Niantic / I-95 Exit 72 KOA Journey

Niantic is in the town of East Lyme, CT. A quaint seaside village community on the beautiful Connecticut shoreline, East Lyme is located just 20 minutes south of Mystic and has much to offer visitors to the town. Unique shops, great restaurants, a mile-long Boardwalk overlooking beautiful Long Island Sound, and special events throughout the year are just some of the reasons to visit. 

Conveniently located, East Lyme is easy to get to and is a perfect place to spend the day or a weekend away. If you're in the area, come "Discover East Lyme" and see for yourself just what makes this community such a great place to visit, play and live!

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Overlooking Niantic Bay, McCook Point Park was acquired by the Town of East Lyme in 1953, for the "benefit and enjoyment of the Town and its citizens". Since that time, it has been a central part of life in East Lyme.The park consists of a beautiful bluff between two white, sandy beaches. On the bluff, where the McCook summer home once stood, is a green lawn shaded by copper beeches, perfect for picnics, games or quiet contemplation. From the Point, you can see Fisher's Island, Plum Island, and Orient Point across Long Island Sound. Closer at hand, there's Wigwam Rock. Throughout the seasons of the year, the Bay is alive with fishing boats, sailboats, migrating and resident birds, and even seals. McCook Point beach, on the west side of the bluff, and Hole-in-the-Wall beach, to the east, provide plenty of room for sunbathing and swimming. Concerts and dances are held in the park throughout the summer. McCook Point Park and Beach is open year-round. However, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, beach passes are required for access and can be purchased at the beach.

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The town of East Lyme features one of, if not, the nicest waterfront walkways in the entire state of Connecticut. Residents of East Lyme know, the Niantic Bay Boardwalk is the place to go if you want to take in the beauty of Long Island Sound, take a refreshing walk or sit for awhile on one of the many benches.Built with state and federal funds, the Boardwalk is 1.1 miles long, stretching from Cini Park and the railroad bridge on the east, to Hole-in-the-Wall beach on the west. There is complimentary parking at either end.The eastern half is a true "boardwalk" (although built of synthetic materials) crossing over dunes covered with native vegetation. Between this section and the waters of Long Island Sound is a lovely white-sand beach, open to the public, perfect for sunbathing, swimming, picnicking, fishing, or just enjoying the view. The western half of the boardwalk is a wide gravel path, built on a rock foundation. Along this section, the waves lap against the rocks, and you feel truly close to nature as you walk along. Don't be surprised if you spot a seal or two swimming in the Bay! This section has sustained some damage in recent storms, and is undergoing maintenance, but it is still open to the public.When you're through with your walk, take a stroll down Niantic's Main Street, where you can browse through the quaint boutiques and shops or stop for a bite to eat at one of East Lyme's great restaurants.

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Hole-in-the-Wall Beach is part of McCook's Point Park, a Town of East Lyme park. Its white-sand beach slopes gently to a swimming area sheltered on the east by a stone jetty, and on the west by McCook's Point itself. During the summer, a lifeguard is present during the day. Parking for Hole-in-the-Wall Beach is available on Baptist Lane, off Niantic's Main Street (Route 156). From Memorial Day to Labor Day, passes are required and can be purchased at the beach. The beach is accessed through a short tunnel under the railroad tracks, the source of the beach's name. To the left, as you emerge from this tunnel, you will see the western entrance to the Niantic Bay Boardwalk. In front of you is a breathtaking view of Long Island Sound. The beach is to your right.

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