Today’s guest post by a Rhode Island native is part love letter and part mini guide to this charming oceanside section (some call it a village, others a neighborhood) of Westerly, Rhode Island.

Growing up in Rhode Island I developed a love for the beach for the simple reason that going to the beach here was so easy.

No surprise, however, I took those beaches for granted.

I became obsessed with exotic beaches all over the world: from Ipanema in Brazil, Cote d’Azur on the French Riviera, the Amalfi coast in Italy as well as Malibu in California, to name a few.

Each of those beaches delivered their own unique cultural experiences whether it was an acai bowl or mussels steamed in white wine.

But over time, I got bored and tired with the constant quest for exploring what was new and trendy and realized that Rhode Island has one of the best beaches and beach towns in the world:

Watch Hill.

This is NOT a paid endorsement by the Watch Hill Fire District.

It’s a passion I have developed over the years for appreciating  a small beach town across the border from Connecticut and Long Island Sound that harkens back to my fantasy of our country from a more “innocent” time, when people appreciated the natural beauty and epicurean delights of RI beach life, in an era that preceded the I-Phone, cable news, and video games.

Epicurean delights such as delicious ice cream at St. Clair Annex, or a hot dog as well.

A lobster roll you can take to the beach from Bay Street Deli or after a day on the beach cocktails and dinner at the Olympia Tea Room.

Even the newer establishments like Sift with its delicious coffee drinks and light food pay homage to celebrating what’s local and special in New England.

Other than arriving at Watch Hill by car there’s no need to drive.

This is a destination that truly is “small town America”...with miles of ocean beaches and the “town” beach to explore, also Napatree Point, a conservation area that has a 3 mile trail overlooking the sea with great bird watching and a beautiful stretch of beach for swimming.

(FYI, Napatree Point was semi created from the disastrous hurricane of 1938.)

And then there’s the Watch Hill Flying Horse Carousel which has its own unique history, a different type of “celebrity” experience than trying to spot a Watch Hill newcomer (i.e.,Taylor Swift).

The carousel arrived in Watch Hill in 1883 and has the claim to be “the oldest continually running carousel in the United States.” There’s been a tradition since then with kids lining up for carousel rides after the beach, grabbing the brass ring, and getting rewarded with St. Clair ice cream (a multi generational family run business).

Of course there is the famous and legendary and wonderful Ocean House, a five star resort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean but that’s a destination for the affluent. The Watch Hill I’m writing about here is right out of a Frank Capra movie like “It’s a Wonderful Life” accessible to everyone…

Summers are short in Rhode Island, and sunny beach days even less so.

Seize the day: get to Watch Hill, immerse yourself in a beach experience that’s in the same league, if not better than,  Malibu, Cote d’Azur and Amalfi.

As always, if you visit any of these places, please let them know you were inspired by a GUEST POST on PattyJ.com.