Things to Do in Westerly & Watch Hill

Out & About

Curated by our Team

Start with Shelter Harbor’s private beach, then discover more things to do in Westerly: the salt ponds, Misquamicut, Watch Hill and downtown, all minutes away. Here’s how to spend your days, whether you’re here for two or twenty.

Watch Hill | Shelter Harbor Inn Olde Mistick Village & Mystic Aquarium | Shelter Harbor Inn Quonnie Farms | Shelter Harbor Inn East Beach | Shelter Harbor Inn Grey Sail Brewing | Downtown Westerly Martin House Books | Shelter Harbor Inn Ninigret Park | Shelter Harbor Inn Winnapaug Golf Course | Shelter Harbor Inn Watch Hill | Shelter Harbor Inn Olde Mistick Village & Mystic Aquarium | Shelter Harbor Inn Quonnie Farms | Shelter Harbor Inn East Beach | Shelter Harbor Inn Grey Sail Brewing | Downtown Westerly Martin House Books | Shelter Harbor Inn Ninigret Park | Shelter Harbor Inn Winnapaug Golf Course | Shelter Harbor Inn

Only for Inn Guests

Your Private Beach

Spend a slow afternoon on Shelter Harbor’s private beach, a perk for Inn guests, and we’ll get you there. Just bring sunscreen and a good book. Towels and chairs come packed in a tote (based on availability), with a few sand toys for the kids.

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Arial view of the Shelter Harbor Inn private beach.

Things to do in Westerly

Find Your Kind of Day

Pick what you're in the mood for, and we'll show you our favorite spots nearby, from craft brews to quiet beaches.

B&B Dockside | Shelter Harbor Inn

Eat & Drink

B&B Dockside

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

B&B Dockside serves breakfast, lunch and creative burgers right on the river dock in downtown Westerly.

Charlestown | Shelter Harbor Inn

Day Trips

Charlestown

Charlestown

•

10 Minutes

Charlestown is a quiet coastal town just east of the Inn, home to Ninigret Park, the wildlife refuge and East Beach.

Charlestown Gallery | Shelter Harbor Inn

Shopping & Arts

Charlestown Gallery

Charlestown

•

15 Minutes

Charlestown Gallery is a longtime South County showcase for paintings, sculpture and jewelry by regional artists.

Downtown Westerly | Shelter Harbor Inn

Day Trips, Shopping & Arts

Downtown Westerly

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

Downtown Westerly offers walkable streets of shops, galleries and restaurants along the river, beside Wilcox Park.

East Beach | Shelter Harbor Inn

On the Water

East Beach (Charlestown)

Charlestown

•

10 Minutes

East Beach is three quiet miles of uncrowded sand in Charlestown. The small lot fills up early in summer.

Grey Sail Brewing | Downtown Westerly

Eat & Drink

Grey Sail Brewing

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

Grey Sail Brewing is Westerly’s craft brewery, pouring its flagship Captain’s Daughter in a historic house with a beer garden out back.

High Hope Tavern | Shelter Harbor Inn

Eat & Drink

High Hope Tavern

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

High Hope Tavern is a downtown favorite for oysters, fresh seafood and craft cocktails.

Langworthy Farm Winery | Shelter Harbor Inn

Eat & Drink

Langworthy Farm Winery

Westerly

•

15 Minutes

Langworthy Farm Winery pours estate-grown wines on the grounds of an 1875 inn up Shore Road.

Martin House Books | Shelter Harbor Inn

Shopping & Arts

Martin House Books

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

Martin House Books is an independent bookseller and cafe on Canal Street, with a helpful, well-read staff.

Misquamicut State Beach | Shelter Harbor Inn

On the Water

Misquamicut State Beach

Misquamicut

•

10 Minutes

Misquamicut State Beach is Rhode Island's liveliest stretch of sand, with big surf, food stands and summer events. Parking is paid.

