I like to think that New Englanders are a breed of our own. We have a certain sense of style, taste and our odd mannerisms are difficult to miss. Overall, we have created a name for ourselves for not only within our region, but throughout the entire country.

While we are a breed of our own in general, New Englander’s in the summertime are like no other. Between proudly wearing faded red pants that have been passed down through families over the years and drinking shandy on some of the best beaches along the East Coast, there are more than just a few things that we can’t live without during the hot months each year.

1. Yes, Nantucket Red pants over worn, over loved and over done. Yes, most New Englander’s own a pair right next to a cream colored fisherman sweater.

A New England summer wardrobe is the best. All over the six states, you are guaranteed to see mom’s carrying Bean Bags and wearing colorful flip-flops, dad’s rocking top siders, boys in relaxed graphic tees boasting of their recent travels and girls in bright Lilly dresses.

2. There is nothing better than summering on the islands of the region, whether it be the famed ones off the coast of Massachusetts or the ones nestled against one another in Rhode Island.

Block Island, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard… They all have one thing in common aside from their gorgeous views and winding beach back roads. They are filled with tourists that are their own. Even if you live f15 minutes away from the ferry stop, nothing stops the locals from taking a day off from work and heading to the beach for a day or even a long weekend. It never gets old.

3. Lobstah Rolls, good beer and Del’s is the ideal diet.

Forget hamburgers and hot dogs. New Englander’s have a strict meal plan during the summer that consists of greasy seafood, summer ale’s and tangy frozen drinks. Everywhere you look, you are bound to find a family run stand that has a wide array of clam cakes, fish and chips, and shandy in a can that you can slip your latest favorite coozie around.

4. Hydrangeas may as well be the region’s official flower.

Honestly, the beaches aren’t the only view in the summertime in New England. Bright blue, pink and purple hydrangeas line the sidewalks of Newport and the Cape, making the busy shopping streets a bit more serene with some natural beauty. While trends come and go, Hydrangeas are one thing that will never, ever go out of style.

5. It is one big playground in the summertime.

Whether you are a beach bum or a total hiking fanatic, there is always something for you to do in the summertime in New England. You can venture to the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire to bike, hike or simply just breath some clean, mountain air. You can shop for a week straight in Freeport, Maine and visit the ultimate summer mecca of New England clothes: L.L. Bean. And, of course, you can always relax with the sound of waves in Southern New England while licking an ice cream cone and burying your toes in the sand.