We are changing our late September trip. We were going to go to Florida but our eleven year old grandson won’t be vaccinated yet and to be honest , it looks like a mess down there. So , we live in Illinois and want something different. I have never been to Rhode Island but sister in law suggested it and it looks interesting. Any suggestions on a town to stay in? Probably close to the beach would be best. Things to do? Any suggestion welcomed
Watch Hill is a beautiful beach community. 30 minutes to Newport and 40 to Providence (there is a zoo an eleven year old might enjoy). Lastly you are less than an hour to Mystic Ct and it’s aquarium.
Ocean House is a spectacular venue.
1 Like
I agree with the Watch Hill area. You should be able to find a rental there as it’s after the actual beach season. Westerly RI is fine too and close to beaches. Charleston is also nice if you are looking for a beach sort of vacation.
No matter where you are in RI, you will be close enough to visit Newport. Not sure how much an 11 year old would enjoy the mansions but I d try it. The Cliff Walk in Newport is also nice.
2 Likes
I’m currently staying an hour north of the RI coast, and was here when Henri blew through a few days ago. Inland areas came through it well, but the RI/CT coast saw some damage. So check ahead that wherever you plan to stay is “intact”. The one time we went to Maui, staying at a hotel renowned for its beach, we got there and the beach had been washed away (all of it, up to the boardwalk) by a storm several months earlier. Seems the hotel forgot to update their web photos…
That said, if you want a New England vibe but aren’t set on RI in particular, then Cape Cod is worth a look. The options are almost literally RI x 100, and as was said about RI it’s after the season (schools start next week around here) so lots of deals to be had and no crowds.
Expect weather on the chilly side (to my CA sensibilities) by late September. Low/mid 60’s, unless a heat wave like we’re getting now. The one time I did the Cape in late September it was fine for walking/hiking, but I passed on the bike riding I had done when visiting a month earlier (an excellent “rail trail” runs through much of the mid-Cape). Others are likely less chill-affected.
Hard to go wrong either way – you should have a great trip!
2 Likes
Watch Hill is one of my favorite small towns in RI and I never miss a summer without going to the beach there. I love it. The Ocean House is magnificent. It is also extremely expensive, as is most of Watch Hill. Without knowing your budget, it’s hard to recommend. But RI is a small place, so if you do a search in RI, you’ll come up with something. Misquamicut Beach is the large public beach on the ocean. Across the stream is a water slide park which kids of all ages live. You can also find shops to rent anything you might want to use in the water. Point Judith is home to the fishing village of Galilee (no joke) where you can get lots of fresh fish or just watch the boats come in. It’s also where you can catch a ferry to Blick Island for a day trip. And Point Judith has a nice ocean beach of its own.
Are you looking for house rental, condo, hotel resort? September is shoulder season in RI, prices will be down a little bit. From their peak. Charlestown tends to be a little more reasonable.
I second the recommendation of the Providence Zoo. Jamestown is on an island between the mainland and Newport. If yours is a kid who likes history, Watson Farm and Jamestown Settlement are both very well done. My 11 year old was fascinated by the wind mill when I took him there. Just over the bridge is Newport with its waterfront, mansions, restaurants, and the Tennis Hall of Fame. If your son likes a good mystery, take him to see the Newport Tower. No one knows who built it or why. Across the street is the Newport Tower museum, hosted on weekends by Jim Egan, who has written a dozen books on the tower and will tell you who built it. He convinced me.
In the other direction, 5 minutes across the state line in Connecticut, is Mystic Seaport Museum Village with working artisans and craftsmen. It’s where the Amistad was built for the movie and where the replica of the Mayflower was restored for 400th anniversary celebration in Plymouth. There’s also the Mystic Aquarium, which is very good. And of course there’s Mystic Pizza. Downtown Mystic is actually in the town of Groton. At the other end of town, they build submarines. It’s where the Nautilus was built. You can learn more at Submarine Force Museum. In between Mystic and the Groton sub base is the historic little village of Noank, a hidden gem on its own little peninsula. Ford’s Lobster and Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough are both on the water there and either is worth giving out of your way for.
When you’re in RI, you’re not a long drive from Plymouth. At Plimouth Patuxet Museum, they put as much emphasis on the Native American side of the story as on the English settlers’.
That should get you started. I hope you have a lot of fun on your vacation.
2 Likes
" they put as much emphasis on the Native American side of the story as on the English settlers’ "
Yes, poke around the historic sites in this area of New England and you will learn interesting things, like how the first “contact” was when hungry settlers snuck into an unattended camp and stole food. Not quite the crayon picture we were all drawing in third grade : )
I highly recommend a day trip to Block Island.
You can catch a 1 hour ferry ride from Pt Judith (and other locations that go less frequently). You’ll land right in the small town with the usual shops and restaurants, a jetty to explore and a miles long crescent beach. A short walk up hill on Spring St is an exotic animal farm. Continue about a mile farther up to the South East lighthouse then to the 141 stairs down the Mohegan bluffs. Over 40% of the island is conservation land with walking trails throughout.
Last I heard Block Island had reinstated an indoor masking policy.
2 Likes
SIL lived in Providence many moons ago and when visiting once, we had the chance to attend WaterFire. It is a really different experience. While it isn’t on the beach, it might be a nice evening activity, it’s free and fun for all ages.
1 Like
I live in the area and would probably choose CT or MA instead, especially if it’s more than a weekend trip. CT coast has Water’s Edge in Westbrook, a couple of nice places in Old Saybrook, and pretty much anything in Mystic is great. There’s tons of stuff on Cape Cod (we like pretty much anything past Hyannis) Martha’s Vineyard is our favorite, hands down. Not a lot of hotels but I’m sure you could find rentals, and September is lovely on MV.
2 Likes
Martha’s Vinyard is lovely. But it’s an island. Ferry logistics could get tricky, especially if any storm/hurricane weather delays.
2 Likes
Second here for Watch Hill, but I would point out it’s a little sleepy … at least it has been on our visits. Ocean House is a goal, but as Bill said, it’s very expensive. I can’t remember exactly when, but at some point I inquired and $800+ / night is what I remember. Providence is worth a visit … great mid-sized city full of great architecture … and we all love Newport.
We’re planning MV in the mid-fall and have been to a few locations on the Cape. Provincetown is really cool and would be a good two or three day stay.
All of these things are in the general vicinity of one another.
People are often surprised at the large size of Cape Cod, very many towns. There are 2 bridges to get onto the cape, and during the summer it can be quite the bottleneck for traffic, especially on weekends.
We are still considering everything. Martha’s Vineyard while enticing is a no. We don’t want to deal with an island. With two pre teen boys, we need stuff to occupy them. I think somewhere on the Rhode Island shoreline will fit the bill. We can day trip to Mystic and up to Plymouth. We can check out Ft Adams, do the Cliff Walk and maybe even tour the mansions. I have looked at Airbnbs and there is a nice variety of places. Ocean House would be lovely but not with two kids who wouldn’t appreciate it and two husbands who would faint at the room rates. I am very thankful to all who gave me advice and suggestions. Those of you who live near these places are very fortunate!
2 Likes