Take A Stop By Easton's Beach
Take A Stop By Easton's Beach
Ask a local Rhode Islander about Easton's Beach and they may simply smile at you and say, "Oh, you must mean First Beach.." --see, that's what they call it around Newport. Whatever name you go by, Easton's Beach is at the far end of Memorial Boulevard and not to be missed, no matter what time of year you visit Newport.
During the 'on' season, Easton's Beach is a happening place, with giggling children enjoying the carousel, couples taking wedding photos and the ever-present aroma of 'chowda' and boiling crabs. In summer, Tuesday nights are special events, with various festivities hosted by the city of Newport. Sailboats pepper the breezy waters off the southwest shore of Aquidneck Island and serve as just part of the spectacular view from Easton's Beach.
Strolling through the deep, soft sands of Easton's is a beachcomber's dream, especially during winter, when tides wash all manner of goodies up from the deep. Find clams, whelks, moon shells and horseshoe crabs and, if you're lucky, a 'mermaid's purse' --actually the egg casing of a certain shark. Dried seaweed abounds, and the type with the bulbous air bladders is an especially tasty fuel to use at a clam bake. Easton's Beach has been a popular play area for centuries; once you visit, you'll understand why.
During the late 1800s and through the Roaring Twenties, Newport was the beachside getaway of wealthy New York society, many of them building their summer 'cottages' (think 'mansions') along Bellevue Avenue, just a scramble up the cliffs to get there. Easton's Beach was their playground-- you can just imagine F. Scott and Zelda frolicking in the surf, wearing those overdone swimming outfits. By the way, it's always a good idea to wear a big-brimmed hat while beach combing --you may be competing with sea gulls for those seashells.
