Southern New England Ocean Views

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

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In southern New England we are lucky to have a number of sections of coastline that are open to the public and easily accessible. My family heads to the coast for day trips, including Rhode Island and Connecticut since we are so close to the borders of both these states, mostly in the swing seasons (spring and fall). We choose coastal winter walks when other areas are likely to have ice-filled paths. Visiting in the swing seasons and even the dead of winter helps us avoid heat, bugs, traffic, and crowds that make summer coastal visits not so much fun for us.

We stopped at several new to us places along the coast this past winter, and returned to favorite beaches too. I have already written posts about Gooseberry Island, (Westport, MA),

Shining Sea bike path in Falmouth, MA, and The Knob in Woods Hole, MA.

The Cape Cod Canal in Bourne, MA is a favored destination for bicycling along the paved paths on either side of the canal.

Beavertail State Park, Jamestown, and

Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge are some of our favorite destinations in Rhode Island.

 Napatree Conservation Area in Westerly, RI and the Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point,

Connecticut are two new to us coastal destinations. They are both far enough from home that we will keep them in mind when in the area, but not something we can visit regularly.

Low tide offers more compact surfaces along sandy beaches. We try to remember to check tide charts but sometimes our schedule does not lend itself to visiting at lower tides. Destinations such as Sachuest and Beavertail Point have extremely rocky shorelines. These properties provide level paths along the high ground above the rocks, providing for an Easy Walk regardless of the tides.

The Cape Cod Canal and the Shining Sea bike paths are both paved, and are set above the tide line. Walking or biking are both great options along these coastal rail trails. The Cape Cod Canal is not officially ocean, although it connects Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay. It’s all salt water, which is good enough for me!

Whether you enjoy exploring new places, or prefer the tried and true, spending time near the ocean is a gift. Summer sun lovers have lots of company. Those of us who crave quieter places will do well to head to the shore other times. Rainy day walking anyone? Happy trails!

Marjorie