Groton was first settled by Europeans in 1655, not long after a trading post had been set up by one John Tinker doing business with Nashaway Native Americans along the Nashua River.

The town has a handsome old center, preserving 18th-century residences and public buildings, along with the home of the prominent politician, George Boutwell (1818-1905), which has belonged to the local historical society since the 1930s.

Groton is also on the map thanks to two prestigious prep schools, Groton School, founded in 1884, and the Lawrence Academy at Groton, which goes all the way back to 1792.

1. Groton Center Historic District

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At the junction of state routes 119 and 40, the old center of Groton is preserved as an historic district, with aspects of its layout reaching back to the 17th century.

The First Parish Church for instance was constructed in 1755 when it became the town’s fourth meetinghouse on the same site. In 1775 Groton’s minutemen assembled on the common in front before fighting in the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

Paul Revere, famed for his Midnight Ride before the battles, had a connection to Groton.

He was Grand Master at the Masonic Lodge at the neighboring Groton Inn—destroyed by fire in 2011 and rebuilt as a boutique hotel—while in 1819 his foundry cast the bell that is still installed in the tower of the First Parish Church.

2. Groton History Center

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Opposite the Town Hall, a magnificent residence in Groton Center is Boutwell House, built in 1851 for the 20th Governor of Massachusetts, George Boutwell.

A staunch Abolitionist, he later became the first Commissioner of Internal Revenue under Abraham Lincoln, and was a leader in the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Boutwell and his family were the only residents at this house before it was left to the Groton Historical Society by his daughter Georgianna.

The society maintains the Boutwell House as the Groton History Center. Inside, you can visit the room where Ulysses S. Grant stayed in 1869, see Boutwell’s personal desk and book collection, view historical maps of Groton, and admire the period implements and fittings in the kitchen.

3. Nashoba Paddler

Source: Nashoba Paddler, LLC / Facebook

The beautiful Nashua River, with its gentle currents and unspoiled banks, could have been made for paddling.

Where Main Street crosses the river in Groton there’s a rental business. At Nashoba Paddler you can rent a wide range of canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and launch them right here for a voyage upriver or downriver.

One picture-perfect spot a short way upriver is an oxbow at Groton Town Forest, known as the Dead River. The company also arranges a number of tours from spring to fall.

You can check out specific wildlife like beavers, turtles, birds and wildflowers, marvel at the foliage in fall, or paddle after nightfall in summer in the light of the full moon.

4. Groton Town Forest

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On the Nashua River, Groton has a generous expanse of woodland with 14 miles of trails. Established in 1922 to honor Groton residents who gave their lives in WWI, Groton Town Forest was just the second property of its kind to be designated in Massachusetts.

This space has grown from an initial 180 acres to more than 500 acres, with three marked loops for hiking, running, mountain biking, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter.

The terrain on these old cart roads tends to be light, but if you want something more strenuous you can head off onto the side trails, which are a dream for mountain bikers on the hunt for challenging singletrack.

The 6.4-mile Town Forest Loop trail shows off the diversity of the landscape, passing several glacial kettle holes and kettle ponds.

5. Gibbet Hill

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Rising sharply over the east side of Groton Center are the pastoral slopes of Gibbet Hill. It’s easy to see why the hill, with its cinematic views of the Merrimack Valley and Nashua River Valley, is a popular filming location for period dramas.

One recent movie shot here was Greta Gerwig’s Little Women (2018), during an important scene between Jo and Laurie.

You can hike to the top, where the scenery is breathtaking at sunset and there’s a ruined castle-like house, which we’ll talk about later.

On the slopes is Gibbet Hill Farm, raising award-winning Black Angus cattle for more than 60 years. The farm-to-table Gibbet Hill Grill restaurant is on this property, and the barn, dating back to 1906, serves as a venue for private events.

6. Autumn Hills Orchard

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This fruit farm in Groton is perched on a chain of three undulating drumlins, with distant views from the ridge towards mountains like Wachusett in the west and Monadnock to the north.

Autumn Hills Orchard has a busy pick-your-own schedule, beginning in July with raspberries and blueberries.

