8 Favorite Neighborhoods in Rhode Island Near Town Center Waterfront Areas
Are you relocating or buying your second home in Coastal Rhode Island but the type of person who wants to be near the action, you don’t want to have to hop in your car to grab a coffee, grab a bite to eat or join a friend for happy hour? You want to be close to everything but still live the relaxing Rhode Island coastal beach life?
If you’re looking to buy your coastal Rhode Island home that’s not in the middle of nowhere but also checks off the “laid back” oasis lifestyle- In today’s blog I share my top favorite 8 Rhode Island waterfront communities near town centers that accomplish both of your goals with the most gorgeous views. So sit back, relax and get ready to dial in your Rhode Island search for the perfect neighborhood match!
#8: Misquamicut & Weekapaug
Alright let’s start off with location #8- Weekapaug & Misquamicut RI- Weekapaug is the most adorable coastal area with some of the best golf courses (Shout out to Weekapaug, Winnapaug, Shelter Harbor & Misquamicut) breathtaking coastline scenery & of course- the beach life! You have both Misquamicut State and Westerly Town Beach, multiple restaurants, coffee shops, ice cream & Inn’s sprinkled in between. Here you’ll find people walking out and about in the morning with their dogs and really all day once the beach crowd makes there way down. Everything here is shingle style and we are here. for. it! If you want busy/accessibility in a town but maybe a little more spread out or private, here is a great option! Misquamicut & Weekapaug are close to the Connecticut border and about 2.5 hours into neighboring cities like NYC.
#7: Watch Hill
#7 is Watch Hill- such beautiful and historic charm in this little seaside oasis. Watch the boats come in and out of the harbor downtown, grab a bite to eat, sit on the lawn at the famous Ocean House and take the dogs for a stroll around one of the most classic and iconic seaside neighborhoods. This is definitely a smaller/seasonal downtown feel, but still so much going on, things to do and a great community feel! It’s such a delightful surprise to turn around the corner and see such a gorgeous coastal downtown area! You’ll find neighboring major cities like NYC (2.5 hours), Boston (1.45 hours) and Providence (60 minutes) from this incredible location!
#6: Downtown Wickford
Downtown Wickford- find all your little gift shops, grab a coffee, sit by the water, and just feel close to everything in your own little downtown area in wickford.This downtown area is much larger than Watch Hill’s and comes with more variety. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of cars and pedestrians while feeling far away from everything at the same time with such scenery! Wickford is about 30 minutes south of Providence and 1.15 hours from Boston.
#5: Matunuck Beach
Matunuck Beach- one of my all time favorite spots in RI with legendary surf breaks at Deep Hole, my favorite place to listen to live music at the Ocean Mist, grab a bite, coffee and just be where the people are! I love having to drive really slow due to beach goers running for their spot on the beach barefoot & heading for the rooftop decks for lunch and roads filled with sand. It’s a vibe for sure! Matunuck is about 1.5 hours from Boston, 2 hours 45 minutes from NYC and about 40 minutes south of Providence.
#4: Galilee
#4: Galilee- If you’re a foodie- here is your place! You know how much I love Narragansett Pier, but if you’re a seafood kind of person- look no further than walking right up to the boat for the best lobster roll around, being just a boat ride away from Block Island’s beautiful shores & seconds away from the best beaches here in Rhode Island. Watch the boats pass in and out of The Breachway and enjoy the summertime hustle and bustle! Don’t forget to head to George’s for just about anything on the menu! Galilee is about an hour 30 from Boston and only 45 minutes from Providence.
#3: Jamestown
#3: Jamestown- There’s a soft spot for Jamestown because Mike and I were married here and this is just the best! I love Jamestown for it’s quaint island-life style (it gives off a bit of Nantucket/Marthas Vineyard vibes downtown). Jamestown has the most adorable downtown with award winning restaurants, INCREDIBLE coffee and just all about the classic shingle architecture one can handle. Some of my favorite highlights in Jamestown would be Slice Of Heaven’s coffee & breakfast burrito (with extra bacon!), sitting near East Ferry Beach overlooking the Newport bridge, walking through stunning Beavertail and the serenity of Mackeral Cove Beach (surfer and swimmers paradise). Jamestown Golf Course is also just outside town, what a win! Jamestown is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Boston and only 35 minutes from Providence!
#2: Newport
Middletown downtown and you’ll find restaurants, Eastons & Second Beach, or walk from downtown Newport for a stroll with the dogs along the iconic cliff walks overlooking the ocean. Newport is only 1 hour 15 minutes from Boston, 40 minutes from providence & just over 3 hours from NYC.
#1: Narragansett Pier
The Pier- our #1 love for many reasons! Iconic surf right from our little downtown area at Town Beach with different breaks for everyone. When the beach day is done or you don’t feel like cooking, stroll on down to some of the most amazing restaurants like Trio, Coast Guard House and grab a cup of great coffee at Cool Beans or Pour House! P.S. for brunch- you must try Crazy burger!
Like Newport- this is the perfect location for someone who lives a very active lifestyle. The Seawall is notorious for starting our day off on the right foot with strolling under the sunrise, you have incredible year round surf (shout out to Warm Winds Surf Shop for all your surf needs!), prone paddles in Narrow River, open water swim groups, just a true sense of community with a busy feel, and the number one beach!
Narragansett is a place to unwind after a workday- while still feeling like there’s always something to do!
If your dog people like us- there is nothing better than from September 15th-May15th when you can walk from town all the way down to the rivermouth and let your dogs play in the sand! While Newport may have more variety and a lot busier- Narragansett accomplishes both for us where we always have places to walk to, we are close to the beach, close to surfing, close to river activities and it’s a place that friends and family love to come to visit- that for us makes is #1 🙂 The Pier it only takes us about 40 minutes to commute to Providence, 1 hour 20 to Boston and about 3 hours to NYC!
Now that you know...
Now that you know about my top 8 Waterfront city-like communities in Rhode Island you may also be interested in learning about my top 8 Waterfront Neighborhoods in Southern Rhode Island.
Where you’re not necessarily “near” anything per say, but you have ultimate privacy, views and can dip your toes in the water from steps away!
Stay tuned for next week’s blog where we dive into all the above!