Niantic Guidebook
Sightseeing
Overlooking Niantic Bay, McCook Point Park was acquired by the Town of East Lyme in 1953 for the “benefit and enjoyment of the Town and its citizens”. Since that time, it has been a central part of life in East Lyme. The park consists of a beautiful bluff between two white, sandy beaches. On the bluff, where the McCook summer home once stood, is a green lawn with a picnic pavilion, a bandshell and an events tent. The lawn is shaded by copper beeches, perfect for picnics, games or a relaxing walk.
Please respect the grounds and facilities as they are maintained with pride by the East Lyme Parks and Recreation department staff for the enjoyment and use of our patrons. Whether you are here for a swim, walk, picnic, music or relaxation, we truly hope you enjoy your time here. Below is some information and links to our special events within the park and Town of East Lyme.
Enjoy free Wifi access while you are at the McCook Point beach courtesy of the East Lyme Parks & Recreation Department.
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McCook Point Park
Overlooking Niantic Bay, McCook Point Park was acquired by the Town of East Lyme in 1953 for the “benefit and enjoyment of the Town and its citizens”. Since that time, it has been a central part of life in East Lyme. The park consists of a beautiful bluff between two white, sandy beaches. On the bluff, where the McCook summer home once stood, is a green lawn with a picnic pavilion, a bandshell and an events tent. The lawn is shaded by copper beeches, perfect for picnics, games or a relaxing walk.
Please respect the grounds and facilities as they are maintained with pride by the East Lyme Parks and Recreation department staff for the enjoyment and use of our patrons. Whether you are here for a swim, walk, picnic, music or relaxation, we truly hope you enjoy your time here. Below is some information and links to our special events within the park and Town of East Lyme.
Enjoy free Wifi access while you are at the McCook Point beach courtesy of the East Lyme Parks & Recreation Department.
The beach is accessed through a short tunnel under the railroad tracks, which is the inspiration for the name Hole-In-The-Wall. Its white-sand beach slopes next to a swimming area sheltered by a stone jetty. To the right is McCook Point and to the left is the Niantic Bay Boardwalk. Enjoy a nice relaxing day at the beach, a walk on the boardwalk or on Main Street to enjoy the community of Niantic.
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Hole in the Wall Beach
4 Baptist LnThe beach is accessed through a short tunnel under the railroad tracks, which is the inspiration for the name Hole-In-The-Wall. Its white-sand beach slopes next to a swimming area sheltered by a stone jetty. To the right is McCook Point and to the left is the Niantic Bay Boardwalk. Enjoy a nice relaxing day at the beach, a walk on the boardwalk or on Main Street to enjoy the community of Niantic.
Niantic Bay Beach is a roughly half mile long beach with the boardwalk going along the back edge. It is lifeguarded during the beach season, has two volleyball courts, and a fishing jetty. The beach is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing and watching sunsets.
Niantic Bay
Niantic Bay Beach is a roughly half mile long beach with the boardwalk going along the back edge. It is lifeguarded during the beach season, has two volleyball courts, and a fishing jetty. The beach is a popular spot for swimming, sunbathing and watching sunsets.
Perfect for hiking throughout the year, the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve is a beautiful wooded area overlooking the Niantic River. Flora and fauna abound in this preserve, including endangered and at-risk species. Ospreys and bald eagles can be seen soaring above the tree line, and deer and turkeys are common.
Along the way, you will encounter signs of the town’s past: Clark’s Pond, a source for ice for the fishing boats that plied Long Island Sound, and the quarries that provided the beautiful Niantic Pink Granite to buildings throughout the country. In spring, the groves of mountain laurel are glorious.
The Nature Preserve, purchased by a combination of federal, state, town, and private money, is open to the public free of charge. The property and its trail system are maintained by a partnership of the Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve and the East Lyme & Niantic Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
The Preserve may be accessed from its main entrance, at Veterans’ Memorial Park, off Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 161), or from Damon Heights Road (also off Route 161).
For additional information about the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve or the Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, please visit: www.oswhills.org.
Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve
8 Memorial Park DrPerfect for hiking throughout the year, the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve is a beautiful wooded area overlooking the Niantic River. Flora and fauna abound in this preserve, including endangered and at-risk species. Ospreys and bald eagles can be seen soaring above the tree line, and deer and turkeys are common.
Along the way, you will encounter signs of the town’s past: Clark’s Pond, a source for ice for the fishing boats that plied Long Island Sound, and the quarries that provided the beautiful Niantic Pink Granite to buildings throughout the country. In spring, the groves of mountain laurel are glorious.
The Nature Preserve, purchased by a combination of federal, state, town, and private money, is open to the public free of charge. The property and its trail system are maintained by a partnership of the Friends of Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve and the East Lyme & Niantic Land Conservation Trust, Inc.
