El Ocean Cove - Nueva Cottage

See video of beach out front which pretty much says it all. It was taken on a day of calm surf. Note the variety of habitats along the shoreline, from sand, to pebbles, to large rocks. Each contains different discoveries.

If you're not into nature, there are lots of historical sites and cultural experiences nearby. None will knock your socks off because Little Compton has a laid-back vibe. Think: "opposite of Newport." Much of the land is preserved by the Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust, including two parcels near Maus Haus, one of which our parents helped establish. It's not unusual to see meadows bordered by old stone walls all the way to the shore. (Check out the intersection of Rt 77 and Peckham Road in a photo-enabled navigation app.)

Be sure to explore Wilburs, the general store on the town commons that carries practically everything -- if they don't have it, you don't need it. The Commons Lunch, a few doors down from Wilburs, is where locals often go for an early breakfast; it's THE place for Johnny Cakes. The Little Compton Community Center, also on the commons, hosts all sorts of family-oriented activities. A half-block down South of Commons Road (really, that's its name) from Wilburs is the Arts Cafe, which has fine coffee, baked goods, and an art studio. Most seating is outdoors in an old apple orchard. Almost next door is the United Congregational Church's Thrift Shop. It has limited hours, adding to the sense of discovery when you find it open!

You go to sleep hearing the surf and wake up with the sun rising over the ocean and streaming in the front windows. Often, nobody is on the beach; all access is by private road.

The wildlife is spectacular! Swans fly over daily. Warblers and red-winged blackbirds are abundant. Swallows congregate over the marsh in the fall. Seals visit the cove. Weasels live in the stone walls. Pipping plovers and least terns nest on nearby sandy beaches. Bass and bluefish cause a ruckus in the cove, corraling schools of smaller fish.