South County gets into the holiday spirit once December rolls around and no venue has as much going on throughout the month as the Ocean House in Watch Hill. From Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Eve, the Ocean House hosts Seasons By The Sea, an annual celebration that brings events for the entire family to the venue every week.
During the month of December, in Washington County Rhode Island, you'll find special events, including concerts, plays, runs, and parties, pretty much every weekend between now and Christmas, giving you all the opportunity you need to get involved. Come experience the holiday magic of South County!
Residents of South County, Rhode Island and New London County, Connecticut have plenty of chances to get into the holiday spirit through the various Christmas strolls in the region. Make sure you mark a few of the local holiday strolls on your calendar in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as they will ensure that you immerse yourself in the holiday spirit this year.
During the winter, four of the more prominent New London and South County, RI summer markets change venues for the winter, and still offer a selection of produce raised in local greenhouses. Have a look at the following winter farmers' markets so you can not only continue to support local farmers, but keep your access to local meats, fruit, and vegetables all year round.
The area around Westerly has some of Rhode Island’s best hiking trails thanks to its dense forests and abundance of uninhabited land. The forests provide a great place to escape for a few hours, especially if you’re into peace and quiet or getting up close to some wildlife.
Read about some of the allegedly haunted locations throughout South County, Rhode Island. Even if you don’t believe in the paranormal or supernatural, these venues are full of history and worth checking out if you’re looking for something to do on an autumn day.
Burlingame State Park is a 3,100-acre region in Charlestown, Rhode Island offering camping, swimming, boating, and hiking opportunities throughout most of the year. Here, you can walk through the woods for an entire day without seeing another person or find your own private swimming hole.
The William C. O'Neill Bike Path officially runs from the Amtrak station in West Kingston to Mumford Road in Narragansett, which is adjacent to Narragansett Elementary School. Unofficially, however, you can continue all the way to Narragansett Town Beach, although you'll have to ride along a busy road for the final part of the journey.
South Kingstown has the best of everything that South County has to offer, as it features easy access to many surrounding towns, miles of beaches, and a commercial center. As a result, you’ll be able to do your shopping in Wakefield Village in the morning and can head to a quiet beach on the Atlantic Ocean for the afternoon.
Several times each week all summer long, you'll have the chance to head to Ocean House Beach or the Weekapaug Inn to enjoy a meal and some entertainment well into the night. Some nights these venues hold a BBQ, other times it is a lobster boil or a clam bake, and in some cases, pizza is served, but the end result is always a great time.
Westerly is a beachfront community that was first settled by colonists in 1661 and became a municipality in 1669. Since that time, the town has unmistakably undergone significant changes, but its main attraction, its access to water, remains. In fact, in addition to its oceanfront beaches, the center also features saltwater ponds and freshwater rivers, so there are water and water-based activities everywhere.
Charlestown is an excellent place to live because it offers pretty much everything you could ever want, especially when seeking a small-town way of life. Charlestown, is close to larger towns and cities, and the area has plenty to do outdoors. Continue reading to learn what it’s like to live in this small, but vibrant, community on Rhode Island’s south coast.
A number of well-known individuals have graduated from or attended the University of Rhode Island over the years, as the list of students includes professional athletes, worldwide business leaders, important political figures, and television and entertainment stars.
Heading to Watch Hill to ride the Flying Horses Carousel has become a tradition for families who live in South County towns like Westerly, Charlestown, and Kingstown, in addition to those just visiting for the summer. This historic venue attracts a crowd every day during the summer, with children lining up all the way down Bay Street for their chance to get up close.
The Granite Theatre in Westerly, RI provides a first-class venue for performances of some of the country’s most famous plays and musicals. A season at the Granite Theatre generally runs between early spring right until Christmas and brings popular shows that you’ve probably heard of running on Broadway to Westerly’s Granite Street
Narragansett Town Beach is a mile-long stretch of sand that features perhaps the best surfing in all of New England. In addition, Narragansett Town Beach offers swimming, boating, and sunbathing and so much more. The park is also home to snack bars, washrooms, and two pavilions that hosts a variety of events throughout the summer, so there is no shortage of amenities available for those who stop by.
Theatre By the Sea, is a one-time barn that over the years became one of the area’s most popular, and unquestionably most notable, playhouses. In 1980, the theater became part of the National Register of Historic Places. The playhouse, as its name suggests, is a short distance from the ocean and has a nearby beach, providing a relaxing atmosphere for watching some of Broadway’s most renowned productions.
Ninigret Park is a hidden gem that Rhode Islanders might want to keep to themselves. Ninigret Pond sits within Ninigret Park, a 227-acre green space with a full day's worth of activities available throughout the summer, and even into the spring and fall. The park also hosts some high-end events each and every year, should you want to experience some local arts and culture
Ask most homeowners in Westerly, Charlestown or South Kingstown where they live, and they’ll tell you South County. But the fact is, South County doesn’t really exist, at least not formally. So why do we call it South County?
