I come from this beautiful picturesque small beach village called Niantic. It sits on the Long Island sound in southeastern Connecticut – an easy drive from Boston & NYC. The village is lined with beaches, has a beautiful main street filled with small boutiques and cafes, and a small gazebo at the center of town; the hub for any townie weekend event. Down main street our town hosts holiday strolls, farmer markets, numerous parades. However, none compare to the infamous East Lyme Day, which is basically a humongous block party where Main Street is shut down every third Saturday of July with fun food, large discounts, and fireworks on the beach at night. It’s especially beautiful watching them from a boat on the bay.