Often overlooked by tourists headed to Block Island and Newport, Narragansett is a lively surf town. Located in Rhode Island’s Coastal Lowlands, it’s full of restaurants, hotels, sandy beaches and shops, making it the perfect weekend getaway for New Yorkers.
Whether you’re looking to get out of the city for an active adventure, relax on a laid-back beach or simply explore a less-crowded New England destination, Narragansett has plenty to offer.
Hit the beach
Head over to the Narragansett Public Beach to experience what the town is all about. If basking in the sun isn’t quite enough, take a surf lesson at locally-run Warm Winds Surf Shop. If you’d rather learn the sport at your own pace, the shop has plenty of boards, wetsuits and other gear available for rent or purchase. The more experienced surfer can take advantage of their local knowledge of surf breaks in the area. Warm Winds makes it a priority to share their love of surfing with everyone.
Visit a lighthouse
Point Judith Lighthouse is a towering red and white brick lighthouse located on the Western side of Narragansett Bay. Ocean Road offers stunning views of the Atlantic as you make the approach to Point Judith. During sunset, the wooden benches near the lighthouse are perfect for watching surfers dance on the waves.
Watch the sunrise
Begin the morning watching the sunrise from the Narragansett sea wall, which is perched over the Atlantic Ocean. Surfers become silhouettes against the rising sun at the break of dawn while couples stroll the beach, enjoying the seascape. It’s a serene place to decompress and take in the solace of this beautiful seaside escape.
Grab a bite
Whether you’re yearning for a quick meal, a local hotspot or a fine-dining experience, Narragansett is sure to please. Monahan’s Clam Shack is a seafood shanty located directly on the water. Stacked with wooden picnic tables and plenty of outdoor seating, Monahan’s is a casual place to bring the family. A favorite is the grilled ahi tuna tacos, topped with cucumber wasabi and mango salsa, seared rare (or however you’d like). Patrons can also choose from locally-sourced Blue Point oysters and clams, fried or on the half-shell. It’s BYOB, so bring your favorite beverage.
If you’re in the mood for a more extensive menu, head to Crazy Burger Cafe & Juice Bar, popularized by its appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. With over 30 burger options alone, diving into the menu can be an overwhelming yet rewarding experience. The most popular burger is the Whassupy Burger, which features melted brie cheese, a sesame-fennel-wasabi-spice mix and onion rings. There are many vegan and vegetarian options, like the Poco Loco vegan burger, which has roasted tempeh, wild black rice and avocado wrapped in a tomato wrap. You’ll also find smoothies, a fantastic hot vanilla spiced chai and plenty of homemade soups.
Sip Rhode Island’s best coffee
Cool Beans Cafe is considered by many to be the best coffee in the state. Since 2010, they have been offering a variety of coffee beverages ranging from mocha lattes to cappuccinos. Try one of their delicious muffins or scones, freshly prepared every morning. Their avocado toast, topped with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, is a classic pre-beach treat. Opt to sit outside or on the comfy couches indoors.
Spend the night
Stay at the Aqua Blue Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Narragansett. This contemporary hotel has rooms with balconies, a picturesque view of the coast, an indoor pool and a hot tub. For as little as $250 per night, you can be within walking distance of the beach and downtown attractions.
Get here
Take Amtrak’s Northeast Regional line from Penn Station to Kingston, RI (about 4 miles from Narragansett). Take the Route 66 URI/Galilee Rhode Island Public Transit Bus departing every 30 minutes from the Kingston Railroad Station to Narragansett. It will drop you off at the Salt Pond Shopping Plaza, about a mile from Narragansett Public Beach.
An alternative is to hail Uber or Lyft at the train station.
Getting around
Narragansett is very bike-friendly. Rent bikes at NBX Bikes in Narragansett. Located two miles down the road from Narragansett Salt Pond Shopping Plaza Bus Stop, you can either walk there or NBX Bikes has a delivery service. For $50, NBX will deliver your bikes, helmets, locks and friendly advice on the spot. Jet around on Ocean Road and explore the many beaches in the area.
For more information head to visitrhodeisland.com
Images: Rhode Island Tourism
Point Judith Image: Matt Hintsa
Brittany Dahlberg is a wilderness therapy guide, writer and photographer based out of North Conway, NH. She loves to surf the cold waves of Maine, rock climb and adventure and travel as much as she can
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram