Misquamicut State Beach, Rhode Island - Misquamicut - TravBuddy

7/1/07 Day trip to the beach! Took my son Tyler, and his girlfriend Falon down to Rhode Island to spend the day in Misquamicut. A popular state beach, it is a little over an hour from our home in CT. Being from out-of-state, it cost $14 to get into the state parking lot, just behind the dunes of the beach. (I believe the cost is half that if you live in RI) There is not a lot of beach between the dunes and the water, so it gets pretty crowded. The water was cold, but the waves were big. Connecticut's shoreline is on Long Island Sound, so we don't get the same wave action on our beaches as they do here. We found a clear spot near a lifeguard chair, although you can't set up directly in front of the lifeguards. They have a nice setup of beach restaurants in either direction, also showers and changing booths in the large restrooms. One side had a bar with an adults-only dance party going on, which they do on weekends. You just show ID and get a bracelet to hang around on this deck area, which is roped off with security to prevent underage drinking. We didn't eat there, but the food smelled great! Ty and Falon alternated burying each other in the sand, and going in the water, which was a bit too cold for Dawn and I. (We worked on our sunburns instead!) You really find out the next day, just what areas you missed with the sunscreen! After a relaxing day there, we drove to Watch Hill, another beach area nearby with a carousel Dawn wanted to check out. We walked along the shops, had dinner at a little restaurant there, then got ice cream cones at the place next door. Great way to cap off a nice Sunday at the beach!