(I) Do!
Below you’ll find details about activities and attraction recommendations.
BEACHES
Miles of beaches include Napatree Point, East Beach, Watch Hill (Carousel) Beach and Ocean House’s private white sand beach with cabana service.
East Beach, while difficult to access (limited to no parking), it is clean, quiet, and picturesque! If not at the beach club/Napatree, its our favorite place to be(ach)! A three-mile-long barrier beach that separates Ninigret Pond from the ocean and extends from Watch Hill to Misquamicut. You can access it through the public entrance in town right next to Taylor Swift’s house or if staying at the Misquamicut hotels.
Napatree Point Conservation Area is the most storied of Watch Hill's beaches. A one mile (~ 40 minute roundtrip ) walk along the curved tendril of sand, this barrier beach's homes were destroyed when the Great New England Hurricane of 1938 made landfall with little warning. It is a great place to walk, fish, birdwatch, bask in the sun, picnic, take photos, and watch sunsets. A regular for us, accessible through the Misquamicut Beach Club (park at the Club). Walk all the way to the end, then take one of the trails heading away from the shore, and you may stumble upon the ruins of Fort Mansfield.
Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round & Beach is small and has an admission fee, the family-friendly spot is within walking distance of everything and features restroom facilities.
There is free parking in Watch Hill on Bay Street, near shops and restaurants.
ATTRACTIONS & SHOPPING
Watch Hill Lighthouse
Lighthouse Road
Watch Hill, RI 02891
Built of granite in 1856, the Watch Hill Lighthouse. It is visible from Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round & Beach. You can walk or bike ride down private Larkin Road to view the lighthouse up-close any day between 8 a.m. and sunset. Taylor’s house is right at the entrance of Larkin. Please note, vehicles are permitted only for the handicapped and senior citizens.
Shopping & Art Galleries
Bay Street
Watch Hill, RI 02891
Boutique shopping for apparel, gifts, antique and décor. Visit some of Watch Hill's shops like:
WH2O, JHuhn LifeStyle, Manufaktura Company Store, Coco & Lala, OMO Jewels & Gifts, Rochelle’s Boutique, Three Islands, Ocean House Gift Shop, Bay Breeze Interiors, Lily Pad Gallery and the Watch Hill General Store.
Watch Hill Flying Horse Carousel
44 Bay Street
Watch Hill, RI 02891
The oldest continuously operating “free-flying” carousel in the USA (yes, older than MVY!). Only kids under 12yr can ride, $1 to ride an inside horse or $2 to gallop along the outside for a brass ring and earn a free ride. The horses are suspended from chains and brass ring game. Even though adults can't ride, you'll appreciate the artisanship of this mid-1860s classic, abandoned in Watch Hill by a traveling carnival in 1879. Each antique carousel horse was carved from a single piece of wood. Saddles are made of leather, while the tails and manes are crafted with real horsehair.
Fort Mansfield
The End of Napatree Point
Watch Hill, RI 02891
Walk all the way to the end of Napatree Conservation Area, then take one of the trails heading away from the shore, and you may stumble upon the ruins of Fort Mansfield, one of numerous coastal artillery installations constructed in the Harbor Defenses of LI Sound. You will find views of Stonington, Mystic and Fishers Island. In its heyday, Fort Mansfield had three large canon batteries and was staffed by up to 100 soldiers. In 1907, it was determined to have a major design flaw and enemy ships could pass under the trajectory of the shells so the fort was inevitably shut down.
TAKE A STROLL
Ninigret Statue
Village Park
Westerly, RI 02891
A statue of Ninigret currently sits in Village Park overlooking Watch Harbor. In the depiction, Ninigret is shown kneeling with a blackfish (tautog in Narragansett) in each hand. The fish symbolize the richness of this region, where Native communities thrived on the bounty of the water, land, and sky. This bounty included not only fish and shellfish, but many varieties of game, fowl, nuts, and berries, as well as corn, beans, and squash, known as the Three Sisters. This statue depicts Ninigret in a humble pose, with his gaze pointed downward.