The Preserve may be accessed from its main entrance, at Veterans’ Memorial Park, off Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 161), or from Damon Heights Road (also off Route 161).
For additional information about the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve or the Friends of the Oswegatchie Hills Nature Preserve, please visit: www.oswhills.org.
The 710-acre park features one of the region’s largest beaches, whose stone-free, gently sloping white sands and clear waters make it ideal for swimming and sunbathing. In addition to concessions, restrooms and showers, the facilities include a magnificent stone pavilion, built of native materials during the 1930s. The Pavilion is available for private rentals throughout the year.
Rocky Neck is a popular spot for camping, hiking and fishing. There are 160 wooded and open campsites within walking distance of the beach. A network of trails throughout the park offers many easy and interesting walks, with views of the ocean, salt marsh, and such points of interest as Baker’s Cave.
With a tidal river to the west and a broad salt marsh on the eastern edge, the park attracts many resident and migrating birds throughout the season, including osprey, cranes and herons. Mackerel, striped bass, blackfish and flounder are also abundant.
During the hot summer months, the beach and park can become full, but fortunately McCook Point Park, with its two beaches, is just a short 2-mile drive East from Rocky Neck.
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Rocky Neck State Park Bathing Beach
The 710-acre park features one of the region’s largest beaches, whose stone-free, gently sloping white sands and clear waters make it ideal for swimming and sunbathing. In addition to concessions, restrooms and showers, the facilities include a magnificent stone pavilion, built of native materials during the 1930s. The Pavilion is available for private rentals throughout the year.
Rocky Neck is a popular spot for camping, hiking and fishing. There are 160 wooded and open campsites within walking distance of the beach. A network of trails throughout the park offers many easy and interesting walks, with views of the ocean, salt marsh, and such points of interest as Baker’s Cave.
With a tidal river to the west and a broad salt marsh on the eastern edge, the park attracts many resident and migrating birds throughout the season, including osprey, cranes and herons. Mackerel, striped bass, blackfish and flounder are also abundant.
During the hot summer months, the beach and park can become full, but fortunately McCook Point Park, with its two beaches, is just a short 2-mile drive East from Rocky Neck.
Mohegan Sun
1 Mohegan Sun BlvdCasino-ul Foxwoods Resort
350 Trolley Line BlvdLocated at the foot of Ocean Avenue in Mystic Country, New London’s premier recreational facility provides excellent public access to the Atlantic Ocean from a beautiful white, sugar sand beach, complimented by an Olympic-size freshwater pool, lockers, and event staging. The 50-acre Park also boasts a beautifully landscaped 18-hole miniature golf course and various attractions. The 8000 square foot Port ‘N Starboard is one of the area’s largest Banquet and Conference facilities. For smaller gatherings, we offer the newly renovated Pilot House and Nautilus rooms, each with access to an Ocean View Deck. Catering is provided by Centerplate. The park hosts our new Boardwalk Café Food Court, as well as ice cream and snack stands. Check out our triple water slide, our spray park, the carousel and rides, our Game Room, all new Nature Walk with Bird Watching observation Deck, Gift Shop, Work out World Health Club, and new play ground areas.
Ocean Beach Park opens on Memorial Day weekend, and operates through Labor Day. The Park hosts a variety of family oriented entertainment, festivals, volleyball tournaments, sporting events, and nightly entertainment throughout the summer.
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Ocean Beach Park
98 Neptune AveLocated at the foot of Ocean Avenue in Mystic Country, New London’s premier recreational facility provides excellent public access to the Atlantic Ocean from a beautiful white, sugar sand beach, complimented by an Olympic-size freshwater pool, lockers, and event staging. The 50-acre Park also boasts a beautifully landscaped 18-hole miniature golf course and various attractions. The 8000 square foot Port ‘N Starboard is one of the area’s largest Banquet and Conference facilities. For smaller gatherings, we offer the newly renovated Pilot House and Nautilus rooms, each with access to an Ocean View Deck. Catering is provided by Centerplate. The park hosts our new Boardwalk Café Food Court, as well as ice cream and snack stands. Check out our triple water slide, our spray park, the carousel and rides, our Game Room, all new Nature Walk with Bird Watching observation Deck, Gift Shop, Work out World Health Club, and new play ground areas.
Ocean Beach Park opens on Memorial Day weekend, and operates through Labor Day. The Park hosts a variety of family oriented entertainment, festivals, volleyball tournaments, sporting events, and nightly entertainment throughout the summer.
