Celebrating "Connecticut's Submarine Century," Groton and New London have planned a summer filled with submarine-related activities and surrounding shoreline areas will feature museums, historic forts, parks and beaches, restaurants and ice cream shops to round out day trips.

Among the events awaiting visitors are lectures, films, concerts, community festivals and the CT Sub Trail — a public art project showcasing a fleet of 20 fiberglass mini submarine sculptures painted by regional artists. The small subs will be in Groton's 4th of July parade and then be delivered to outdoor locations along the trail.

If you're planning a "Dive, Dive, Dive!" outing, you'll want to start at the U.S. Navy's Submarine Force Library & Museum on the Thames River, (pronounced THAYmes, not TEMes), in Groton. The place is filled with interactive exhibits, periscopes, submarines and diving bells, including a replica of "The Turtle," one of the first combat submarines, built in 1775 by Old Saybrook resident David Bushnell. Submarine-related events will include a new exhibit of submarine art and science activities for children.

Outside at the museum's dock is the USS Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, which is open for tours. (If you're claustrophobic, you might want to skip the 45-minute tour through the boat's very close quarters.)

A calendar of events can be found at www.ctsubmarinecentury.com