles W. Morgan, the last surviving wooden whaleship), working craftspeople, and 50 acres of maritime history. A full day minimum.
Garde Arts Center
"A 1926 Moorish Revival theater. New London's cultural anchor."
A stunning Moorish Revival movie palace restored as a performing arts center — touring Broadway productions, concerts, and the Connecticut Critics Circle Award-winning local theater program. The architecture is genuinely extraordinary. Worth attending something simply to sit in the space.
Family
Stuff to do with the kids. Rated by people who have brought actual children.
Mystic Aquarium
"Beluga whales, jellyfish, and the only Steller sea lions in New England."
A first-rate aquarium in Mystic with beluga whales, Steller sea lions, and a remarkable jellies exhibit. The outdoor Arctic Coast exhibit has the belugas in an outdoor environment unusual for the Northeast. Military discount available.
Connecticut College Arboretum
"A 750-acre natural area on the edge of campus. Free, peaceful, all seasons."
The Connecticut College Arboretum adjacent to the Coast Guard Academy — 750 acres of native plant collections, old-growth forest, and trails that are free and open year-round. A reliable, close-by nature escape that most people stationed at the Academy underuse.
Day Trips
When you need to remember there's a world outside the gate.
"A city punching way above its weight in food and arts."
An hour northeast on I-95, Providence has a restaurant scene (led by RISD alumni) that rivals any major American city, Federal Hill's Italian neighborhood, the Brown University campus, and a genuinely interesting arts and music scene. An excellent day or overnight trip.
"Gilded Age mansions, sailing, and the best harbor in the Northeast."
An hour northeast, Newport has the Breakers and other Vanderbilt-era mansions, the Naval War College, and one of the great sailing harbors on the East Coast. The Cliff Walk along the mansion coastline is one of the better walks in New England.
"Two hours north. New England's capital city."
Two hours north on I-95, Boston is the obvious major city escape from the New London area — the Freedom Trail, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the full Boston cultural experience. A reliable day trip or overnight.
The Academy's superintendent's house and grounds are open to the public. Walk the Academy grounds along the Thames River — the views across the submarine base and the river mouth to Long Island Sound are some of the finest in the service.
The Fitch Senior High School swim meets at Mitchell College pool draw an interesting mix of New London locals and military community. Small-city New England at its best.
January through March is the hardest stretch — cold, dark, and the Sound is too rough for casual sailing. Have indoor cultural plans ready.
The Amtrak Acela corridor runs through New London connecting to New York (2.5 hours) and Boston (2 hours). Living car-free or car-light is feasible if you use the train.
New London is a post-industrial city with real poverty and a modest crime rate higher than suburban Connecticut. Understanding the geography before choosing housing matters. The city has genuine assets (arts, maritime heritage, walkable streets) but also struggling neighborhoods. Winter is cold, snowy, and can feel long. The I-95 commute toward Providence or New Haven is reliable but congested during peak hours.
This guide is built by people who've been stationed here. If there's a spot we got wrong or a gem we missed, tell us.