Norwich, Connecticut Attractions and Things To Do

Foxwoods Casino Mystic Aquarium & Institute Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ocean Beach Park Childrens Museum

Discover Connecticut’s main attractions from the conveniently located Holiday Inn Norwich. Our full-service, Norwich, Connecticut hotel is within close proximity of lots of fun things to do, especially with kids, including Mystic Area, the Dinosaur Place and Ocean Beach Park. Read all about those cool Connecticut attractions and more in the list below.

Foxwoods Casino. Foxwoods is the largest casino in the world more than 40,000 guests visit Foxwoods each day. Foxwoods has slot machines, 17 different types of table games, including 100 for poker. There's a luxurious, high-tech Race Book, as well as the world's largest Bingo Hall. The new MGM Grand Theatre offers wonderful entertainment.

United States Coast Guard Academy. Located in New London, Connecticut, the United States Coast Guard Academy offers both self-guided as well as cadet-led tours. Admission is free but you must have ID to enter the campus. While there, you’ll want to check out the Coast Guard Museum, which covers the 200-year history of America's number one maritime service. Enjoy a wide range of paintings, ship models, medals, figurehead carvings and uniforms. For more information, visit www.cga.edu.  [Top]

Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration. In addition to the amazing sea creatures found at the Mystic Aquarium, many exhibits abound that are sure to astound underwater fans. These include Return to the Titanic, Hidden Amazon and Noah’s Flood & Ancient Shipwrecks. For more information, visit www.mysticaquarium.org/.

Mystic Seaport. Founded in 1929, Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea is considered the top maritime museum in the country. But this is not an indoor museum. Nor is it a static one. It’s the epitome of an interactive museum. Visitors of all ages are able to explore historic tall ships, a working preservation shipyard, and a re-created 19th-century coastal village. For more information, visit www.mysticseaport.org/.  [Top]

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Take a train ride via the Essex Steam Train and you’ll encounter spectacular scenery, historic towns, and breathtaking views of the Connecticut River. Or reserve a seat aboard the MV Becky Thatcher, a 70-foot, three-deck riverboat that’s ideal for sightseeing cruises through the beautiful Connecticut River Valley. For more information, visit www.essexsteamtrain.com.

Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. From designer fashions and sportswear to housewares and home furnishings, savor a superb shopping experience at Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets. Enjoy 70 outlet stores, including Banana Republic, Barneys New York, Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren and Kenneth Cole. For more information, visit www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=12.  [Top]

Ocean Beach Park. A great sugar sand beach beckons at Ocean Beach Park along with the boardwalk with its carousel, thrill rides and arcade games.

Plus, you’ll enjoy a 50-meter Olympic pool, 18-hole miniature golf course, picnic pavilion and nature walk. For more information, visit www.ocean-beach-park.com/.

The Dinosaur Place. An interactive science and nature adventure awaits you at the Dinosaur Place. Seek out dinosaur bones, minerals and crystals. Come face to face with more than two dozen life-size dinosaurs. Stroll along one-and-a-half miles of easy walking trails. For more information, visit www.thedinosaurplace.com/.  [Top]

Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut. The Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut offers kids a great opportunity to learn.

They can experience more than seventy exotic animals, the world’s largest walk-in kaleidoscope, tons of turtles and a giant pendulum. For more information, visit www.thechildrensmuseumct.org/index.asp.

Dodd Stadium. Built in 1995 and named for Senator Thomas J. Dodd of Connecticut, Dodd Memorial Stadium in Norwich is the home stadium of the Connecticut Tigers of Minor League Baseball’s New York Penn League. The Tigers are the affiliate of the Detriot Tigers. For more information and the 2010 schedule, visit www.cttigers.com. The Holiday Inn - Norwich is the official hotel of the Connecticut Tigers! For the Friends & Family rate, contact Katie Weber directly via email at katie.weber@hershahotels.com or by phone 860-889-5201 ext. 166

U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum. Home of the USS Nautilus, the U.S Navy Submarine Force Museum gives visitors an up-close-and-personal look at the world's first nuclear-powered ship and the first one to travel to the North Pole. You’ll get to see exactly where the crew of this incredible submarine worked, ate and slept as they traveled way down beneath the surface of the ocean. For more information, visit www.ussnautilus.org/.  [Top]