Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, Westerly and West Greenwich, the communities that make up South County, are a microcosm of New England, offering wilderness, beaches and dunes, historic charm and freshwater retreats.
Best known for its miles of ocean beaches, South County is one of the world's finest fishing and boating areas. It is a place where you may hike and camp, canoe secluded rivers and ponds, go clamming, poke around a tidewater marsh, or just unwind, watching the waves roll in from the porch of a seaside cottage.
South County is home to 19 preserves, state parks, beaches and forest areas managed by the government and free to enjoy. Among them are Charlestown's Burlingame State Park, Ninigret Park, Moonstone Waterfowl Refuge and the Trustom Pond Wildlife Refuge. A backpacking trip into Arcadia Park, or to South Kingstown's Great Swamp is so remote and full of wildlife that it is almost a primeval experience.
The Atlantic Ocean, Narragansett Bay, and almost two dozen streams and ponds stocked with trout, bass and great northern pike, offer lucrative fishing. There are protected anchorages and full service marinas for the yachtsman, and Galilee, a colorful commercial fishing village, where visitors can watch lobster boats and deep sea vessels unload the day's catch.
From there, it's a short ferry ride to picturesque Block Island, with its vintage Victorian homes, surf, sand and beautiful countryside. Although a busy summer resort, the best time to visit is perhaps in spring or fall, when the crowds disappear and the island welcomes more than 200 species of migratory birds in search of sanctuary.
Against this unspoiled backdrop of nature, South County is alive with reflections of colonial America at its best. The communities abound with historic homes, museums, and reminders of a rich Indian heritage. Following the New England Heritage Trail through South County, visitors see such historic sites as one of America's oldest carousels in Watch Hill; the famous Narragansett Casino Towers; Saunderstown's circa 1750 Casey Farm and Gilbert Stuart's birthplace; and Smith's Castle, America's oldest plantation house, located in North Kingstown.
A trip through South County wouldn't be complete without stops in Watch Hill and Narragansett, famed 19th century seaside resorts with massive summer cottages reminiscent of another era; Wickford, with its quaint shops, stately colonial homes and quahogging fleet; and picturesque Kingston, home of the University of Rhode Island.
South County is all this, plus golf, tennis, biking, clambakes and activities for the whole family. The dining and shopping opportunities are unsurpassed, and lodging ranges from bed and breakfast in colonial homes to small inns and ocean-front hotels.
The area is truly an all-season destination: special activities include strawberry picking in June, art festivals in July, seafood and quahog festivals in August, national fishing tournaments through September, the Narragansett Indian Festival and the Usquepaug Jonnycake Festival in October, and Chorus of Westerly productions with the Boston Festival Orchestra in the fall and spring, just to name a few.
South County is truly New England in a nutshell. It's a great place to visit and to live. Plan to stay for a while or come back often to experience it all!
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