Mansion is our family's favorite beach and is one of the island’s most picturesque. The beach marks the north end of what’s known as Crescent Beach, and is generally less crowded, making it great for a nice walk, body surfing or some beach combing.
It’s a bit of a climb to get there with 141 steps leading down to the sandy beach, but the payoff is spectacular. Your lookout sits on clay cliffs that offer one of the most dramatic views of the Atlantic in RI, and a vista that extends all the way to Montauk.
If a drizzle of local honey on a fresh-baked scone is your idea of a nice morning, you can head to the market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 9 to 11:30am (Word to the wise, come early before the scone lady sells out.)
This is one of the island’s best bets for great scenery, with coastal views and the historic North Light. The area includes Settler’s Rock, which you’ll encounter right next to the parking lot – it’s a monument inscribed with the names of the original English families who settled on the island in 1661. You can hike about half a mile across the shoreline to the lighthouse you’ll see in the distance.