Start from 23 curated places around Niantic, CT, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Skipper's Seafood Restaurant
Family-owned seafood shack on Main Street that has been frying and steaming since 2003. The lobster rolls are stuffed and served warm with drawn butter or cold with mayo, and the clam strips are consistently golden and greaseless. No pretense, counter ordering, picnic tables — this is classic New England shore food done right.
Dad's Restaurant of Niantic
A Niantic institution since 1963, Dad's serves fried whole-belly clams, lobster rolls, fish and chips, and burgers from a casual dining room with indoor and outdoor seating steps from Niantic Bay. New owners took over the Main Street landmark and reopened it in 2025 after a renovation, keeping the familiar shore-food menu and the waterfront setting that locals have relied on for more than sixty years.
Trails & outdoors
Rocky Neck State Park Trail
The main loop trail at Rocky Neck State Park, covering 2.6 miles of moderate terrain through coastal forest, salt marsh edges, and beachside boardwalk with 164 feet of elevation gain. AllTrails rates it 4.5 stars from over 1,600 reviews, making it consistently one of Connecticut's top-rated coastal hikes. The combination of forest canopy and open water views in a single short loop is what keeps hikers coming back.
Rocky Neck Extended Loop
A 4-mile easy loop that extends beyond the main Rocky Neck trail into the park's quieter northern woodlands, passing the Four Mile River estuary and salt marsh areas with strong birdwatching along the water edges. With only 219 feet of gain, it's accessible to most fitness levels and takes about 90 minutes at a relaxed pace.
Things to do
Captain John's Sport Fishing Center
A family-owned sport fishing institution on the Niantic River, home to the Sunbeam Fleet for more than 80 years and four generations. Open-party boats run for bottom fishing and bluefish trips, private charters are available for striped bass and other game fish, and specialty trips like sunset and fireworks cruises operate through summer. You don't need to own gear — rods, bait, and tackle are available on board.
Niantic Children's Museum
A 5,000-square-foot interactive museum designed for children ages 9 months through 9 years, with a rotating imagination room, discovery room, and an outdoor playscape. Founded in 1992, the museum covers arts, sciences, health, and global cultures through hands-on exhibits that are genuinely engaging rather than passive. A reliable rainy-day anchor for families visiting the area.
Landmarks & sights
Niantic Bay Boardwalk
A 1.1-mile wooden boardwalk hugging the Long Island Sound shoreline, connecting Hole-in-the-Wall Beach at McCook Point Park to Cini Memorial Park. The views south across the water toward Long Island are unobstructed, and the route is flat enough for strollers, joggers, and leisurely evening walks alike. Benches are placed throughout, and sunset from the midpoint is reliably excellent.
McCook Point Park & Beach
A scenic bluff park separating two white-sand beaches at the eastern end of the boardwalk, with a shaded lawn, pavilion picnic area, and a bandshell that hosts summer concerts. The park has a rich history dating to the 1860s as a shoreside retreat. The beaches on either side of the bluff have calm, shallow water well-suited for kids, and the elevated lawns give Long Island Sound views without requiring a hike.