How to Spend a Day in Norwich, Connecticut

For all of the surrounding towns like Lisbon, Canterbury, Sprague, Bozrah, and Franklin, Norwich is a hotspot filled with a lot of things to do for families and people of all ages. No matter what season it is, there is always something, and it is easy and fun to spend a day in Norwich, Connecticut.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Norwich Marina: One of the highlights of Norwich is the marina. During the spring and summer, boats are flocking to the decks and checking out the restaurant at the marina, or playing a round of mini-golf at Putts Up Dock. The marina park features a full gazebo overlooking the water, many benches, and tables with built-in checkerboards. On New Year’s there are multiple firework shows, and on the Fourth of July an even bigger fireworks show fills the skies over the water. The park is a great time to take a walk on any day, and is the heart of Norwich.
2. The Rink: While the water in the Thames River may freeze in the winter, the ice rink at the Rink in Norwich is always frozen. Whether it is to casually skate, play hockey, or watch hockey, the Rink provides a lot of fun for ice skaters. They have a birthday party room and arcades when you are done skating.
3. Shopping: There are many stores scattered throughout Norwich, Connecticut. Pawn Shops like A-Z Pawn provide unique things, and bigger stores like Benny’s and Wal-Mart are great for everyday shopping. The Norwich Town Mall is pretty scarce now, but there are still a few stores still remaining there. Arkham Asylum comic book shop in the Taftville section of Norwich has a ton of comics and trading cards.
4. Dining: Other than fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Wendy’s there are many great places to have dinner or lunch in Norwich. Olympic Pizza on Salem Turnpike features a huge menu that has a lot more than pizza, but that is great also. For even better pizza, head over the Manny’s Pizza and try their juicy Buffalo Chicken Pizza or their unique Potato Pizza.
5. Bowling: Finish off your day at the great alleys at the Norwich Ten Pin, located in Norwichtown. Recently updated, the Norwich Ten Pin features automatic scoring with animations, new lanes with better ball returns, and a huge arcade room. Much like The Rink, the Norwich Ten Pin is great for birthday parties and just hanging out with friends.

Tips & Warnings

• Drive around the city to find more great things to visit and do.