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There are two absolutely true things about New England. It is filled with wonderful, historical and educational sites to see - and - it can be expensive. For those who want a weekend of fun, beauty and history in Eastern Connecticut without breaking their budget, here are some great places to visit.
Old Lighthouse Museum
What's a New England visit without a lighthouse? In Stonington, CT, you can see the first government-operated lighthouse in Connecticut. Built in 1823, it was moved to its present location in 1840. From May through October, you can go inside this charming little lighthouse and climb to the tower for an awesome view, then check out the six rooms of artifacts. This little museum packs a lot into a tiny admission price.
The Nuclear Submarine Nautilus and Submarine Museum.
There is no greater place to visit for free in New England than the Submarine Museum in Groton, Ct, the permanent home of the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. You can go inside the Nautilus and see for yourself what sub life is really like. Forget those spacious sets you've seen on movies - submariners live life close, close, close. After a tape-guided tour of the sub, you can move on to the recently renovated museum. You'll see lots of models of different subs - including a life-sized model of the first sub in America, from the Revolutionary War! This museum will captivate the whole family.
Connecticut College Arboretum
After the close confines of the Nautilus, you'll be ready for some communing with nature, so cross the bridge into New London and visit the Connecticut College Arboretum. This is a beautiful collection of native trees and shrubs with hiking trails and ponds covering 750 acres. It's free and it's lovely.
Science Center of Eastern Connecticut
As long as you are at the arboretum, you might want to stop by the Science Center. This is a hands-on activity museum for kids and adults. It's not free, but at under $10 for adults, it definitely fits most site-seeing budgets. Your kids can see some odd (and icky) animals and touch them too. And parents can enjoy solving puzzles and playing right along with the kids. It's a great stop.
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Another wonderful free stop is the Coast Guard Academy. On weekends, you can tour the tall ship, Eagle, when it's in port, and you can visit the U.S. Coast Guard Museum year round. With the lovely grounds and friendly people, it's a pleasant stop on your budget weekend.
Shaw Mansion
Back to history with the Shaw Mansion, the naval war office for Connecticut during the Revolutionary War. With the guided tours, you will learn lots about early New London history and see some beautiful 18th century furniture and don't forget to enjoy the flower gardens. The Shaw Mansion has a small admission charge and is located in downtown New London.
Harkness Memorial State Park
Another outdoor stop on the budget tour of Eastern Connecticut, this time we combine a mansion with the great outdoors at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford. This park is one of the most beautiful in Connecticut. It includes Eolia, the summer mansion of the Harkness family. Built in 1906, this mansion has been restored and is open for free tours during the summer months. Around the mansion, the park covers 116 acres, including the beautiful formal gardens, the rocky beachfront - no swimming though -- and the huge expanse of lawn, a favorite Sunday spot of the ConnectiKiters. There is a small charge per carload during the summer season.
Rocky Neck State Park
If seeing all that water at Harkness made you long to go swimming, check out Rocky Neck State Park. Covering 700 acres, this park offers a little something for everyone. It has camping - 160 campsites - but also plenty for the day-tripper. Like Harkness, this park has a per carload fee during the summer months. There is a bathing beach (if you want to brave the chilly water of Long Island Sound), a beautiful stone picnic pavilion, and hiking or biking fun. Be sure to check out Tony's Nose - a ledge overlooking the Four Mile River. And for the history buff, take a peek in Baker's Cave, which sheltered Tory sympathizers during the Revolutionary War.
Eastern Connecticut is rich with history and natural beauty - so don't be afraid to venture out and check out some sites. You can do it without a single dent in your budget!
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