Independence Day Parade - Bristol, Rhode Island

Bristol, Rhode Island boasts the countries longest running 4th of July Parade, and it has been on our to-do list for many years now. We arrived in the Ocean State early in the morning after a traditional stop at Dunkin' Donuts for coffee and munchkins to get the day rolling, and staked out a spot under a huge oak tree, along a stone wall at the foot of a Rhode Island mansion. The street was filled with a festive atmosphere. The marching bands and bagpipe clans began drumming by, with street vendors selling towers of Dora the Explorer and Spiderman balloons and colorful horns to the clamboring children along the route. The parade went on for hours and hours with every available politician, beauty queens, miltary units, clown troupe and local club sporting their best efforts and most elaborate patriotic floats. From our spot on the stone wall, a stunning Bristol harbor, with yachts and boats of every stripe floated at the dock against the glittering blue Atlantic shimmering in the hot, strong July sun. The oak tree was the magic charm, as our spot was cool and shady as we watched the spectacle march by. The frozen slushy lemonaide drinks sure tasted good, and gave us the energy to march back to our car and reluctantly away from RI beautiful coastline.