Avondale Farm Preserve
449 Westerly Bradford Rd
Westerly, RI 02891
A favorite loop after a filling breakfast at the Cooked Goose. There is a 0.6-mile paved road system used for passive recreation. Approximately 50 acres in size, this preserve consists of coastal sand plain grassland, freshwater ponds and wetlands, brushland, and salt marsh with two tidal inlets from frontage on the Pawcatuck River estuary. A portion of this preserve (located within the center of the 0.6-mile paved loop) has been farmed for many years. The farming operation continues to this day as it is an important part of conservation, agricultural, and historic values.
Barn Island
Palmer Neck Rd
Pawcatuck, CT 06379
More than five miles of trails in the largest coastal property managed for wildlife conservation. Barn Island Wildlife Management Area consists of approximately 1000 acres of land. It is the largest coastal wildlife management area in the state. The habitat is dominated by 540 acres of deciduous forest and 290 acres of tidal marshes, but there are also significant areas of open salt water, four waterfowl impoundments, as well as coastal scrub woodlands and thickets.
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
50 Bend Rd
Charlestown, CT 02813
Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is one of five refuges of the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This refuge, the former Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Facility is located in Charlestown, Rhode Island. The glacial ice sheet and former uses have shaped this refuge's diverse landscape. It is known for its migratory bird species, and its rich history.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Rent Kayaks, Paddle Boards or Fishing Gear
You can rent kayaks or paddle boards and fishing gear from Watch Hill Outfitters (157 Main StreetWesterly, RI 02891; Call: 401-207-4952) )or Paddle Surf RI (3 India Point Westerly, RI 02891; Call: (401) 741- 5661)
During the summer Watch Hill Outfitters offers organized launches so you can float the Pawcatuck River
Bicycle Ride to Weekapaug
Some of the hotels have bicycles to borrow. We recommend you ask your hotel concierge regarding availability and recommended paths, but riding through Misquamicut to Weekapaug and grabbing a good ol’ fashion hot dog at the Weekapaug Inlet is always a hit.
Take a day trip to Block Island, Newport or other coastal towns!
Drive along the coast or make a day trip to Block Island , Narragansett, Newport, Little Compton or any of the other charming towns
Visit Mystic Aquarium or the Old Seaport
Settled in 1654, Mystic was once a shipbuilding seaport village and a safe harbor for tall ships to weather a storm. Old sea captain’s homes dot the scenic roads along the Mystic River just outside of Downtown’s booming cultural and food and drink scenes.
FISHING
From the early signs of striped bass in May on through the last few stragglers in November, Watch Hill Point provides season-long action for the shore-bound angler. There is relatively easy access and the opportunity to land large bluefish, over-sized striped bass, tasty scup, speedy bonito and false albacore, white-chinned blackfish and the occasional keeper fluke. Venture to Napatree Beach, Watch Hill Light House, East Beach, rent a boat or take a drive to Point Judith..
All questions pertaining to this should be directed to George. This is the only thing he will know/be able to answer for the weekend.
Photo of Sophia waiting for George to catch a fish
Nearing hour five of him 30+ ft in the water, unreachable and now 40 min late for dinner.
No fish were harmed (or caught) in the making of this photo.
WATCH HILL HISTORY
Watch Hill is a beach town, with several options for swimming, sunbathing, biking, sandcastle building, strolling, and savoring salty breezes.
Watch Hill is less than one square mile and is one of five villages in the broader town of Westerly, RI. Once occupied by the Niantic Indian tribe in the 17th century, European colonists used it as a lookout point during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War (hence the town’s name).
A century later, the US government built Fort Mansfield to protect the entrance to the Long Island Sound during the Spanish-American War.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, Watch Hill gained popularity as a seaside resort, with families building houses along the peninsula or staying for the summer in large Victorian- style hotels such as the original Ocean House.
The Hurricane of 1938 caught the town by surprise and caused tremendous damage: the 39 houses and bathing pavilion of Fort Road were destroyed, creating today's Napatree Point. Watch Hill is located on a peninsula at the most south westerly point of Rhode Island and the point where RI, CT, and NY meet! It's also where George and I used to meet in the middle between CT and MA when we were long distance many moons ago.
Watch Hill has become home to Taylor Swift (and the OG Bitch Pack founder, Rebekah Harkness).