Mystic Aquarium
Connecticut Wine Trail
You can literally taste the adventure
On the Connecticut Wine Trail, you can literally taste the adventure as you meander from scenic vineyards to intriguing tasting rooms. The trail’s two dozen wineries offer a variety of wines, views and experiences. Some have tours; others just invite you to stroll. There are wineries in historic barns or fieldstone buildings; one is in a World War II-vintage airplane hangar! Some have live music, or cheese and chocolate pairings, comedy nights, tapas nights, movie nights. Some have restaurants; others have box lunches and picnic sites by a pond or on a patio. All offer tastings and participation in the Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program, where you collect stamps for wineries visited.
Visit: https://ctwine.com/wineries
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Connecticut Wine Trail
433 S Main St Connecticut Wine Trail
You can literally taste the adventure
On the Connecticut Wine Trail, you can literally taste the adventure as you meander from scenic vineyards to intriguing tasting rooms. The trail’s two dozen wineries offer a variety of wines, views and experiences. Some have tours; others just invite you to stroll. There are wineries in historic barns or fieldstone buildings; one is in a World War II-vintage airplane hangar! Some have live music, or cheese and chocolate pairings, comedy nights, tapas nights, movie nights. Some have restaurants; others have box lunches and picnic sites by a pond or on a patio. All offer tastings and participation in the Passport to Connecticut Farm Wineries program, where you collect stamps for wineries visited.
Visit: https://ctwine.com/wineries
Rentals
Niantic Bay Bicycles
8 Methodist StGreat place for Bicycle Rentals. Nicest people!!
Three Belles Marina
113 Oswegatchie Hills RdAwesome Place for Kayak & Paddle board Rentals
City/town information
A quaint seaside village community on the beautiful Connecticut shoreline, East Lyme is located just 20 minutes south of Mystic and has much to offer visitors to the town. Unique shops, great restaurants, a mile-long boardwalk overlooking beautiful Long Island Sound, and special events throughout the year are just some of the reasons to visit.
Go to: http://discovereastlyme.com for lots of information on our beautiful town!
East Lyme
A quaint seaside village community on the beautiful Connecticut shoreline, East Lyme is located just 20 minutes south of Mystic and has much to offer visitors to the town. Unique shops, great restaurants, a mile-long boardwalk overlooking beautiful Long Island Sound, and special events throughout the year are just some of the reasons to visit.
Go to: http://discovereastlyme.com for lots of information on our beautiful town!
Neighborhoods
There is LOTS to do in downtown Niantic.
Sure East Lyme boast the beautiful mile-long Niantic Bay Boardwalk, charming beaches, scenic hiking trails and fabulous waterways for boating, fishing and kayaking, but what many visitors to the town discover is all the great shopping we have as well.
The eclectic mix of family owned and operated specialty shops and boutiques set within a classic New England coastal small-town setting offer as much as any popular tourist destination on the Connecticut shoreline. Convenient to get to, the villages of Flanders and Niantic offer antiques, home furnishing, women’s clothing boutiques, fine jewelry, speciality and fine gifts, and much, much more.
So, if shopping is what you seek, then we think you’ll agree, East Lyme has some of the most eclectic mix of unique shops and boutiques around. Small town New England charm coupled with great local restaurants and awesome things to see and do make shopping in East Lyme one of the best places to visit along the Connecticut shoreline.
http://discovereastlyme.com/shops/
Main Street
Main StreetThere is LOTS to do in downtown Niantic.
Sure East Lyme boast the beautiful mile-long Niantic Bay Boardwalk, charming beaches, scenic hiking trails and fabulous waterways for boating, fishing and kayaking, but what many visitors to the town discover is all the great shopping we have as well.
The eclectic mix of family owned and operated specialty shops and boutiques set within a classic New England coastal small-town setting offer as much as any popular tourist destination on the Connecticut shoreline. Convenient to get to, the villages of Flanders and Niantic offer antiques, home furnishing, women’s clothing boutiques, fine jewelry, speciality and fine gifts, and much, much more.
So, if shopping is what you seek, then we think you’ll agree, East Lyme has some of the most eclectic mix of unique shops and boutiques around. Small town New England charm coupled with great local restaurants and awesome things to see and do make shopping in East Lyme one of the best places to visit along the Connecticut shoreline.
http://discovereastlyme.com/shops/
Activities
Whether your an experienced golfer or someone who’s looking to learn the sport, the Cedar Ridge Golf Course in East Lyme is the place for you. Well maintained, scenic views and friendly staff make this golf course a favorite destination for many.
Cedar Ridge Golf Course
34 Drabik RdWhether your an experienced golfer or someone who’s looking to learn the sport, the Cedar Ridge Golf Course in East Lyme is the place for you. Well maintained, scenic views and friendly staff make this golf course a favorite destination for many.