The crowds were a bit of a turn off as we live in a rural state and do not usually encounter this many people in one spot. It was a gorgeous evening and lots of families were enjoying picnics and dinners with some very elaborate set ups including tables and chairs. It was super crowded and the fact that the tide was high made it appear more crowded. We arrived at South Shore beach around 7pm and the tide was high so there was little beach showing. We arrived at Little Compton on a Saturday afternoon for our vacation and our adult daughter wanted to go see the beach. Nonetheless, these coastal gems are better enjoyed long after the crowds are gone. I'm not a fan of port-o-potties so you're on your own otherwise. Of course this beach is a bit rustic as they barely have any facilities. Yes there's a fabulous Preserve attached to South Shore that's pure peaceful! It makes the beach seem extra long so there's plenty of room for everyone. The beach is also ideal since there's not drop off so you can comfortably swim all the way down to the Preserve. South Shore beach is nice soft sand with amazing waves for body surfing. And late summer days and early fall still can be quite warm. Not only for free parking but we pretty much have the place to ourselves. Hubby & I wait until after Labor Day to visit these amazing places. One of the few beaches that allows you to park on the beach. And also check tidal charts before heading over since high tide may go right up to the parking area. Unless you arrive before dawn, its hit or miss if you get a parking space. We then retraced our steps back to the car.As you all may have read previous reviews from summertime, this gem of a beach open to the public is way too small to accommodate summer crowds. We came across several birds here including cardinals, goldfinches, cormorants, as well as seagulls. From this point we had a spectacular view of the Little Compton and Westport shoreline to the east, the rocky islands and lighthouse to the west, and the long strand of beach the makes up Sakonnet Point to the north. From here we walked to the end of the point with waves coming up on both sides. We followed this path for a bit before making our way down to the sandy beach. After a few hundred feet a path opens up through the ocean-side shrubs. Here there is a trailhead that leads to the rocky beach. From the car, we started this walk by walking down Rhode Island Road to its dead end. Although the land above is a conversation area it is off limits due to the fragile habitats of the birds. And lastly, only the west beach (facing the lighthouse) is currently open to the public. I would not suggest walking to the end of the point during high tide. Thirdly, if you plan on walking to the end of the point you should go at low tide. Secondly, the point itself is only open to residents of Little Compton (and their guests) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So we found a spot near the intersection of Rhode Island Road and Sakonnet Point Road. It is clearly stated on that property that parking is for members only. The book suggested parking at the Sakonnet Marina. I had come here using a walk described in the book “Bird Walks in Rhode Island”. First, parking is rather strict in the area. There are some restrictions to this walk however. This club was once visited by people of tremendous wealth and power including the likes of J.P. On one of these islands you can see the ruins of what was once the building of the West Island Fishing Club. There are several rocky islands just off the point as well as the recently restored Sakonnet Lighthouse. It has long sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and is a haven for birds. Sakonnet Point is the southern most point in Little Compton.
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