As the season progresses you can visit for peaches, nectarines, pears and grapes. Apples are the main crop here, with more than 30 varieties, and the harvest begins in August and continues deep into October.

If you visit in fall you’ll also be wowed by the foliage, visible for miles from the ridge.

7. Bancroft’s Castle

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Atop Gibbet Hill you’ll find the spectral ruins of a house constructed by the politician William Bancroft (1855-1922) as a gift for his wife, Mary.

With fieldstone cladding and an imposing tower, this was designed like a fairytale castle, and was supposed to be one element of a much larger house, until William ran out of funding.

Later the building served as a sanitarium and then a lodge for the Groton Hunt Club before burning down in 1932 during July 4 fireworks, leaving only the outer walls.

Today Bancroft’s Castle adds a touch of mystery and drama to go with the majestic panoramas from the summit of Gibbet’s Hill.

8. Nashua River Rail Trail

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This 12.5-mile multi-use trail passes unbroken through Groton on its route from Ayer in the south to Nashua, NH, in the north.

Groton is an important stop on the trail, as it passes close by Main Street and Groton Center for walkers or cyclists who want to stop for something to eat or drink.

Not far south, the trail runs along the eastern side of the grounds of Groton School, where you can pause for an exquisite view over the pond.

The Nashua River Rail Trail is on the abandoned railbed of the Hollis Branch of the Boston and Maine Road. This was laid down in 1848, but long before that time the route had been a trail for the Nashaway Native Americans.

9. J. Harry Rich State Forest

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In the north of Groton, the J. Harry Rich State Forest protects about 500 acres of woodland on a meandering stretch of the Nashua River. One way to get there is via the Nashua River Rail Trail which runs along the eastern side of the property.

From here you can get onto trails that follow the meandering course of the river and the wetlands on the banks, or cut through the woods.

You’ll see plenty of waterfowl by the river in the summer, and because the terrain is mostly flat this is a good place to come with kids.

10. Groton Farmers’ Market

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It’s hard to think of a more delightful venue for a farmers’ market than this bucolic old farm with a barn that was raised in 1840.

The Groton Farmers’ Market takes place at the Williams Barn on Friday mornings July through October, with an additional Thanksgiving Market in November.

This is an opportunity to support a roster of small businesses from Groton and neighboring communities.

Think seasonal fresh produce, honey, eggs, jam, sauces, syrups, meal kits, and baked goods, as well as handcrafted beauty products, candles, pottery, jewelry and more. There’s often a petting zoo at the market for little ones, as well as weekly live music.

11. Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

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These 441 acres in the southeast of Groton are in the care of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and set in a state-designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

The Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary is on a rough-hewn landscape of tall granite ledges and boulders, cloaked in vast woods.

Part of the sanctuary’s ecological importance comes from its vernal pools, which teem with life in springtime. Exploring the trails, one of the highlights is a rocky outcropping with a clear view of a beaver pond and the treetop Great Blue Heron nests.

12. Luina Greine Farm

Source: Luina Greine Farm / Facebook

In the rolling countryside close to Groton Center, Luina Greine Farm specializes in alpaca wool. The farm opens up to the public on fall weekends when you’ll be given a free tour.

The best part for adults and children alike is the chance to spend time with the farm’s cute animals, including the friendly alpacas, goats, sheep, ponies and donkeys.

Housed in an adorable shed, the farm store is open during these days, selling alpaca fiber scarves, socks, hats, and coats, as well as plush toys.

13. Groton Country Club

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Despite the name, this municipal facility is open to the public regardless of where you live. The centerpiece at Groton Country Club is a 9-hole golf course with a links-style layout and a choice of tees to suit players of all levels.

If you’re playing from the tips this is a testing par 35, with some splendid scenery from the tees.

The complex is also home to Groton’s public outdoor pool, which has lanes for competitive swimming and exercise, and adjoining shallow areas for younger children to paddle in.

Then there are tennis and pickleball courts, and a welcoming bar and eatery at the Groton Publick House.

14. Kalliroscope Gallery

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Groton is home to Paul Matisse (b. 1933), who is the grandson of Henri Matisse and a respected artist in his own right, known for his kinetic and interactive installations.

