Because it’s the summer I grew up with, a Connecticut summer will always seem like the most classic version: green everything, water everywhere, lobster shacks, ice cream cones, country roads… I know June will probably feel differently, and that’s okay! But I hope she also loves her New England visits, and if this year’s week in Connecticut was any indication, we’re off to a good start :) Here are a few highlights from our week at home in June, if you’d like to see! We kicked off the week with the wedding of a dear high school friend, the impetus for this trip in the first place! John was a groomsman, June was the only child in attendance and had a blast chasing the spotlights on the dance floor, and the weather was perfection. Plus, the wedding was at the Branford House, where Natalie and Joe got married, so that was extra fun! Every single one of our high school friends was reunited from across the country for the occasion, which was indescribably sweet! And there’s my Junebug, cheesing it up at 10pm just before we left for the night :) We generally had impeccable weather, which lent itself to several beach days (at Esker Point and Eastern Point, for locals who are wondering!). One extra-fun quirk in the timing of our trip was that we were home for my childhood church’s strawberry supper, which happens once a year. It cracked me up to get the mini-celebrity treatment (my church is very small and the older ladies were excited to meet June for the first time!), and June clearly enjoyed the signature dessert. We of course spent lots of time in Mystic — going to the aquarium (baby belugas!), Treehouse for dinner, Red36 for lunch, eating ice cream by the

Usually when we go home to Connecticut, it’s for a major holiday or a big occasion, like a family wedding. Every trip is fun, but on those occasions our schedule is often hectic and largely dictated for us. So to have a full week where we could simply enjoy some of our favorite restaurants, activities, and places in our hometown was a rare treat – and we took full advantage of it! Here are a few photos, if you’d like to see. At the bottom of the post I’m also sharing a list of our shoreline/southeastern Connecticut favorites, if you should find yourself in the area! The view from Abbott’s. The magnificent Ocean House. We went for lunch and it was as wonderful as you’d expect! June loved the penguins at the Mystic Aquarium! Everything else pretty much went over her head, but the penguins were a hit :) All dressed up for a high school friend’s wedding! Taking an evening walk to see my house. Favorite places to eat: Abbott’s Caffe NV and NV Market Sift Bake Shop Oyster Club Kitchen Little The Ocean House Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream and Buttonwood Farm Paul’s Pasta Del’s Chinese Kitchen S&P Oyster Company Clyde’s Cider Mill Favorite things to do: Mystic Aquarium Picnic at Harkness Memorial State Park and Avery Point Hike at Haley Farm and Bluff Point Beach day at Napatree in Watch Hill Walk through downtown Mystic Walk through Stonington Borough Walk through downtown Madison Kayak on the Mystic River Pick berries, pumpkins, apples, or Christmas trees at Maple Lane or Holmberg’s Connecticut peeps, did I miss any of your favorites