This Is The Most Rhode Island Sound You'll Ever Hear, And We Can't Stop Listening To It
By Beth Price-Williams|Published May 11, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
We all have those things we automatically associate with Rhode Island – some of the best seafood in New England (if not the United States), enchanting small towns, the Newport Mansions, and sandy beaches. The beaches are pretty high on my list of things that remind me of Rhode Island. That’s because one of my favorite sounds is of the ocean waves. Is there a more comforting or nostalgic Rhode Island sound?
A walk along the beach, whether on a gray winter morning or a simmering summer afternoon, holds so much promise – from awe-inspiring views of waves crashing, sunrises, and sunsets to the feel of the sand underneath our feet on warm days. But what’s perhaps most comforting about a trip to the beach, at any time of the year, is the familiar sound of the ocean.
With 400 miles of shoreline, Rhode Island has rightfully claimed the title of the Ocean State, and the beaches are one of the reasons so many from all corners of the world travel here every summer.
The quiet of the winter at Rhode Island’s beaches gives way to crowds of locals and visitors who spend leisurely summer days sunbathing, cooling off in the ocean, and exploring by sailboat. The beaches are so popular during the summer that the Rhode Island Department of Health asserts that some draw as many as 10,000 beachgoers a day.
Considered by many Rhode Island’s most well-known beach, Scarborough State Beach in Narragansett is split into North and South beaches, which offer a long list of summertime amenities – picnic tables, an observation tower, swimming, and surfing.
Scarborough State Beach, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA
Boasting more than a half-mile of shoreline, Misquamicut State Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Rhode Island with plenty to do for the whole family, including swimming and picnicking. Concessions, a playground, heated showers, and a kayak launch all promise a day jam-packed with fun.
If you prefer finding hidden gems, head over to Block Island’s Vaill Beach, where you can listen to the waves crashing and drink in some of the state’s best sunsets. It’s a rocky beach with rough surf, so be careful if swimming. Bring along a bucket, too, so you can search for sea glass.
Do you think the ocean waves are the most Rhode Island sound you’ll ever hear? If not, what do you think earns that title? Let us know in the comments! If you want to hear the sound of the ocean – or even lakes or ponds – visit one of these waterfront parks in Rhode Island.
If you plan on dipping your feet in the ocean and then lounging on the beach on a warm day, don’t forget to pack your beach towel.