In 1982 he purchased the Old Baptist Church in Groton as a studio and living space, with a gallery in the sanctuary. Many of Matisse’s works are sound-oriented and the church’s superb acoustics attracted him to the building.

Over the years this has also been the venue for a chamber concert series for Groton Hill Music (previously Indian Hill Music), featuring artists and performers of national and international renown.

The series has since moved to the Groton Hill Music Center, but when we wrote this article the Kalliroscope Gallery was expected to continue to host shows and performances after temporarily closing during the pandemic.

15. Grotonfest

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Groton’s biggest annual event takes place on the last Saturday in September, when scores of booths spring up on Legion Common by Groton Center.

At Grotonfest you can discover the full breadth of local businesses, services, clubs and other organizations in and around this town.

As well as a slew of artisans selling their wares, there’s a large contingent of food trucks, for anything from tacos to cannoli.

All day long, Gronfest has a packed schedule of performances and demonstrations, with Irish dancing, a community theater show, a karate exhibition, and a lot of live music.

The post 15 Best Things to Do in Groton (MA) appeared first on The Crazy Tourist.

A big chunk of Groton’s population is employed either at the base or at General Dynamics Electric Boat, the navy’s main submarine builder.

So I reckon it’s no shock that Groton should have a wonderful submarine museum. Docked on the river and ready to be boarded is USS Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered sub.

Half of the sweet seafaring village of Mystic sits inside Groton’s town limits. So, I’m going to include it in this list, especially as the two downtowns are only seven miles apart.

In between there’s a Revolutionary War battlefield, craggy coastline, bluffs, lighthouses, and little islands. There’s also a preserved parcel of farmland owned by Connecticut’s first governor in the 17th century.

Let’s explore the best things to do in Groton:

1. Mystic Seaport Museum

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America’s top maritime museum is a sensational day out, with more than 60 historic buildings and a whole fleet of vessels.

Dating back to 1929, it’s made up of a working preservation shipyard, bustling old-time waterfront, and a tapestry of gardens.

Throughout there are museum buildings with captivating exhibitions for maritime history and art. Docked close by are sloops, schooners, a steamer, and a whaling ship from 1841. 

By my reckoning, you’ll need hours to explore the 19th-century maritime village, where each building retains its original role. That means you can find sextants and the like in the nautical instruments shop, and watch casks being assembled at the cooperage.

A real star is the whaling boat, the Charles W. Morgan, which sets the scene on the water. This is officially the world’s oldest surviving merchant vessel. It’s also the only wooden whaling ship from the American merchant fleet still intact.

2. Mystic Aquarium

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This jaw-dropping maritime attraction holds more than 10,000 animals. Among them are a host of species that can’t be seen anywhere else in New England.

The stars of Mystic Aquarium are the beluga whales, while this is one of only three facilities in the United States keeping Steller sea lions.

There is also a large colony of over 30 African black-footed penguins, as well as mammals like California sea lions, Atlantic harbor seals and northern fur seals.

Touch pools allow you to feel the backs of bamboo sharks and stingrays. Meanwhile, a new exhibit when I was here was Dino Seas. 

This high-tech space features hands-on stations, animatronic megafauna, and two awesome 4D movies. Added to that is a two-story indoor playspace, and live amphibians and reptiles.

3. Downtown Mystic

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On both banks of the river, Mystic is quaint, walkable and quintessentially New England. Main Street and the little streets and alleys darting off it abound with inviting small businesses.

These might be seafood restaurants, taverns, ice cream parlors, galleries, or lots of little shops for maritime accessories, artisan candy, fashion, home design, high-end pet gear, and handmade gifts.

Eventually I collapsed, ice cream in hand, on the quayside at Mystic River Park. Here you can watch the water traffic negotiating the famous Mystic River Bascule Bridge.

If you can’t resist the call of the water on a hot day, Adventure Mystic rents paddleboards and kayaks to see that bridge from a new angle.

4. The Submarine Force Museum

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A short way downriver from Naval Submarine Base New London is a museum operated solely by Naval History and Heritage Command. 

This makes it a repository for a variety of vessels, components and artifacts relating to submarines. The most noteworthy of these is the USS Nautilus, which I’ll talk about below. 

