The area offers a wide variety of events throughout the year.
Summer brings carnivals, fairs, town picnics, and fireworks displays, to mention
a few. In the fall, there are food festivals and
Octoberfests. During the holidays, lantern light tours of the Seaport
and historic homes add to the festive atmosphere. Spring brings
parades, concerts, and the Lobsterfest.
ITT, on the SUBASE, has event
flyers/brochures and tickets to special events. Every Thursday, The
Day (the local newspaper) has a special insert section, "Weekly Happenings,"
which gives thorough announcements of events in the area.
For additional
information, check the web sites list in the "Local Community
Overview". Bikers will enjoy Haley Farm. A 198-acre state
reserve in Groton offers an eight-mile bike trail through the old farm site, a
convenient place to access the seven mile town-owned bike trail from Groton to
Mystic on local roads. Mountain-bikers will want to check out Bluff Point State
Park in Groton and Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic. Rocky Neck is
also a top choice for in-line skating.
Walkers can enjoy Bluff Point in
one easy loop that lends itself to walking alone or with a friend.
One of
the most popular short hikes in the area is the top of the almost 600-foot
Lantern Hill in Ledyard. It is also near the connection of the
blue-blazed Pequot and Narragansett trails, part of 800 miles of trails
maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.
Camping
facilities in the area include: Rocky Neck State Park in Niantic (with 160 sites
and access to a salt water beach), Hopeville Pond State Park in Jewett City, and
Pachaug State Forest in Voluntown, (which includes horseback camping
facility).
When it comes to golf, three courses stand
out:
1.) The up-and-coming among local courses is Elmridge
Golf Course on Elm Ridge Road, off Route 1 in Stonington. Last year
Elmridge added nine new holes and now has a nine hole Red, White and Blue
layouts. This gives the club the advantage of being able to handle
crowds. Golfers can make advance reservations. The
championship course lists a par of 71 on 5,648 yards.
2.) The
Norwich Golf Course has earned Connecticut Magazine's ranking as one of the
state's top 10 courses. The honor didn't surprise those who play
there regularly. Norwich, a par 71 of 6,200 yards, is an attractively
laid out, challenging course with one of the area's best records for course
maintenance.
3.) One of the magazine's honorable mention
courses was Shennecossett Municipal Golf Course in Groton. This Bobby
Jones-designed course, a par 72 of 6,491 yards, evokes the links style of
Scottish courses. It is wide in spots, but several holes can be
extremely challenging even to the most experienced golfer.
Beach bums,
sun worshipers, and swimmers will love the sand, sun, and abundant water all
within 45 minutes of the base.
For additional information check the web
sites list in the "Local Community Overview."A major portion of the quality of
life programs for today's sailors and their families is provided by
MWR. MWR facilities are conveniently located in central areas on and
off the base. If you live in the barracks, most facilities are within easy
walking distance. MWR offers the following recreation facilities and
services.
INFORMATION, TICKETS AND TOURS (ITT) (860) 694-3238
A
center for information on MWR programs and discount tickets for leisure
activities such as local theaters, skiing, professional and minor league
sporting events and amusement parks throughout New England. ITT also sells
balloons and balloon bouquets for delivery on base and in Navy Family
Housing.
RECREATIONAL OUTFITTERS (860) 694-3380
This facility
located in Bldg. 461 has a variety of sports and hospitality items to
rent.
SUBASE MARINA (860) 694-3164
Facilities include 30 slips, 15
mooring sites, restrooms, and picnic facilities. There are also seasonal
launching and haul out, winter storage, sailing lessons, retail special orders,
and canoe and sailing rentals.
ADMIRAL FIFE RECREATION AREA (860)
694-3238
A 40-acre recreation area open to all personnel, their families
and guests. Facilities include hiking trails, picnic sites, large
picnic pavilion, softball field, playground, volleyball courts, and horseshoe
pits. The SUBASE Environmental Department has an excellent guide to
this MWR managed treasure.
Please call the ITT for more information about
the following additional MWR facilities and services.
* Dealey
Center Movie Theatre * Racquetball
Center * Recreation Center and Game
Room * Morton Hall Gymnasium * Indoor Swimming
Pool * Summer Swimming(lake swimming) * Bowling Center
* Goose Run Golf Course * Tennis Courts
* Softball Fields * SUBASE LibraryA major portion of the
quality of life programs for Navy families are provided by MWR. Facilities are
conveniently located on and off the base.The Subase Youth Center, local youth
service agencies, and public and private school systems offer competitive and
non-competitive seasonal activities for a wide age range. The MWR
Youth Program provides quality recreational programs in a variety of places, and
the fees are determined by program expenses. Some examples of MWR programs are:
Youth Fun and Fitness; Fun and Fitness Challenge; Barracuda Swim Team;
Basketball; Baseball; Soccer; Football; Gymnastics; Karate; Tennis; and
Horseback Riding Lessons.
The FFSC welcomes military families with a
special publication entitled, "ALL ABOARD FOR GROTON
CONNECTICUT." This booklet is designed for children and features many
interesting and fun places to visit in CT.The Shepherd of the Sea Chapel offers
religious instruction for families with Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or
Mormon religious practices.
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)
classes provide Catholic instruction for children from pre-kindergarten through
grade twelve.
The Protestant Youth Program offers weekly Sunday School
classes for children, except during the summer months. Special events
and retreats are also scheduled throughout the year.
Please contact the
Chaplain's Center at (860) 694-3232 for additional information.Seasonal
activities sponsored by MWR include: the "Haunted House" in October, a
life-sized "Candy Land" game complete with a visit from Santa in December, an
Easter Scramble each Spring, and the Kids' Carnival in May, and SUBFEST in
July.