by Chris McMaster

Created on: August 15, 2011   Last Updated: August 19, 2011

Southeastern Connecticut, while not as urban as the rest of Connecticut, has a wealth of attractions and beauty. A nature lover will feel at home here, with plenty of outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and plenty of wildlife. For a more civilized stay, Connecticut features casinos, fantastic shopping, and some of the best seafood in America. With such a great blend of urban and natural environments, Southeastern Connecticut is an outstanding destination for tourists and locals alike.

Cities included Southeastern Connecticut

As an official region, Southeastern Connecticut has a governing body which decides on cities included in its boundaries.  The cities that fall into Southeastern Connecticut are: Bozrah, Colchester, East Lyme, Franklin, Griswold, Groton, Ledyard, Lisbon, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Norwich, Preston, Salem, Sprague, Stonington, Waterford and Voluntown. This means that the general boundary of Southeastern Connecticut is everything south and east of Hartford, the state’s capital.

Attractions in Southeastern Connecticut

Rural

Due to being a rural area, there are many natural attractions in Southeastern Connecticut, such as gorgeous parks and excellent fishing. A definite must see would be Connecticut College’s Arboretum, located in New London. The Arboretum’s 750 acres are perfectly preserved nature that is open to the public free of charge. The land is also home to The Flock Theater, which regularly performs plays from William Shakespeare.  For fishing in the area, the Shetucket and Blackledge rivers in Sprague, and the Mt. Misery Brook in Voluntown are all incredibly stocked with trout, and are in beautiful locations. The result is that nature lovers of all walks of life are sure to find an enjoyable trip to Southeastern Connecticut.

Urban

Not just rural, there are plenty of more urban attractions in Southeastern Connecticut. By far the biggest attractions are the casinos on the local native reserves of Connecticut, the largest of which is The Foxwoods. The Foxwoods boasts a wide variety of live entertainment and over 380 games, including 100 poker tables. For shopping, the Crystal Mall in Waterford is one of the largest malls in all of Connecticut. With over 800,000 square feet of stores, the Crystal Mall is a huge shopping destination for all of Southeastern Connecticut. Finally, you can’t leave the area without trying some of its famous seafood. One of the best kept secrets of New London is Captain Jack’s Lobster Dock, which has some of the best lobster in America. Hidden away by the Shaw Cove docks,  Captain Jack’s has a variety of lobster and fish, all extremely fresh catches and reasonably priced.

With so much to see and do, Southeastern Connecticut is quickly becoming a hidden getaway for many travellers.  For those looking to experience nature while still residing in a metropolitan area, the cities in Southeastern Connecticut make a perfect getaway. Even many of the locals are unaware of the beauty that resides in their home, instead choosing some of the more commercial attractions. Whether it’s shopping, fishing, or taking a chance at a local casino, Southeastern Connecticut is sure to please even the most fickle traveller.

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