Playing to its strength, Rhode Island calls itself ‘‘The Ocean State,’’ and boasts 400 miles of coastline with more than 100 public and private beaches. The longest single sandy stretch is the seven miles from Watch Hill to Weekapaug in the southwest corner of the state. Perennially popular Misquamicut State Beach occupies a half-mile of that strand and has a parking lot for 2,700 cars. The state beach opened in 1959 and has provided generations of families with the classic summer outing of sea, sand, and sun.

Misquamicut State Beach, Atlantic Avenue, Westerly, 401-596-9097, riparks.com, open May weekends 9 a.m.-6 p.m., daily Memorial Day-Labor Day 9-6, residents $6 per car weekdays, $7 weekends, nonresidents $12/$14.