JULY 17, 2015
Westerly is in the Southwest corner of Rhode Island. The state is so small that everything’s close enough to be explored by taking day trips from our site.
ARRIVING IN RHODE ISLAND. Located half-way between Boston and New York, our latest destination is in Westerly, Rhode Island. The 100 mile drive from Cape Cod took us just a little more than two hours. It was an easy drive except for about a ten mile stretch through Providence, where the traffic was heavy and the road left lots to be desired. We’re staying in a large new RV park, conveniently located to many of the places we want to visit not only in Rhode Island but also in nearby Connecticut. As in all of New England, there is a lot to see. We’ve already been here four days and we’re “just getting started.” But remember our mantra? “There’s no rush.” We’ll stay as long as we wish. Because we can.
A LITTLE ABOUT THE STATE. Rhode Island is the smallest of the 50 states. Its historic towns and pristine shoreline dotted with inlets and tranquil harbors make the place a gold mine for explorers like we’ve become. Rhode Island has earned its nickname of the “Ocean State.” The coastline, all told, is about 400 miles long.
Watch Hill Lighthouse.
NOT REALLY AN ISLAND. Not an island at all, the state of Rhode Island contains dozens of islets and peninsulas along the Atlantic coastline. They dot Narragansett Bay, which takes a huge bite out of the eastern portion of the state. Craggy cliffs, grass-covered bluffs and golden sand beaches mark the shoreline. Inland, numerous lakes and reservoirs maintain the maritime atmosphere.
VILLAGE OF WATCH HILL. Just a few miles from our campsite is the quintessential New England coastal village of Watch Hill. European colonists used the area as a lookout point during the Revolutionary War, hence the community’s name. Now a quaint resort area, it offers a glimpse of Victorian elegance and stately mansions such as the one recently purchased by Little Miss Taylor Swift for a tad under $18 million. A cash deal! Wow! Other landmarks in the area include the Ocean House, an iconic five star seaside New England resort overlooking the ocean and yacht basin, the Watch Hill Lighthouse and the Flying Horse Carousel, the oldest in the country. The horses are hand-carved from wood and are embellished with real tails and manes, leather saddles and agate eyes. And I thought the carousel at Balboa Park in San Diego was special! Back in the day, when the kids were little, I grabbed many a brass ring riding the horses on that merry-go-round! Gosh we’re a long way from home!
The harbor at Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
The Ocean House. A Five Star Hotel in Watch Hill. Room rates begin at $2,300 per night. For that rate, they’d better have in-room coffee and a hair dryer!
A little less formal than the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, but similar ambiance.
Hotel guests playing croquet. They’re all properly dressed, of course. This isn’t a pick up game, I’m sure. I didn’t bother to ask if I could join in the fun.
This is a typical New England beach cottage. Lillies and hydrangeas bloom in all the yards.
Last April, Taylor Swift purchased this home on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
JOIN US AGAIN SOON. LOTS OF PHOTOS AND INTERESTING STORIES TO FOLLOW. OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES.
