6 Outdoor Spots
Get outside & explore the Shoreline
Madison
Hammonasset State Park
With beaches, hiking, bike rentals, camping, fishing, picnicking, scuba diving, boating, Meigs Point Nature Center and concessions, Hammonasset State Park is one of our favorites.
Killingworth
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Stop by Chatfield Hollow State Park and hike the trails in search of Indian caves, explore the jagged rocky ledges and recesses, relax by the cooling waters, or picnic in the soft pine woods. Chatfield Hollow is also home to a trout stocked lake, just make sure and pick up your fresh water fishing license before baiting your hook.
Lyme
Gillette Castle
Gillette Castle State Park, a top the most southerly hill in a chain known as the Seven Sisters, William Hooker Gillette, noted actor, director, and playwright, built this one hundred and eighty-four acre estate, the Seventh Sister. The focal point of his effort was a twenty four room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle.
Lyme
Selden Neck State Park
The Selden Neck State Park is only accessible by boat. Cut off from the mainland in the 1850s, Selden Neck has spent the better part of 160 years on its own as the largest island in the Connecticut River.
Niantic
Rocky Neck State Park
Located on Long Island Sound in the town of East Lyme, 710-acre Rocky Neck is the perfect recreation spot. The historic stone Ellie Mitchell Pavilion dominates the park's western shoreline, and is constructed with native materials and crafted supporting pillars with wood cut from each of the state parks and forest. The park is also home to clear waters and a stone-free beach with white sand make it ideal for swimming. You’ll also find camping, hiking, and wildlife.
New London
Fort Trumbull State Park
Get an interactive history lesson at the visitor's center, or just walk the Fort and ramparts for a view of the Thames River, a visit to Fort Trumbull has something for everyone including a boardwalk and fishing pier.