Welcome to Westerly, Rhode Island! Whether you're here for a relaxing getaway, a family vacation, or a bit of adventure, you've chosen the perfect destination. Nestled along the scenic coastline, Westerly offers a unique mix of small-town charm, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture. From historic landmarks to local eateries, and from outdoor activities to live entertainment, there's something here for everyone.
Westerly is known for its stunning coastline, with miles of sandy beaches perfect for sunbathing, swimming, or enjoying a peaceful walk. Misquamicut State Beach is one of the most popular spots, offering family-friendly amenities, beautiful ocean views, and seasonal events like outdoor concerts and drive-in movies.
Golf
- Winnapaug Country Club — public
- Elmridge Golf Course — public
Ninigret Park
About 10 min away
- Ninigret Park Trolls!
- Frosty Drew Observatory — check their Instagram on Friday afternoons to reserve tickets to that night's public viewing. Weather dependent of course.
- Hiking trails, playgrounds, basketball courts
- Disk Golf
Casinos
30–40 min drive
- Foxwoods
- Mohegan Sun
Fun Stuff
- Misquamicut Drive-In
- Misquamicut Market — Craft Fair every Saturday and Sunday in the Summer
- Atlantic Beach Park — arcade, carousel
- Fishing charter
- Westerly Surfing — Rentals, lessons, camps
- Purple Ape — Store and water sports rentals
- Wicked Tulips — You Pick Tulip Farm
- Get lobsters off the boat in Galilee — a lobster pot is stored in the shed
- South County Rhode Island Tourism
Watch Hill
About 10 min away
- Oldest continuously operating carousel. See how many rings your kiddo can get.
- Tons of cute shops where you can buy a Swiftie Beach sweatshirt.
- Ocean House is an iconic, very fancy hotel with a few great restaurants and bars.
Mystic, CT
About 20 min drive
- Aquarium
- Seaport Museum
- Lots of cute shops and restaurants
- Mystic Pizza
Live Music
- Paddy's
- Andrea's
- Windjammer
- Ocean Mist
- United Theatre
- The Knickerbocker
Rainy Day
- Get Fired Up — Paint your own pottery
- Alley Katz Bowling
- The Fantastic Umbrella Factory — A 19th century farmyard shopper's paradise and international bazaar. A Rhode Island landmark and National Treasure in Charlestown since 1968. Open year round — walk the clam shell paths through the gardens to multiple buildings of unique stores.
- Hauser Chocolates — Very short tour, but it's a pretty special little place. Excellent chocolate!
- YMCA — Westerly-Pawcatuck Branch
Breweries, Distilleries & Wineries
- Langworthy Farm Inn & Winery
- Grey Sail Brewing Company — Large Downtown tap room with great indoor & outdoor spaces. Beer, wine & spirits. Food available in the summer.
- Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery — Downtown
- Shunock River Brewery — 20 min drive
- 13th Hour Distillery — Located inside Hauser Chocolates
- Rum Tropic Distillery — Stonington, CT
- Veritable Distillery
- Saltwater Farm Vineyard — Stonington, CT
- Stonington Vineyards
Arts
- Westerly Museum of American Impressionism
- United Theatre — Very cute movie theatre and performing arts center. Great live music shows, art galleries, and rainy day movies!
- Artists Cooperative Gallery — Fine arts gallery in the historic Westerly Train Station (downtown)
- Setra Artes Art Studio — Downtown Westerly
- Westerly Library & Hoxie Gallery — Downtown
- Black Duck Gallery — Downtown
- Avondale Art Center — Painting, computer visual arts, needle crafts, and horticulture design. Lectures, art openings, and trunk shows year round.
- Lilly Pad Gallery — Watch Hill fine arts gallery
- Charlestown Gallery
- The Velvet Mill — Stonington, CT
Hiking Trails
Trail lengths and difficulty per AllTrails / park managers. Distance is approximate drive time from the house.
| Trail | Distance | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. John Champlin Glacier Park Winnapaug |
~5 min | 2.3 mi loop | Easy | Closest trail to the house. Hilly kettle & kame terrain with a view over Winnapaug Pond from Charlies Overlook. |
| Wahaneeta Preserve Westerly |
~8 min | ~3.8 mi of trails | Easy–moderate | Wooded wetlands with a pond and stream, next to the Little League complex. |
| Westerly Town Forest | ~10 min | 2.2 mi loop | Easy | Well-marked multi-loop trails along the Pawcatuck River. |
| Napatree Point Conservation Area Watch Hill |
~10 min | 3.2 mi loop | Easy, flat | Oceanside walk with great views. Best at low tide — skip if waves are hitting the rocks. |
| Ninigret Park Bike Path Charlestown |
~10 min | 2.2 mi loop, paved | Easy | Flat paved loop around the old airfield — good for strollers and bikes too. |
| Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge Charlestown |
~12 min | 4+ mi of trails | Easy | Salt marsh and pond views. Great birding. |
| Grills Preserve Bradford |
~15 min | 2.7–4.4 mi (route-dependent) | Easy | Shaded forest, ponds, marsh, and a historic cemetery. Bring bug spray. |
| Burlingame State Park Charlestown |
~15 min | Up to 8 mi (shorter loops available) | Easy–moderate | Oak & birch forest around Watchaug Pond. Some rocky/rooty sections. |
| Long Pond Woods Hopkinton |
~20–25 min | 2.7–4.4 mi | Hard | Reputed to be the most challenging (and one of the most beautiful) hikes in RI — steep, rocky terrain with mountain laurel. No dogs or trail running. |