RHODE ISLAND - If you mention a summer trip to Rhode Island, the immediate response is almost always: Newport. And sure, Newport is spectacular. But it is also a contact sport. You battle gridlock on Thames Street, pay $50 for parking, and wait in line to tour a mansion you aren't allowed to touch. It's "Gilded Age" glamour, but it comes with modern-day stress.
But across the bay, there is another version of Rhode Island—the "farm coast" version. It has the same ocean, the same colonial history, and arguably better stone walls, but it feels like a country village rather than a tourist resort. Skip the mansion tours and the traffic jams. This year, cross the Sakonnet River to the quiet charm of Little Compton.
Little Compton is unique in New England: it is one of the only places where working farms roll right down to the ocean's edge.
The "Anti-Tourist Trap": Little Compton, RI
Population: ~3,500 Vibe: English countryside meets the Atlantic Ocean.
While Newport is all about showing off wealth, Little Compton is about hiding it. It sits in the southeast corner of the state, isolated by the river and the ocean. No highway leads here; you have to take slow, winding roads to reach it.
There is no "downtown" in the traditional sense—just a historic "Commons" with a white steepled Church, a general store, and a cemetery that dates back to the 1600s. It feels ancient, agricultural, and incredibly private.
Why Locals Go Here Instead
The real draw is the landscape. It is one of the few places in New England where you can see cows grazing in a field with the ocean immediately behind them.
- The Privacy: Little Compton has fought hard to resist development. There are no chain stores, no hotels, and very few streetlights. It is dark, quiet, and exclusive.
- The Beach: South Shore Beach (and the adjacent Goosewing Beach Preserve) is spectacular. Unlike the crowded beaches of Newport or Narragansett, Goosewing is a protected nature preserve. You have to walk to get there, which keeps the crowds away.
- The History: The Wilbor House Museum offers a glimpse into 17th-century life that feels more authentic than the polished mansions across the bay.
Affordable Luxury: How to Do It Right
Little Compton is notoriously exclusive (it has almost no hotels), so the "hack" is to stay nearby or rent a cottage.
- Stay: Since there are no hotels in town, locals recommend staying in nearby Tiverton (at the Stone House Inn) or renting a cottage. It forces you to live like a local, not a tourist.
- Eat: The Barn Restaurant in nearby Adamsville (a village on the border). It's a local institution for breakfast. For lunch/dinner, The Commons Lunch right in the center of town is famous for its johnnycakes and chowder. It's cash-only, unpretentious, and where everyone in the city meets.
- Do: Visit Sakonnet Point. It's the end of the road. You can climb out on the rocks, look across to the Newport mansions in the distance, and be thankful you aren't stuck in the traffic over there.
The Local Secret
Most tourists go to the beach. But the real secret is Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard. Located right on the main road, it produces some of the best wine in New England (which is saying something). The vibe in the summer is unmatched—sitting on the lawn with a bottle of their "White Lotus," listening to live music, surrounded by acres of vines. It feels like Napa, but with an ocean breeze.
The Bottom Line: If you want to be seen and spend money, go to Newport. If you want to disappear into a landscape that hasn't changed in 300 years, go to Little Compton.