The Huffington Post
It is very possible that the first American Thanksgiving -- you know, the one with the Native Americans -- was held right here in Bristol, RI, a small Narragansett Bay town initially built on riches reaped from the slave trade. But Bristol is most famous for hosting the "Oldest Continuous 4th of July Parade" in the country (229th in 2014), and though it's tough to get to -- "a peninsula on another peninsula," one resident explained -- locals are refreshingly and astonishingly friendly. Despite such a dark past, Bristol might be one of the most harmonious small towns you'll ever visit. With an abundance of spectacular homes and gardens, this little hard to get to town is now a magnet for destination weddings. See full story.