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South County, Rhode Island | |
| Southeastern Rhode Island, from Westerly to Narragansett, is South County, a land of pretty, historic towns, long sandy beaches, and the ferryboat to Block Island. | ||
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South County (southeastern Rhode Island) proves that Rhode Island compresses a lot of history, culture, and natural beauty in a small space (map). From the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace in Saunderstown and the towers of Narragansett Pier, to Narragansett Beach, Scarborough State Beach, the ferryboat to Block Island, the broad beaches of South County, and the charming old town of Watch Hill, this is the Rhode Island that locals delight in, but that out-of-staters have never heard. NarragansettUS Route 1A skirts the southwestern shore of Narragansett Bay passing through Narragansett Pier, a famous Victorian resort town, which is also the main town on the peninsula here. Although not quite so famous now, the town is still popular for the same reasons as in an earlier age: beautiful sea views, a fine waterfront promenade, and gracious old Victorian houses. Passing through Narragansett Pier on Ocean Road, you'll drive right under the last standing remnant of Stanford White's mammoth Narragansett casino, the Towers, built in 1882. The town's chamber of commerce maintains a Tourist Information Office in the base of the seaward tower—park on either side of the underpass arch and walk to the door. Naragansett Beach is north of the Towers. South of Narragansett Pier, US Route 1A passes near the Scarborough State Beach facilities (of RI Route 108), very popular on hot summer days although never filled to capacity. Scarborough Beach, like all Rhode Island beaches, works on a system of parking/admission fees, charged per car. Point JudithContinuing along US Route 1A south will bring you to the tip of Point Judith and the village of Galilee and the departure dock for ferryboats to Block Island. More... South County BeachesAcross the water from Point Judith is South Kingston, where the South County beaches start, and continue westward all the way to the beautiful Victorian beach village of Watch Hill. Beyond Watch Hill, the Connecticut shoreline starts at beautiful old Stonington CT. More... —by Tom Brosnahan
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The Narragansett
Towers |
