Summer officially doesn't end until September 23rd so just think of all those great summer activities you can still do from beaching to boating, surfing, swimming or just hanging out with family and friends. And that is exactly what I am doing with my cousin John at the best kept beaching secret in Rhode Island; Gooseberry Beach.
Gooseberry is an impressive stretch of sandy beach with perfect grass-covered sand dunes right off Ocean Drive in Newport. The beach is a cove protected by giant boulders which at low tide you can walk out to and hike from one end to another. The shoreline as with the majority of beaches in the Newport area is ideal for walking and firm enough for running during low tide and even at high tide a good workout is still doable on the beach. If you need a refresher on your posture or form don't forget to check out my fitness tips at Self-size.com.
Ofcourse unlike South Florida where a healthy beach food hut is almost non-existent, it appears people in New England take their beach buffets seriously. I would call it balanced (somewhat) and most certainly fresh. Yes, there is the standard fried oysters and clams but there is always an offering of a seafood or fruit salad. And there is always lobsta...just leave out all that Mayo or melted butter and you still can stay on track. Gooseberry comes with their version of a beach bites bungalow. The little beach cottage offers a great menu from the typical fare of mouth watering hamburgers to tasty salads. And you can't forget the homemade lemonade and brownies. You can even reserve a beach table complete with fresh flowers and candles for a dusk dinner. The menu for the early evening is different from the carte du jour and offers more of a sophisticated fare. You really don't know what you are being served until you speak with the chef herself. If you stray off your Self-size lifestyle (like I did) you can always get back on track with Self-size's nutritional counseling.
Besides Newport, there are equally beautiful beaches throughout New England. Just across Narragansett Bay is the Beavertail Lighthouse which has gorgeous, small secret beaches. The only trick is that you must be part billy goat to access them. Others areas that are just as beautiful is the coast of Maine, the islands of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island plus the Cape. One of my favorite stretches of sand on the Cape runs from Chatham to Provincetown which is part of the National Seashore. The dunes are spectacular looming golden waves and if that is not enough there is always the surf. The waves are nature's version of a reality show and couple that with surfers and you have a great display of bravery (I think) mixed with alot of insanity.
You have it all in New England...long, dramatic wide beaches, secluded coves and lagoons, vertigo sea cliffs and cold...very cold water. Yes...I got in the water this summer and I didn't even wear my wetsuit. Not because I was so brave...basically I would have been the only one in the entire tri-state area wearing a wetsuit in the surf plus after two minutes your body goes completely numb anyway.
More to come later....and don't forget to visit the experts at Self-size.com for the way to a healthy lifestyle!!!
Ciao,
Angie of the Endless Summer
