The Niantic Bay and River have long shaped the area's history of leisure and sport. When city and country life were more sharply distinct, city dwellers traveled to Niantic by train to enjoy its beaches and seaside resorts. Visitors and residents took part in boating, fishing, dining, and dancing, while trolleys carried passengers between the beaches and the head of the river, where the amusement center at Golden Spur offered entertainment. Niantic was also home to religious recreational camps such as Pine Cove on the Niantic River. In East Lyme, that recreational spirit remains strong, with art shows, shops, movies, festivals, the state park, beaches, and the bayside boardwalk continuing to draw people seeking fun and relaxation.