Though hardly deserted, Newport’s beaches are rocky, salty wonders. The majority are public and well-kept, and small to medium in size. King Park (Wellington Ave., 401/846-1398, free) is the easiest to access off of Thames Street; it attracts swimmers, sunbathers, and picnickers alike.

A short stroll from the main entrance to the Cliff Walk is larger Easton’s Beach, a magnet for surfers and sunbathers. You’ll find little peace and quiet here, but it offers convenient parking, food, and a fun carousel nearby.

Just off of Ocean Drive and on the edge of Newport Harbor lies Fort Adams State Park (Harrison Ave., off Rte. 138, 401/847-2400, www.riparks.com/fortadams.htm, sunrise–sunset daily, free), 100-plus acres of manicured lawns, picnic spots, beaches, soccer fields, and boating and camping areas. Each year it’s home to the area’s folk and jazz festivals, as well as a plenitude of private clambakes.

The Sakonnet Peninsula also has a number of attractive beaches with considerably smaller crowds. Grinnell’s Beach (Main Rd. at Old Stone Bridge) is a sandy crescent at the head of the Sakonnet River, popular with surf fishers; it has a lifeguard and changing rooms.

On the southeast tip of the peninsula, Goosewing Beach Preserve (off S. Shore Rd., Little Compton, 401/331-7110, www.nature.org) is a spectacular expanse of sandy barrier beach that narrowly divides the sea from a series of pristine coastal ponds.