Where to Find the Best Beaches in Rhode Island

By: Kelte Foster
Posted In: News

Ian Wilson, a 20 year old Salve Regina sophomore from South Kingstown, R.I., knows where to find the best food, the best surf, and the best beach. Having summered at his beach house on Matunuck Beach ever since he was a little boy, Wilson has really grown to love the place he calls home. With the beach in walking distance from his house, Wilson spends most of his summer day’s skim boarding and swimming with his friends. Wilson also likes to enjoy food from the snack shack, which he describes as having the best hamburgers, hot dogs and fried dough around.

Rhode Island is one of the best summer vacation spots with more than 100 public and private beaches, where locals and tourists alike can enjoy the warm sunshine, cool ocean water, and the company of family and friends.

While Matunuck Beach has become smaller than Wilson remembers it, due to erosion over the last two years, it still attracts all the friendly locals. Wilson, who describes his ideal summer day as waking up early, swimming in the ocean all day, and tossing a football around with friends, and staying there to see the sunset, agrees that Matunuck beach is very unique because of the atmosphere brought by the locals. He said, “Everyone that goes to the beach is from the neighborhood, everyone knows everyone, and we all have a great time together.”

Ryan Fitzgerald will also be spending his time at another Rhode Island beach favorite, First Beach, but will not be spending his days so leisurely. Fitzgerald, who is now a 22-year-old junior who commutes to Salve Regina University, has lived in Rhode Island his whole life and has been working at First Beach for the past 8 years. Fitzgerald works 5 days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will spend his time repairing parts of the beach, painting, assisting cars in parking, and making sure the beach stays clean. While the weeks do get busy, the weekends get even busier and the three parking lots offered fill up quickly.

According to the Rhode Island Tourism Division, First Beach is one of the best beaches on Aquidneck Island because of its many features that are geared towards children. While surfing and skim boarding take place at certain designated areas of the beach, there is a carousel, aquarium, bumper boats and a cliff walk to enjoy. Also, Tuesday and Thursday nights also feature Family and Children’s Nights with scheduled live bands, and things such as puppet shows, story telling, jugglers and magicians.

The beach also has easy access to one of the best restaurants around, Atlantic Beach Club. While some people do bring a lunch to the beach, Fitzgerald noted that Atlantic Beach Club is usually extremely busy with their outdoor dining and bar area. There is also a small snack bar and vending machines located within the boardwalk and bathhouses on First Beach.

While Fitzgerald started out at minimum wage earning only $7.25 an hour, he now is up to $10 an hour and loves his job. Fitzgerald said, “While it can get tough being in the sun, I’m Irish and just get redder and redder, I do meet a lot of nice people and am lucky to get to spend my summers outside.”

Another Rhode Island native, Beth Deinert, says Gooseberry Beach located right in Newport, is her favorite beach to visit because of its closeness and beautiful white sand. Deinert, who grew up in Smithfield, R.I., married another local who shares a love for the ocean and beach. She also has a 2-year-old son and loves going to Gooseberry two to three times a week. With very little waves and not a lot of people around, Deinert says the beach is perfect for building sand castles, swimming and sunbathing. Also, the beach is a great spot for snorkeling and scuba diving because of the large rocks and sea life underwater.

Deinert who will spend her beach days chasing around her 2 year old, says her perfect day would to be able to soak up the sun, read a nice book and just relax. While she will also be busy this summer with horse shows all over New England, fishing, and boating on her husbands boat, Deinert wouldn’t want it any other way, she said, “Summer is our favorite time of the year, even though our schedules get really busy, we love being outdoors and spending time together as a family.”

Gooseberry Beach is a private beach club but open to the public and offers beach chair rentals, changing rooms, and shower facilities. While food is permitted, there is also Gooseberry Caf