One of the days, we headed to Groton, CT to visit the USS Nautilus - the world's first nuclear-powered submarine. It's been decommissioned and docked since 1982 near the Naval Submarine Base in New London. We can tour a few of the forward compartments and it was really eye-opening visiting the sub. I knew/know the quarters are tight in a submarine, but it is truly miniscule. The hatches are incredibly small and took some effort to get in and out of. The berths are even smaller - I would really love to see exactly how one gets in the berth with 2 1/2 feet of clearance.
It was really very cool - and so was the museum attached. It had a few periscopes integrated into the building in which you could spy on the HVAC and the parking lot.
Back at "home", we walked down Thames street, which is a Main Street of shops and restaurants, and conveniently by a harbor. Not sure which body of water exactly we were bordering - but it's still pretty and NOT the Mississippi.
We also visited the Cliff Walk - until we got to the point that the rest of it was washed away by Hurricane Sandy, in which you could see the Breakers, a famous Vanderbilt-owned 'summer home'.
Other fun sights:
As well as a brief walking tour of Salve Regina - at least the part that borders the Cliff Walk, or rather that the Cliff Walk borders it. The whole area has majestic houses, equally majestic gates and tons of history:
All in all - it was a very fun, very worthwhile trip - despite the winter storm warning that threatened the trip before it began. After the initial day of snow and wind, the weather for the remained of the trip was wonderful. I can see how this area becomes a resort town in the summer - it is stunningly beautiful. I'll have to make a return trip again sometime.
