Charming, quaint, and full of history—these are just some things that come to mind when thinking of Norwich, Connecticut.
This historical city is located in New London County, where three rivers converge.
It’s teeming with things to do, from exploring world-renowned museums to strolling through beautifully manicured gardens.
If you love to explore historic cities and discover the rich heritage they entail, Norwich is certainly an interesting spot that you should consider.
Don’t know where to start your journey?
Here are the best things to do in Norwich, Connecticut:
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Located in the industrial part of downtown Norwich is a roaring waterfall that played a significant part in the city’s development through the years.
Yantic Falls is a 40-feet-high natural wonder created by the Yantic River.
It powered many of the mills in Norwich and was even harnessed to create electricity for the city during the early 1900s.
Nowadays, it’s a popular spot for picnics and fishing.
If you’re up for an adventurous hike, there are a few marked trails that will take you to the top of the falls.
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A pedestrian bridge is also located right on top of the falls, giving you a stunning view of the river and the falls.
If you want to see a natural wonder and a piece of Norwich’s history, visit Yantic Falls and be amazed at its breathtaking beauty.
Norwich Arts Center is one of the best places to appreciate the talent of Norwich artists.
It’s located on Broadway and celebrates contemporary art in all forms.
The center is a great place to see paintings, sculptures, photography, and other installations created by local artists.
Norwich Arts Center is run by the Norwich Arts Council, a nonprofit organization composed of local artists and art lovers.
They established the art center in 1987 and have been promoting and supporting the local arts ever since.
The Norwich Arts Council aims to promote and preserve the thriving arts scene in the city.
They offer a variety of events, workshops, and classes open to the public.
Chestnut Street Playhouse is an amazing place to witness local talent.
It’s a small, intimate black box theater that’s been around for over 20 years.
Located on Chestnut Street, this theater is inside a beautiful Queen-Anne-style building that was once the original location of the Norwich Fire Department.
This 67-seat theater is a great place to watch live performances.
In addition, they host a variety of plays, musicals, and other events throughout the year.
At the same time, Chestnut Street Playhouse also serves as a premier venue for some educational programs, conferences, and other entertainment events.
The people behind the theater aim to entertain locals and visitors with their performances.
At the same time, they also strive to become a driving force for the cultivation of the growing arts scene in Norwich and promote community involvement.
One of the best things to do in Norwich is to visit Mohegan Sun.
It’s one of two in Connecticut and is one of the largest casinos in the United States.
The casino is located on Mohegan Sun Boulevard.
It features over 300,000 square feet of gaming space, nearly 4,000 slot machines, and over 300 table games.
Mohegan Sun is a great place to spend a night with friends or family.
There’s also a bar inside the casino, so you can enjoy a few drinks while you gamble the night away.
Aside from its world-famous casino, Mohegan Sun is a luxury four-star hotel with several restaurants, a spa, and a convention center.
This makes it the perfect place to spend a weekend or even longer.
The casino is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, so you can come and try your luck anytime you want.
Who knows, you might get lucky and win big!
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Located on Mohegan Park Road and right beside Spaulding Pond, Mohegan park is considered the biggest park in the city.
It features an abundance of woodland that spans more than 500 acres.
The park is great for enjoying the outdoors and breathing fresh air.
There are numerous hiking trails that you can explore, along with a playground for kids, a basketball court, and a multi-purpose ballfield if you want to stay active.
There’s also a swimming area if you want to dip on a hot day.
You can also picnic at the designated picnic area featuring a pavilion.
One of the best things to do in Mohegan Park is bask in nature’s beauty and bounty.
The path across the pond’s earthwork dam features beds of flowering plants and flowers that will surely delight anyone who sees it.
The park is also home to a variety of small and friendly wildlife, so keep your eyes peeled for some interesting animal sightings!
The Leffingwell House Museum is one of the best places to learn about the history of Norwich.
This historic house was built in 1675 and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city.
The museum is located on Washington Street inside one of Connecticut’s oldest buildings.
It was originally built as an inn and an important meeting place during the American Revolutionary War.
It became an elegant townhouse of Norwich Patriot Christopher Leffingwell in 1776.
After years of preservation and restoration, the house was finally opened to the public as a museum in 2006.
The museum features a variety of artifacts and exhibits that showcase the Leffingwell family’s life during the 18th century.
It also has a beautiful garden that’s perfect for a relaxing stroll.
If you want to learn more about the history of Norwich, the Leffingwell House Museum is one place you shouldn’t miss.
Norwich Golf Course is the best place in the city to play golf.
This 18-hole championship golf course, located on New London Turnpike, is the city’s premier venue for all things golf.
The course features 6,228 yards of challenging terrain over its 18 holes.
It has a par of 70 and a 72.2-course rating.
Norwich Golf Course is also home to a fully-stocked pro shop and a clubhouse with a restaurant and bar.
It was designed by Architects Tull & Tull and officially opened in 1926.
