Visit the transportation museums of Connecticut. Mystic Seaport is an outdoor maritime museum with historic ships and restored 19th-century buildings. Visitors can walk through dock areas, workshops, and exhibits about maritime trades. The nearby Submarine Force Library & Museum displays Navy vessels, while the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat conducts voyages along the Connecticut River valley departing from the original 1892 Essex Station.

Relax waterside at Rocky Neck State Park. The state park has soft sandy beaches and picnic areas for a relaxing summer day. Or explore the 700 acres of land while birdwatching and fishing. Osprey, cranes, striped bass, and flounder are just some of the wildlife that makes its home in the park.

Explore the heritage of the Connecticut River Valley. From the regional influence of the Wangunk people to the raid by British forces during the War of 1812, the Essex Historical Society and Connecticut River Museum tell the fascinating stories that took place around The Griswold Inn. The Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut preserves the historic home of a Griswold family member. Florence was an artist in the Lyme Art Colony in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Florence Griswold Museum promotes Connecticut art, history, and nature.