New London- The Whaling City Beach Area & Pequot
Oh New London, a small city on the coast of New England and perhaps one of the last places to feel the crunch of renewal and investment of the tourist and summer visitor. We have covered New London's central areas and now it is time to head toward the Pequot Colony area and the beaches.
New London blessed by the Thames River and the Long Island Sound and cursed by the highway and post war re-development has additional jewels farther afield and down toward the shore. When returning from your time in downtown New London head toward Ocean Beach by following Bank Street toward Waterford again and following onto Ocean Avenue or Pequot. To begin we will start with Ocean Avenue. This area largely untouched by redevelopment is and was the home to working class persons of all types of ethnic background. The new Chelsea Groton Bank welcomes visitors from all directions to New London and can be seen to the left hand corner. Follow toward Ocean Beach... while traveling on Ocean Avenue passing by Lawrence & Memorial Hospital a gift from the Whaling family of Joseph Lawrence. Heading toward Ocean Beach one begins to notice more stately homes and Mitchell College a private 2 year and some 4 year offerings college. This area known as Pequot Colony in it's heyday of the early 20th century was the choice spot for celebrity actors from across America. At the arrival of the great depression in 1929 these homes become expensive to keep and the shine on the Pequot Colony had worn down. At the end of Pequot Colony lies Ocean Beach.
Ocean Beach was once a standard working class 1920-1930's honkey tonk beach area similar to Old Orchard Beach in Maine, Salisbury Beach in Massachusetts and others across the country. With the Hurricane of 1938 most was wiped out and a city wide event took place to re-invent the beach for all and ridding of the honkey tonk image. Ocean Beach since has gone up and down in quality and standard but has regained much of the shine that it at first had. Clean environment, new boardwalk, better concessions and general maintenance and Ocean Beach is again the crown jewel of New London beaches.
**Ledge LightHouse ** Ocean Beach ** Ocean Beach BoardWalk ** New London Lighthouse **Pequot Colony
Out of Ocean Beach follow toward Pequot Avenue and the water route. Here you will pass the Lighthouse Inn (also via Ocean Drive). The former residence of Charles Guthrie a Steel Magnate who built this house in 1902. Now a restaurant, Tavern and Inn the Lighthouse Inn has been a favorite of yankees and celebrities alike for decades.
(Lighthouse Inn ca.1902)
From here follow along Pequot Avenue and enjoy the sites of New London's two Lighthouses. The first (onland) was commissioned in 1760 and is the nations 3rd oldest lighthouse. This is private property so please respect that. The second is in the mouth of the Thames River and is called New London Ledge, a supposedly haunted Light House!.
From here enjoy the views of the waterfront and the many period and not so period homes along the waterfront. Just behind you and adjacent to Ocean Beach are a handful of private mansions from the turn of the last century and the Pequot Chapel which offers summer services and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Overnighting is popular at the Lighthouse Inn and at the fine Kirkland House B&B. The Col.Kirkland house was built around 1896 and is located on Glenwood Avenue and is a fine example of late victorian housing.
(Standard Victorian Pequot Ave Colony House).
Along the way you will reach a more populated area but remember the beaches here including Green Beach are free for all visitors with the exception of Ocean Beach where a charge for parking is assessed. Nearing Ft.Trumbull you will pass by America's favorite playwrights and New London native Eugene O'Neill and his Monte Cristo Cottage. Stopping here for a glimpse into his life the Cottage is the centerpiece of Eugene O'Neill's writing career including his renowned "A long journey into night".
. The Cottage is open for tours and is currently expanding their visitor center.
Following Pequot and just before Ft.Trumbull and the Pfizer R&D center is a local favorite for seafood... Fred's Shanty where for generations locals have come and enjoyed the best whole bellied clams in the business. Relatively inexpensive and always busy in the summer Fred's Shanty is "thee" stop for a late lunch or dinner.
Your next area is Ft.Trumbull... known to many by the Kelo vs New London eminent domain case the peninsula is currently being redevelped into apartments, hotel, businesses and the US Coast Guard National Museum and hosts Pfizer's Global R&D Head Quarters. After that is the Ft.Trumbull State Park perhaps the finest state park around. Housed in an 1830s fort the grounds offer views of New London, Long Island, Groton and the river. Ideal for fishing, enjoying a lunch of viewing the fort. The earliest notes on Ft.Trumbull named after Governor and ardent patriot John Trumbull dates to a block house in 1776 and can be seen to the north side of the fort. The sight of the first contact with British Regulars during Arnold's Raid in 1781 where a token defense was established before local militia fled to battle at Groton Heights, Ft.Trumbull operated as a training ground during the Civil War and post Civil War Era and later as the center of the Naval UnderWater Systems Center (Submarines/sonar) until the early 1990s.
**Ft.Trumbull River Walk ** Ft.Trumbull
From here head toward Bank Street and Shaw's Cove again. At Shaw's Cove is Captain Scott's Lobster Dock now a favorite among locals for their overfilled Lobster Rolls and seafood. Great views of Shaw's Cove marina and Shaws Landing Residences are here for your enjoyment.
Entrance & Captain Scott's Lobster Dock ** Shaw's Cove Marina
There are many other places to stop and see along the way and a bit off the beaten path and I would be happy to let you know where they are and how to get there but for a day trip these are the best bets. To end your journey head back into New London for a nice cup of java or a nice cocktail at an establishment of your choice.
Dining
*Captain Scotts Lobster Dock
*Fred's Shanty
*Michael's Dairy (Ice Cream)
*Timothy's at the Lighthouse Inn
*The Recovery Room Pizza (Ocean Avenue)
*Ocean Pizza
Overnighting
*Kirkland House B&B
Our next journey will take you to the northern side of New London and then over to Groton.