The beauty of this golf course is that no matter your age or experience level, you will enjoy the playful spirit of the game.
There’s no better place to enjoy local craft beer than Epicure Brewing on Franklin Street.
Epicure Brewing is a local Norwich brewery best known for its wide selection of craft beer.
The brewery features 16 taps that are constantly rotating with new and exciting beers.
Some of the most popular beers on tap include the New England IPA, the chocolate milk stout, and the raspberry wheat ale.
With so many delicious options to choose from, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the beers at Epicure Brewing.
The brewery also has a taproom where you can enjoy a pint or two in a relaxed and comfortable setting.
In Norwich, there’s no better place to enjoy a game of casual bowling than Norwich Bowling & Entertainment Center.
This bowling alley is located on West Town Street and is the perfect place to have fun with friends and family.
It features 32 bowling lanes, a full-service bar, and a restaurant.
The bowling alley also has an arcade that features a variety of classic and modern arcade games.
If you want to get competitive, you can join a league and bowl against other teams.
Or, you can have some fun and bowl for strikes.
Either way, Norwich Bowling & Entertainment Center is the perfect place to enjoy friendly competition and good times.
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Cemeteries are unusual places to visit while on vacation, but Old Norwichtown Cemetery off of Town Street is an exception.
This cemetery also serves as a historical site and is the final resting place for many of Norwich’s founders.
It is also home to a variety of rare and interesting gravestones.
Some of the most notable gravestones include the mother of Benedict Arnold, a famous American military officer.
His mother was born in Norwich and is buried in Old Norwichtown Cemetery.
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Another significant figure buried in this historic cemetery is Samuel Huntington, one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence.
If you want to learn more about Norwich’s history, visiting Old Norwichtown Cemetery is a must.
One of the best places to enjoy the great outdoors is Howard T. Brown Memorial Park on Chelsea Harbor Drive.
This park is located along the Yantic and Thames Rivers and features a variety of trails for hiking, biking, and walking.
The park has a picnic area, a playground for kids, and a fishing pier.
Apart from the abundance of fish to catch, the nearby river is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.
Many people come to the park to play fetch with their dogs, go for a jog, or take a stroll.
Whether you’re looking for a place to take a leisurely stroll or go on an adventurous hike, Howard T. Brown Memorial Park is the perfect spot.
Located on New London Turnpike, the RoseGarden Ice Arena is a public ice rink in Norwich that offers a variety of ice skating programs for people of all ages and levels.
If you’re a beginner, classes are available to teach ice skating basics.
Meanwhile, you can participate in open skate sessions if you’re already confident on the ice.
The RoseGarden Ice Arena is the perfect place to spend time with family and friends while you enjoy an ice skating session.
Whether a beginner or an experienced ice skater, the arena is the perfect place to enjoy some time on the ice.
It’s also the home of the local Southeastern Connecticut Seahawks Junior Hockey team.
If you’re a hockey fan, you can catch one of their games or practice sessions while you’re in town!
If you’re looking to catch a local baseball game in Norwich, head to Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium and see the current schedule of games.
Known simply as Dodd Stadium, this state-of-the-art facility on Stott Avenue is the perfect place to enjoy a baseball game.
The stadium also has various food and drink options available, so you can enjoy a bite to eat or a refreshing beverage while watching the game.
Dodd Stadium is also home to the Norwich Sea Unicorns, a Minor League Baseball team that plays in the New York-Penn League.
The team is a Class-A short-season affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, so you may even see some future stars of Major League Baseball playing for the Norwich Sea Unicorns.
Whether you’re a baseball fan or just looking to enjoy a fun day out, watching a Norwich Sea Unicorns game at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium is a great way to spend your time.
After exploring all of what Norwich has to offer, you can proceed to visit some of the other nearby attractions.
With that said, here are some of the notable places to visit outside of Norwich, Connecticut:
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The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center in Ledyard is a 14-minute drive from downtown Norwich.
It’s an expansive museum and research center for Native American history, culture, and art.
The museum is home to exhibits that tell the story of the Pequot people—the area’s original inhabitants—and their interactions with European settlers.
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It also has a research center where you can learn more about the Pequot people and their culture.
If you’re interested in learning more about Native American history and culture, a tour of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center should be on your itinerary.
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Fort Shantok is a historical place near Montville—a 10-minute drive from downtown Norwich.
It’s the site of the principal Fort Shantok, a fortification and settlement of the Mohegan people between 1636 and 1682.
The site is known as a sacred ground of the Uncas, which was one of the most prominent sachems of the Mohegan people.
Fort Shantok was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 and is now managed by the State of Connecticut.
Norwich is a city that’s rich in history, arts, and culture.
Whether you’re interested in exploring the city’s history, catching a minor-league baseball game, or simply enjoying the scenic views, Norwich has something for everyone.
So, what are you waiting for?
Start planning your trip, starting with this list of the best things to do in Norwich, Connecticut.
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