South Shore Beach

Quaint and scenic beach along the Southern shore of Rhode Island in Little Compton. Lifeguards on duty. No pets allowed. "If ever there were a complicated beach, South Shore Beach is it. It has a serious case of split personality. This is a beach with tawdry charm dangling from a bracelet of breath-taking beauty. Half of it is resplendently tacky. The other half, officially Goosewing, is gorgeously unspoiled. Its appeal is infinitely variable, no matter the season. What with climate chaos, ocean warming and unemployment, many of us are hanging out at the beach well into October. South Shore is a beach for all seasons, and it is for people of all seasons. Among its crowning virtues: it is open to everyone. Most of our town’s beaches are private. By law, anyone has access to the beach, up to the high-tide mark. Anyone who can get to the beach, that is. Try parking a car without a permit: impossible. Or getting permission to walk down a private lane. Or screwing up the courage, even with permission, to get past a barking homeowner who thinks she controls miles of beachfront. Small towns have their share of petty tyrants." http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/25/travel/my-favorite-place-little-compton-ri.html?pagewanted=all&_r=...