New England's Beloved Coastal Destination Boasts Mouthwatering Food And A Panoramic Beach

About 200,000 people come to Narragansett Town Beach each summer, and really, can you blame them? The 1-mile-long beach is one of the most beloved swimming spots in Rhode Island, and the surfing here is exceptional. The skyline is famous for The Towers, a medieval-looking stone complex that first opened in 1886 as a casino and entertainment center. It still serves as a wedding venue. Then there's Narragansett itself, a seasonal New England town that throbs with family-friendly activity all summer. Such popularity may still seem improbable for a community of 14,500, but this place has served as a seaside escape for hordes of out-of-staters since the late 19th century. It makes a fantastic stop on this beach-filled road trip across Rhode Island.

While most tourists come here to sun themselves and play in the water, there's another perk to spending time here: the food. Rhode Island has a shockingly impressive culinary scene, thanks in part to the Providence branch of Johnson & Wales University. Narragansett has dozens of great places to eat, and South County — as this part of Rhode Island is known — boasts hundreds more. Lots of visitors pick up simple snacks on their way to the beach, while others reserve sit-down dinners at local upmarket restaurants. After a day of splashing in the waves and hanging ten, replenish calories with seafood, Italian, or global flavors.

The moment spring turns into summer, locals flood the streets and sidewalks of Narragansett, having fantasized all winter about the snacks they'll stock up on. Thousands will beeline to Monahan's Clam Shack, where you can secure a definitive lobster roll, clam roll, or scallop roll, plus other maritime goodies. Another favorite is Aunt Carrie's, a century-old eatery where, according to legend, the clam cake was first invented. And whether you believe this story or not, you should still try a clam cake with one of Aunt Carrie's ice cream cones for dessert. Another claim to fame is Clams Casino, an hors d'oeuvre that was also supposedly concocted in Narragansett.

Rhode Islanders love all these items, especially shellfish in white bread, but one of the biggest local sellers is the "pizza strip," also known as "party pizza." Out-of-towners sometimes balk at this unusual snack: pizza strips are rectangular and covered in marinara sauce. They're routinely packaged in Saran Wrap and devoid of cheese. Rhodies like slices of party pizza because they're portable and don't require coolers or special heating since they're designed to eat at room temperature.

For special occasions, there is no better destination than the Coast Guard House, which occupies an actual 19th century Coast Guard station. This restaurant has served superlative seafood dishes since the 1940s, and specialties include swordfish, branzino, and lobster. This famous destination is a perfect stop on a seafood lover's coastal roadtrip through New England.

Narragansett Town Beach is just a stone's throw from the downtown area, and thousands of people converge here every summer day to secure a little patch of sand. The place is so busy that the beach actually charges an admission fee ($12 day-pass for 12 and over), and parking can get expensive as well. The town boasts a festive atmosphere, which only gets more enjoyable on Food Truck Nights and during near-weekly summer concerts. If you love the atmosphere, Narragansett has a decent range of accommodations, including The Break Hotel, which has both a pool and a rooftop cocktail lounge.

If you're not loving the crowds, no worries; Scarborough Beach is a much more laid-back location just south of Narragansett. This place also costs $12 but is less overrun, and you'll find both hiking paths and a mysterious stone ruin on the beach's northern edge. Attractions stretch all the way down to the southern coast, where you'll find additional beaches, more seafood restaurants in the fishing town of Galilee, and the ferry to Block Island.

Narragansett is a good 45-minute drive from Providence — Rhode Island is small, but it's not that small — and parking near the beaches can get costly. Foodies may also want to spend some time in the capital, as Providence has nationally respected restaurants, such as this neighborhood gem that feels like Northern Italy is a food lover's dream. If you're flying into Rhode Island, you'll be relieved to know that T.F. Green is considered one of the best airports in the country. In sum, 200,000 visitors per season sounds just about right.