Napatree Point | Shelter Harbor Inn

On the Water, Outdoors & Sports

Napatree Point

Watch Hill

•

20 Minutes

Napatree Point is a walk out to the tip of Watch Hill: sand on one side, a rocky cove on the other and the ruins of an old fort.

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge | Shelter Harbor Inn

Outdoors & Sports

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge

Charlestown

•

10 Minutes

Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge offers flat, easy trails through grassland down to the salt pond, great for birding.

Ninigret Park | Shelter Harbor Inn

Outdoors & Sports

Ninigret Park

Charlestown

•

10 Minutes

Ninigret Park has walking and biking paths, a swimming pond and giant troll sculptures for kids to find.

Olde Mistick Village & Mystic Aquarium | Shelter Harbor Inn

Day Trips

Olde Mistick Village & Mystic Aquarium

Mystic, CT

•

25 Minutes

Olde Mistick Village & Mystic Aquarium sit side by side over the Connecticut line, pairing local shops with beluga whales and sea lions.

OMO Jewels & Gifts | Shelter Harbor Inn

Shopping & Arts

OMO Jewels & Gifts

Westerly

•

15 Minutes

OMO Jewels & Gifts carries American-made jewelry and easy-to-pack keepsakes on Watch Hill Road, on the way to the village.

Quonnie Farms | Shelter Harbor Inn

Eat & Drink, Local Favorites

Quonnie Farms

Charlestown

•

5 Minutes

Quonnie Farms is a family-run market, bakery and cafe just up the road, famous for sweet corn, fresh bread and overstuffed sandwiches.

Rosanna's Flowers | Shelter Harbor Inn

Shopping & Arts

Rosanna’s Flowers

Westerly

•

10 Minutes

Rosanna's Flowers is a Westerly florist for fresh bouquets, an in-room surprise or wedding arrangements.

South County Distillers | Shelter Harbor Inn

Eat & Drink

South County Distillers

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

South County Distillers makes small-batch gin, vodka, rum and bourbon from grain to glass on the Grey Sail campus.

Tapped Apple Cidery and Winery | Shelter Harbor Inn

Eat & Drink

Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

At Tapped Apple Cidery & Winery, build your own flight of hard ciders and fruit wines made from Rhode Island-grown fruit.

Toscano's Mens Shop | Shelter Harbor Inn

Shopping & Arts

Toscano’s Mens Shop

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

Toscano's Mens Shop is a classic downtown menswear store with old-school personal service, from suits to tuxedos.

Watch Hill | Shelter Harbor Inn

Day Trips

Watch Hill

Watch Hill

•

10 Minutes

Watch Hill is a seaside village of boutiques, the Flying Horse Carousel, a lighthouse and Napatree Point.

Wilcox Park | Shelter Harbor Inn

Outdoors & Sports

Wilcox Park

Downtown Westerly

•

15 Minutes

Wilcox Park is downtown Westerly's garden oasis, with an arboretum, koi pond and outdoor Shakespeare each summer.

Winnapaug Golf Course | Shelter Harbor Inn

Outdoors & Sports

Winnapaug Golf Course

Westerly

•

10 Minutes

Winnapaug Golf Course is a Donald Ross design on Shore Road with views across the salt pond.

Plan around Your people

Ways to Spend Your Days

For Two

A Together Massage in the afternoon, dinner and a sunset walk in Watch Hill, then a nightcap by your fireplace. Add a winery tasting or a morning paddle on the salt pond for a full weekend.

For the Wedding Weekend

Give guests something to do between events: a beach morning, a bike ride to the breachway, shopping in Watch Hill Village or a round of golf.

For the Family

Ride the Flying Horse Carousel in Watch Hill, spend a day at Misquamicut State Beach, catch a summer concert in Wilcox Park, or take a day trip to Mystic.

For Your Team

Golf, a brewery or winery tasting, a group paddle or a beach afternoon between sessions, then back to the fire pits for the evening.

Make Shelter Harbor Inn Your Home Base

Book your room, then let our team help plan the days. We’re always happy to share a favorite spot or two.