Surf: This is the area of Narragansett Beach that can be surfed year-round. E swell gets in the best, combining with W winds and lower tides to give some good beachbreaks. Further north along the beach there are rights off a sunken barge, lefts off old pier pilings, peaks in front of The Dunes private beach club, and a rivermouth left at the end. Narragansett picks up everything, can be unreal one day and unrideable crap the next. Access: Free in winter only Environment: Highly consistent and crowded, with occasional currents and jellyfish. Full facilities and pay car park. Surf: General: Narragansett offers more room to breathe than those surf spots just up the coast in Newport. There are more peaks that are more spread out, but the nearby University of Rhode Island, as well as neighboring Massachusetts, keeps the lineup healthily filled year-round. Newport surfers also cross the bridge to Narragansett to escape pesky winds that leave nearby breaks tattered and less inviting. Although there is a plethora of spots to choose from, you're limited to Narragansett Town Beach -- along with the rest of the population -- if there's no real swell.

Beach access is easy but expensive during the summer when the beach is officially open. While there is limited close and free street parking, the town beach charges not just for parking but for beach entry as well. Fences and security people ensure that gatecrashers will not be enjoying a free surf between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m, seven days a week.

A favorite for beginners and longboarders, Narragansett Town Beach actually lacks shape and normally closes out, so more advanced surfers won't find it that appetizing. But it's the only place to go when the surf is small, which is pretty much the entire summer. Coupled with the steep parking rates, a crowded, sloppy session might not be an expense you'd like to incur. Unfortunately, if you really want to surf, you have no choice. Tides: Low-mid generally best Size: Waist high-head high Wind: NW Swell: SSE, SE Bottom: Sand Paddling: Usually pretty mellow. Spot Rating: Mostly not a high-quality wave. Access: Easy, but you pay to park and enter the beach in summer. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Heavy in summer/fall, lighter in winter. Local Vibe: Mellow. Environment: Pretty clean overall. Hazards: Closeouts. Season: September through March