New London, CT

New London is a small Connecticut port city on the Thames River, with one of the best natural harbors on Long Island Sound. Its maritime identity runs deep, from early American naval history to the United States Coast Guard Academy. Connecticut College and Mitchell College add a strong education presence for a city of its size. New London feels compact, historic, and a little gritty, with waterfront views, old neighborhoods, and a regional role that reaches beyond its population.