Why Rhode Island Is the Quintessential Summer Vacation Spot

When it comes to beaches, it’s hard to beat the variety of those in Rhode Island. Despite its tiny size, the state is home to 40 miles of coastline that offer something for every kind of beach lover: big surf, small surf, peace and quiet, entertainment for the kids, celebrity cachet, and/or all the requisite New England summer food staples (clam cakes, doughboys, Del’s frozen lemonade). To do it like a local, bring some beach chairs, a buzzy summer read, a cooler of Narragansett Lagers, a fringed umbrella, and tons of SPF. It won't take long to understand why they call Rhode Island the Ocean State.