[Stylo]

Originally Posted by NewJeffCT

To go the other way - how many places in Providence have zero ties to Brown or RISD?

I was thinking the same. Having such huge beneficiaries makes them great art cities.

[willow wind]

OP- True art museums and galleries are scattered here and there throughout the shoreline in the New London area. Many of those in the Mystic area are basically galleries designed to sell stuff to tourists. Which perhaps you would be happy to do.

However, these are some of the true museums and galleries. The Florence Griswold Museum and the Lyme Art Association Gallery in Old Lyme; the Hygienic Gallery & the Lyman Allyn Museum in New London, the Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford. The last is a large mansion with period furnishings and art, which offers tours to the public. It is state owned and operated.

There is also the Pequot Museum at the Foxwoods Resort/Casino Complex in Ledyard. This is a large Pequot Indian Museum with a variety of exhibits, shows, recreated Indian village, etc. From what I can gather employment is not restricted to tribal members. If you have the training, skills, experience you may be able to get in the employment door at any of the above if and when there are openings.

Your best for apartments may be in Groton. There are many nice, newer complexes including condos for rent. Having two dogs may be a problem, especially if they are medium to big dogs. Old Saybrook and the Niantic area of East Lyme will have a good number of what are called academic rentals of single family homes in beachy areas. These academic rents run from usually September to early June. If you have to, this kind of rent is not a bad option as it gives you time to explore the region before finding something more to your liking.

[TheJackal]

Considering this person apparently will be commuting to New London I would pretty much stick to either New London or Norwich, or the surrounding towns. Westerly is also a decent option. I would avoid Groton and Windham.

Norwich has the Slater Museum, Mohegan Park, and it's close to the casinos and the farm towns. They'll just be a short ride to lots of outdoorsy places.

As far as coffee goes, IDK. Norwich isn't the center of all things "modern culture". Its charm is very much rooted in its past. There used to be a great coffee place called The Liberty Tree but that's now a pizza place. If they were older and had high school aged kids Norwich or the surrounding towns would be a slam dunk since they'd have Norwich Free Academy as the public high school.

[EasternCTBias]

How many of these responses are actually from SE CT?

1) First of all don't commute 45 minutes to New London. Live close by! That makes the New Haven vs Providence argument moot (Providence wins BTW) They clearly said they like hiking/outdoors and want to be less than 45 minutes so New Haven makes zero sense.

2) If you're working in CT, live in CT. Not sure why people are suggesting Westerly. Other than the Watch Hill/Misquamicut area, Westerly does not offer anything you cannot find in CT. Just save it for a beach trip like the rest of us!

3) Not sure why people would suggest Norwich is nicer than Groton. You all know Mystic and Noank are in Groton right? It also does not make much sense to live in Norwich if you work in New London, the driving route make for a less-than-desirable commute - it would be the difference of a 15 minute commute vs a 30 minute commute.. I love each for what they are, but I would not suggest a newcomer live in Norwich over Groton. Heck, New London is my least favorite place (due to crime and overall seediness when the sun goes down) in SECT but at least Bank Street offers the art/coffee they asked for - something they wouldn't get from Norwich.

4) Lyme/Old Saybrook might be good places to look for museum work BUTTTTTT I wouldn't call it a haven for 20-somethings. If you could reel in something off of Main Street in Old Saybrook that could be a good fit but the $1400 budget could be an issue.

Soooo considering you are cultured, 20-something, outdoorsy types, my EASTERN CONNECTICUT BORN & BRED KNOWLEDGE would suggest for you.... .....GROTON!!! Preferably near Mystic or Noank (price might be an issue) or Eastern Point (near UConn Avery Point / Shennecosett)

Why Groton? You have Bluff Point to walk your dogs, you have Mystic to grab a local cup of coffee, see some art, and drink a beer with some of the friendliest you'll find in the area. 10 minute drive from Stonington Borough which also offers all this and has the best breakfast on the planet at Noah's! Plenty of biking and walking right outside your door. Right on the shoreline so you can kayak, canoe, or otherwise boat any way you like it. Hiking will be very easy to come by. If either of you golf, Shennecossett is the best public course in the area and you would get a resident discount because it is municipal. Lots of history too if you're into that and shopping at nearby Clinton/Westbrook outlets (Foxwoods in Ledyard will also have outlets in less than a year). You are close enough to Watch Hill/Misquamicut/Point Judith/Narragansett to drive 30-45 min to the best beaches in New England. You have all the aforementioned museums that another poster was kind enough to point out, with optimal commuting to each.

So listen to the guy who is from there. Not Windham, Not New Haven, Not Rhode Island, GROTON IS FOR YOU!

[NewJeffCT]

Parts of Mystic are in Groton, parts are in Stonington. The well known parts of Mystic - the seaport and aquarium - are in Stonington.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by EasternCTBias

They clearly said they like hiking/outdoors and want to be less than 45 minutes so New Haven makes zero sense.

I agree with the commute factor but New Haven has a TON of hiking/outdoors in and around it.

[EasternCTBias]

Originally Posted by NewJeffCT

Parts of Mystic are in Groton, parts are in Stonington. The well known parts of Mystic - the seaport and aquarium - are in Stonington.

This is true - the border of Stonington and Groton is the Mystic river (not the movie).

-Aquarium/Seaport/Mystic Village/Amtrak are all on Stonington side (i.e. the more touristy attractions). Housing on the Stonington side is more expensive and rentals would be less available but you can still enjoy the sights with a 5 minute drive.

-Groton side include the shops on west Main street/Mystic Pizza/Daniel Packer Inn - which fits their needs a little better with art, barts, and coffee (there is a coffee shop next to Harp & Hound on West Main multiple on the road toward the parking lots). If they live in the area, this is where they want access to on a daily basis, not the seaport and aquarium.

-The Stonington side is more expensive with less rentals in comparison to Groton. Groton side should not be difficult finding under $1400, Stonington could be more of a struggle.

-You can easily live in Groton and enjoy the Stonington side of Mystic with a 2 minute drive or enjoyable walk/bikeride but as someone who grew up in the area I honestly end up spending more time on the Groton side unless I have out of towners visiting that wants to go to the Seaport, Aquarium, etc. The "drawbridge area" is the go to spot.

-If, by chance, the OP's husband is working at EB the vast majority of EB employees live in Groton, Ledyard, and Waterford. Groton is best for their needs.

[EasternCTBias]

Originally Posted by Stylo

I agree with the commute factor but New Haven has a TON of hiking/outdoors in and around it.

My father is from New Haven and I do like New Haven. For a "city" it does have many nice parks, shoreline access (West Haven shoreline is underrated IMO) and you would have driving access to plenty of hiking but IMO it does not have the same outdoors factor on a day-to-day basis as SE CT.

Here's a list of some hiking trails in SE CT (to be fair there are locations West of the CT river on that list): Connecticut Hiking Guide | New London and southeastern Connecticut | The Day newspaper | www.theday.com . Ledyard and Groton both have a plethoria of hiking not to mention spots like River Road and Noank Road which often have more bikes than cars. I will give you that New Haven has SE CT beat in many categories, but "the great outdoors" is not one of them.

If the OP was working near New Haven and wanted a urban/suburban lifestyle with access to the outdoors then I would support living in New Haven but I would not support commuting to New London from New Haven.

[JayCT]

The only reason anyone suggested living toward New Haven was for the possible job opportunities for the OP's GF. They said they wanted a job in a museum or art gallery. Living in say Old Saybrook would give her access to jobs in New Haven, Middletown and Hartford. Groton would not do that,. Jay