Outside on the front walk are four midget submarines, among them a Japanese Type A two-man mini-sub from World War II.

The Main Hall recounts the history of underwater seafaring, and a model suspended from the ceiling caught my eye. This was designed after an illustration in the first edition of Jules Vernes’ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

You can track the evolution of submarines down the decades on the Model Wall, and step inside the attack center of a Sturgeon Class sub.

Afterwards, the Main Exhibit Area contains a full-size replica of Bushnell’s Turtle, an early submarine used in the Revolutionary War. There’s also a wide range of submarine weaponry and artifacts relating to the USS Nautilus.

5. USS Nautilus

Source: Raymond Deleon / shutterstock

Integral to the Submarine Force Museum, the USS Nautilus became the world’s first operational nuclear submarine when it was launched in 1954.

The vessel also made history in 1958 when it became the first submarine to make a submerged transit of the North Pole. That feat was made possible by its nuclear propulsion system, allowing it to remain underwater for much longer than diesel-powered subs.

The USS Nautilus is Connecticut’s official state ship and was converted into a museum in the mid-80s.

I took a self-guided audio tour through the two forward compartments. It was kind of eerie to step into cramped spaces like the crew’s mess, control room, periscope room, stores, galley, crew’s quarters, and forward torpedo room.

6. Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park

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The largest battle fought in Connecticut during the Revolutionary War took place high on the east bank of the Thames River in 1781. 

At the Battle of Groton Heights a force, led by Benedict Arnold, burned New London to the ground and then took Fort Griswold after bitter fighting.

A massacre ensued, when 88 surrendering American troops were put to death by the British. The fort’s earthworks are still intact, and a couple of buildings have been restored. 

I was thrilled with the hot furnace and powder magazine, and the Ebenezer Avery House, which sheltered the wounded after the battle. This is open for tours on summer weekends.

Meanwhile, the Monument House Museum next door goes into depth on the battle and its background. The victims of the massacre are commemorated by the granite Groton Monument, an obelisk 128 feet high and raised in 1830.

7. Bluff Point State Park

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At Bluff Point on the east side of the Poquonnock estuary is the last large tract of undeveloped land anywhere on the Connecticut coastline.

The peninsula, cloaked in deep woodland, extends south into Long Island Sound for 1.5 miles and these 800 acres are designated a “Coastal Reserve”. This means that the only way into the park is on foot or by non-motorised vehicle.

You can hike a trail to the park’s eponymous bluff. The path wends its way through a tunnel of trees and out into open space, finally delivering you to a cliff-top exposed to the wind.

The state park is a valued bird-watching site, and more than 200 species of shorebirds, seabirds and passerine birds have been spotted here.

Saltwater fishers also flock to Bluff Point, casting their lines for bluefish, sea trout, striped bass and summer flounder. I’d also inquire about a permit for clamming, as the estuary is highly productive.

8. Mystic River Bascule Bridge

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I found the drawbridge connecting the Groton side of Mystic to Stonington on Route 1 super satisfying to watch in action. It’s mainly because all of the components are out in the open.

These include two hefty bull wheels driven by two 635-kg electric engines, as well as a pair of immense concrete counterweights overhead on a steel framework.

The bridge’s design was patented by the New York engineer Thomas E. Brown in 1918 and construction was completed within two years.

The reason for the bridge’s unique configuration is because of the low position of the crossing at high tide. It required the mechanism to be above, rather than below the crossing.

The bridge opens around 2,200 times a year: There are openings at the 40-minute mark every hour during daylight hours between May 1 and October 31. Each one lasts about five minutes.

9. Avery Point Light

Source: Allan Wood Photography / shutterstock

The headland poking into Long Island Sound at Avery Point is occupied by several distinguished looking buildings. Accompanied by outdoor sculpture, these belong to the University of Connecticut’s Marine Sciences campus.

The Jacobethan Bradford House here dates to the late-19th century and is modeled on the famous Newport mansions.

I enjoyed my walk along the seafront trail around the point. This is installed with interesting interpretive boards telling you about the ecology of Long Island Sound and the Thames River estuary.

The landmark at the very southern end is Avery Point Light, which was first active from 1944 to 1967 before falling into disrepair.

