Jamestown, Rhode Island

All photos Courtesy Efrem Bromberg

Located in the small "Ocean State" of Rhode Island on Conanicut Island, Jamestown remains a quaint, rural village despite the highly developed tone some of it's surrounding beach communities have taken. With an agricultural past, the island has acres of unspoiled pastures and rolling hills protected by open space.

Jamestown is an ideal destination for summer recreation, but failing to appreciate it's beauty throughout the colder months is a mistake. A simple drive around the island is enough to suffice most, but exploring by bike or boat is more rewarding.

The small downtown area is credited with an array of restaurants as well as the infamous Narragansett Cafe, best known for their "rockin" weekend music and smoke filled dance floor (prior to smoke ban)!

A trip to the island would not be complete without an excursion to Beavertail State Park. With its rocky coastline and hiking trials, Beavertail offers some of the best coastal vistas that the state has to offer. Renowned for it's saltwater fishing and historic lighthouse it is a must see if you are visiting the island.

Enjoy

Medelise

Surfing in Rhode Island

Photograph by Dana Smith
November 2007 Rhode Island Monthly


It still amazes me! Most people I meet in my travels find it surprising that I surf in Rhode Island and that surfing is popular here. I am not sure if it is because they think the east coast just doesn't have waves or if they have this idea that it is cold here most of the time and that the water must be way to cold to surf in.

Well listen up, Rhode Island is a great place to surf!!! But you have to be willing to pull on a wet suit in the fall and winter to appreciate the best the state has to offer it's surfers.

The Rhode Island Monthly recently ran an article (November 2007) The Perfect Wave, about the diehard pioneer surfers of Rhode Island and their role in establishing the sport of surfing in this small state. All you folks from Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut will need to grin and bear it as you read on, but it provides an interesting perspective on the history of surfing in Rhode Island and is worth a once over.
View Article

Now, much to the chagrin of Peter Pan, I would like to dedicate a section of this Blog to providing information to those that want to surf in Rhode Island. Personally, I have only surfed at about four different breaks here, primarily in South County. So I am encouraging readers to contribute by sending information, pictures and stories (via e-mail) of anything that they consider relevant to surfing in Rhode Island. And maybe together we can actually produce something worth looking at.

I have dedicated a separate Blog site to this endeavor....Yearn To Travel Surf Rhode Island

For starters, here is a list of Websites that I like to check out regularly and a list of surf shops in the Ocean State.

Surf Reports:
Magic Seaweed(New England)
Surfline

Web Cam:
Warm Winds

Surf Shops:

	Island Windsurfing Sports - Write a review 86 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI - (401) 846-4421 Website - Directions
	Warm Winds Ltd - Write a review 26 Kingstown Rd, Narragansett, RI - (401) 789-9040 Website - Directions
	Gansett Juice - Write a review 76 Narragansett Ave, Narragansett, RI - (401) 789-7890 Website - Directions
	Gansett Juice - Write a review 74 Narragansett Ave W, Wakefield, RI - (401) 789-7890 Website - Directions
	Elemental Surf & Skate - Write a review 89 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI - (401) 846-2280 Website - Directions
	Matunuck Surf Shop - Write a review 706 Matunuck Beach Rd, Wakefield, RI - (401) 783-2566 Directions
	Water Bros Surf Report - Write a review 89 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI - (401) 849-9283 Directions
	Elemental Surf & Skate Report - Write a review Newport, RI - (401) 841-5160 Website - Directions
	Blockhead Surf Shop - Write a review 461 Chapel St, Block Island, RI - (401) 466-9876 Website - Directions