Page 98 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - New England

96 ❯❯ New England Area by Area

Lower Connecticut River
6
MAP D5 • Connecticut River
Museum: 67 Main St, Essex; 860 767
8269; open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun
(late May–early Sep daily); adm;
www.ctrivermuseum.org
Designated as a “last great place”
by the Nature Conservancy, the
lower reaches of the Connecticut
River, from East Haddam to Lyme,
have a magical beauty that captivates
Roseland Cottage, Quiet Corner artists and sustains fish and wildlife,
including large numbers of bald
Quiet Corner
4 eagles in the winter. See how the
American Impressionists captured
MAP D4
The unassuming nickname for the scene at the Florence Griswold
Connecticut’s northeastern corner Museum (see p98) in Old Lyme, and
suggests that little of excitement has explore the rich history and fas ci­
happened here since General Israel nating ecology of the region at the
Putnam killed the last wolf in the Connecticut River Museum in Essex.
state and made it safe for sheep­
Gold Coast
farming. In truth, this area of bucolic 7
repose is dotted with the homes of MAP B6
former country squires, including The communities that lie along the
the flamboyant Roseland Cottage New Haven commuter rail line from
Bowen House (see p98). The region is Greenwich north to Norwalk are the
often overlooked, but antiques hun­ wealthiest in Connecticut – hence
ters always stop in Putnam (see p103). the nickname “Gold Coast.” When
residents want to shop, they head to
New London and Groton
5 Greenwich, where boutiques cater to
hedge fund millionaires. To dine or to
MAP D5
The deepwater port at the mouth of party, they usually make a beeline for
the Thames River – Groton on the South Norwalk, where a bustling bar
east side, New London on the west – and restaurant scene has taken hold.
lies roughly halfway between Boston
Midcoast Beaches
and New York. It was a key base of 8
operations for the American Navy MAP C6
during the Revolution; nowadays, The great shield of Long Island
ocean cruise ships call here. The shelters the sandy shoreline
massive shipyards of Electric Boat, between New Haven Harbor and the
builder of nuclear­powered sub­ mouth of the Connecticut River at
marines, lie in Groton. Explore the Old Lyme (see p48). Protected from
Submarine Force Museum (see p47), storms and erosion, the barrier
home of the world’s first nuclear­ beaches feature soft sand and gentle
powered sub, the USS Nautilus. surf. Many private beach communi­
ties are located here, but so are the
AMISTAD AND FREEDOM The port of Mystic
In July 1839, African slaves aboard the
schooner Amistad revolted and were
taken into custody at New Haven. Two
years of legal battles ensued in New
Haven and Hartford, but the slaves
won their freedom. Several memorials
stand in Connecticut, and a replica
ship makes New Haven its home port.

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