The lighthouse was reactivated in 2006 following a long-term restoration. It still stands as the last lighthouse erected in the state to serve as a navigational aid.

Lastly, the wide open skies and views encompassing Pine Island and New York’s Fishers Island make this a special place at sunset.

10. Eastern Point Beach

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This small beach has all I could want for a day by Long Island Sound. For starters, the surf is tranquil at Eastern Point Beach. This is thanks to offshore reefs, and because the beach is withdrawn at the mouth of the Thames River next to Avery Point.

There’s a swath of pale sand, fringed by a grassy space with playscapes for kids, as well as volleyball courts and basketball.

Between the middle of June and the start of September the beach is attended by a lifeguard, and has a snack bar.

As with any public beach in Connecticut the parking lot has a fee, which can be steep for non-residents.

11. Mystic Museum of Art

Source: Mystic Museum Of Art / facebook

The Mystic Art Association was founded by the landscape painter Charles Harold Davis (1856-1933) in 1913. Its initial members were the various artists who would visit this coastal village to paint.

In 1931 the association established the Mystic Arts Center, and in 2016 this was redubbed the Mystic Museum of Art.

The museum has a small but highly-regarded permanent collection. It spans the start of the 20th century to the present, with pieces by Robert Brackman and Henry Ward Ranger.

When I put this list together the main exhibition was the enthralling Unfettered: Liberating Creative Expression. This show traced the emergence of abstraction in American art post-WWII, with pieces by the likes of Robert Motherwell (1915-1991).

12. Outer Light Brewing Company

Source: Outer Light Brewing Company / facebook

Groton has a great little craft brewery in a trucking depot by the railroad tracks. Something I love about Outer Light is that it has perfected a small core of four year-round beers. These are complemented by seasonal and one-off brews.

The four linchpins are the Lonesome Boatman Ale, Libation Propaganda Coffee Stout, SUBduction IPA and Cloudbreak Double IPA.

The family-friendly taproom is open Wednesday to Sunday, whether you want to sit down with a pint, try a flight, fill a growler or take cans to go.

You’re welcome to order in for something to go with your brew. There’s a much-loved diner, Norm’s, a couple of minutes up the road.

13. Haley Farm State Park

Source: Morrowlong / Wikimedia

There’s a tract of farmland dating back to the Colonial era in the 17th century at Haley State Park, east of Bluff Point.

The first governor of Connecticut, John Winthrop the Younger (1606-1676) owned a portion of the farm here.

Later occupants include the Chester family, and I was amazed to find their headstones in the park.

Caleb Haley, who worked this land at the turn of the 20th-century was a prolific wall-builder. The boundaries he raised to divide pastures, as well as the remnants of his homestead are also visible at the park.

Hiking and cycling are the main activities at Haley Farm State Park. A bike trail winds through the landscape as part of a 7.5-mile route linking Mystic with Groton.

14. Poquonnock River Boardwalk

For a light walk in Groton there’s a nature-rich boardwalk trail next to the Poquonnock River.

Starting in the south at Depot Road (not far north of Bluff Point) this path runs for just over half a mile up to Poquonnock Road,

The timber on the boardwalk was a little weathered when I visited, but still in good shape. There are benches as you go if you want to contemplate the river, the wetland vegetation and birdlife including loons, swans and songbirds in the brush.

You’ll find a children’s playground at the southern trailhead, and the walk ends at a little gazebo. A few steps along Poquonnock Road at the north end of the boardwalk is a Dairy Queen for a post-walk treat.

15. Argia Mystic Cruises

Source: Schooner Argia / facebook

The last commercial sailboat in Mystic sets sail all summer long on four voyages each day. These are a Morning Sail, Noon Sail, Afternoon Sail and Sunset Sail.

The Argia is a fine vessel, 81 feet long and built from Honduran mahogany on white oak frames.

On the accommodating wooden deck I got to see Mystic from the perspective of generations of sailors. The schooner heads out onto Long Island Sound to explore Groton and Stonington’s tortuous shoreline, passing lighthouses and little islands.

Complimentary snacks and lemonade are provided, and you’re free to bring your own food for a picnic on deck.

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