BEST SMALL BEACH
At the western end of the westernmost town in Rhode Island -- Westerly -- is a village called Watch Hill. More subdued and far less crowded than Misquamicut State Beach a mere 2 miles away, Watch Hill Beach mostly attracts regulars who have summer homes in the tony Victorian neighborhood. If you really want to get away from it all, take the coastal walk to Napatree Point, where shorebirds, even the threatened piping plover, can outnumber beachcombers. Parking at the beach is resident-only, so look for a private lot or a street spot in Watch Hill.