New London blessed by the Thames River and the Long Island Sound and cursed by the highway and post war re-development has additional jewels farther afield and down toward the shore. When returning from your time in downtown New London head toward Ocean Beach by following Bank Street toward Waterford again and following onto Ocean Avenue or Pequot. To begin we will start with Ocean Avenue. This area largely untouched by redevelopment is and was the home to working class persons of all types of ethnic background. The new Chelsea Groton Bank welcomes visitors from all directions to New London and can be seen to the left hand corner. Follow toward Ocean Beach... while traveling on Ocean Avenue passing by Lawrence & Memorial Hospital a gift from the Whaling family of Joseph Lawrence. Heading toward Ocean Beach one begins to notice more stately homes and Mitchell College a private 2 year and some 4 year offerings college. This area known as Pequot Colony in it's heyday of the early 20th century was the choice spot for celebrity actors from across America. At the arrival of the great depression in 1929 these homes become expensive to keep and the shine on the Pequot Colony had worn down. At the end of Pequot Colony lies Ocean Beach.
Ocean Beach was once a standard working class 1920-1930's honkey tonk beach area similar to Old Orchard Beach in Maine, Salisbury Beach in Massachusetts and others across the country. With the Hurricane of 1938 most was wiped out and a city wide event took place to re-invent the beach for all and ridding of the honkey tonk image. Ocean Beach since has gone up and down in quality and standard but has regained much of the shine that it at first had. Clean environment, new boardwalk, better concessions and general maintenance and Ocean Beach is again the crown jewel of New London beaches.
**Ledge LightHouse ** Ocean Beach ** Ocean Beach BoardWalk ** New London Lighthouse **Pequot Colony
Out of Ocean Beach follow toward Pequot Avenue and the water route. Here you will pass the Lighthouse Inn (also via Ocean Drive). The former residence of Charles Guthrie a Steel Magnate who built this house in 1902. Now a restaurant, Tavern and Inn the Lighthouse Inn has been a favorite of yankees and celebrities alike for decades.
(Lighthouse Inn ca.1902)From here follow along Pequot Avenue and enjoy the sites of New London's two Lighthouses. The first (onland) was commissioned in 1760 and is the nations 3rd oldest lighthouse. This is private property so please respect that. The second is in the mouth of the Thames River and is called New London Ledge, a supposedly haunted Light House!.
From here enjoy the views of the waterfront and the many period and not so period homes along the waterfront. Just behind you and adjacent to Ocean Beach are a handful of private mansions from the turn of the last century and the Pequot Chapel which offers summer services and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Overnighting is popular at the Lighthouse Inn and at the fine Kirkland House B&B. The Col.Kirkland house was built around 1896 and is located on Glenwood Avenue and is a fine example of late victorian housing.
(Standard Victorian Pequot Ave Colony House).Along the way you will reach a more populated area but remember the beaches here including Green Beach are free for all visitors with the exception of Ocean Beach where a charge for parking is assessed. Nearing Ft.Trumbull you will pass by America's favorite playwrights and New London native Eugene O'Neill and his Monte Cristo Cottage. Stopping here for a glimpse into his life the Cottage is the centerpiece of Eugene O'Neill's writing career including his renowned "A long journey into night".
. The Cottage is open for tours and is currently expanding their visitor center. Following Pequot and just before Ft.Trumbull and the Pfizer R&D center is a local favorite for seafood... Fred's Shanty where for generations locals have come and enjoyed the best whole bellied clams in the business. Relatively inexpensive and always busy in the summer Fred's Shanty is "thee" stop for a late lunch or dinner.
Your next area is Ft.Trumbull... known to many by the Kelo vs New London eminent domain case the peninsula is currently being redevelped into apartments, hotel, businesses and the US Coast Guard National Museum and hosts Pfizer's Global R&D Head Quarters. After that is the Ft.Trumbull State Park perhaps the finest state park around. Housed in an 1830s fort the grounds offer views of New London, Long Island, Groton and the river. Ideal for fishing, enjoying a lunch of viewing the fort. The earliest notes on Ft.Trumbull named after Governor and ardent patriot John Trumbull dates to a block house in 1776 and can be seen to the north side of the fort. The sight of the first contact with British Regulars during Arnold's Raid in 1781 where a token defense was established before local militia fled to battle at Groton Heights, Ft.Trumbull operated as a training ground during the Civil War and post Civil War Era and later as the center of the Naval UnderWater Systems Center (Submarines/sonar) until the early 1990s.
**Ft.Trumbull River Walk ** Ft.Trumbull
From here head toward Bank Street and Shaw's Cove again. At Shaw's Cove is Captain Scott's Lobster Dock now a favorite among locals for their overfilled Lobster Rolls and seafood. Great views of Shaw's Cove marina and Shaws Landing Residences are here for your enjoyment.
Entrance & Captain Scott's Lobster Dock ** Shaw's Cove Marina
There are many other places to stop and see along the way and a bit off the beaten path and I would be happy to let you know where they are and how to get there but for a day trip these are the best bets. To end your journey head back into New London for a nice cup of java or a nice cocktail at an establishment of your choice.
Dining
*Captain Scotts Lobster Dock
*Fred's Shanty
*Michael's Dairy (Ice Cream)
*Timothy's at the Lighthouse Inn
*The Recovery Room Pizza (Ocean Avenue)
*Ocean Pizza
Overnighting
*Kirkland House B&B
Our next journey will take you to the northern side of New London and then over to Groton.
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