OLD LYME, Conn. (WTNH) — Old Lyme has been named the best summer travel destination in the state of Connecticut, in part because of the beach at Sound View and the restaurants and bars which are right on it.

That designation comes from TravelPulse, which is an online travel website.

“This coastal town is big on history and pulses with fun all summer long. Known for throwing great Memorial Day and Fourth of July events, the town also sits near two state parks (Rocky Neck and Hammonasset), which both boast beautiful beaches,” the post on the website reads.

The town of Old Lyme may have a lot to offer, especially in the summer. Many recognize its bustling beaches at Sound View to its quaint Lyme Street with The Florence Griswold Museum, Lyme Art Association, and The Side Door Jazz Club at Old Lyme Inn.

Angeline Reale, who owns the Old Lyme Ice Cream Shoppe & Café, makes her national award-winning Moroccan Rose and other homemade ice cream flavors right in the Lyme Street shop, which is a popular summer spot.

“If you come out here during the day, the license plates are New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts,” Reale said.

“I think it’s a great thing,” said Brian Cleary, owner of Kokomo’s, a bar and restaurant at Sound View.

It’s one of the few places in the state where people can drink and dine right on the beach.

“It’s so nice to be able to go to the beach and sit out and have someone wait on you. The drinks come within two minutes here,” said Anna Sangster of Providence, Rhode Island.

Old Lyme is not the only shoreline destination that has gained some national recognition. Ocean Beach Park in New London was named one of the best beaches in the country.

Now, Old Lyme can also boast its own national ranking.

“It’s a little gem that I think people are just starting to get to know,” Cleary said.