Guilford, Madison, Old Saybrook, Niantic / East Lyme have cute downtowns and beaches. Niantic has The Book Barn, a large used book store with multiple buildings / locations and a boardwalk. Madison has RJ Julia bookstore. Many town beaches are free during the off-season and I believe Hammonasset is free for everyone right now including non-residents. Seaside State Park in Waterford is cool, it’s an old sanatorium right on the water.