I'm researching places to go for our summer vacation - yes, very late in planning this year. We live in PA and would like to rent a house for one week near a nice beach in an area that has lots of other things to do besides just go to the beach all day. Kids are 20, 16 and 13.

I found a house in Portsmouth, RI. Anyone have any info on this area??? Other suggestions are welcome.

We have always gone south to N. Carolina but would like to go north (cooler, not as far from Pa, looking for more to do.)

Suggestions, ideas, comments welcome and appreciated!!

for rhode island, i would head to block island for a week. i think portsmouth is in nh.
block island offers a lot for the age of your kids, mostly sailing, biking, sea-kayaking. elegant resort-style cottages. check it out.
sounds like you might be ready for a week on a lake!
corwin

Portsmouth RI isn't a good choice.

Newport is it in my opinion, I've spent many a summer there. The beaches are nice and there is so much to do, Mansions, the Cliff Walk, Tennis Hall of Fame, concerts, restaurants, bars, sailing, a vibrant, quaint town. You won't find anything on the beach in Newport however.

Another option is Narragansett. It's beautiful too but much quieter but you could find a house on the beach. You'll have fun no matter what, RI is beautiful.

I'm a Rhode Islander, and would be happy to assist you. Portsmouth is on the northern end of Aquidneck Island, which also has Newport. Portsmouth is a bedroom community, beautiful but boring.I disagree with Wyatt who vouches for the Newport beaches (which are mostly in Middletown.) The sand is grainy, and they often have a problem with tons of red seaweed (Not Red tide). The drive from Portsmouth to Newport in the summer is probably at least half hour, and not at all pleasant. You will be close to Fall River and New Bedford in MA which have attractions, and not far from the Cape.
Portsmouth is also across the bridge from Bristol which has a huge Independence day parade on july 4. The longest continually held 4th parade in the U.S. The other side of Narragansett Bay has much better beaches. (Narragansett, Charlestown, Westerly). Everything from Point Judith to Westerly is beautiful, lots of barrier beaches. Misquamicut in Westerly is a throwback, beachside bars, water slides, kiddie rides. On this side of the bay you are also close to Foxwoods and Mohican Sun.
There is an enormous amount of Colonial architecture in Providence and Newport, and to a lesser degree Wickford. I agree with the writer about Block Island, one of my favorite places on earth. There is a daily ferry from Newport, and several daily ferries (slow & high speed ) from Galilee, which is in Narragansett. If you take the ferry from there, spend some time in Galilee. It's an awesome mix of working fishing village and summer touristy restaurants etc, and also close to beaches.
Check http://www.waterfire.com/, and if there is one when you are in the area, it is not to be missed, especially on the weekend. Remember, no matter where you stay in RI, nothing is more than an hour away!
I'll check back to see if you have any other questions.
Helpful links;
http://www.blockislandferry.com
http://www.durkincottages.com
http://www.misquamicut.org

Agree with partymonster about Portsmouth. A nice town but not a vacation destination; unless you don't mind spending at least a half hour in the car getting to any place (Newport, the beaches, etc). Also, while Block Island is indeed beautiful and very active on summer weekends, i think the 20 and 16 year olds (and possibly the 13 year old) in your group would be bored stiff by the third day. There is only so much kayacking and biking one can do on a postage-stamp size island before you've seen it all. A great place to relax; but if I remember anything about being a teenager on vacation, "relaxing" was the last thing in the world I wanted to do.

I would try to find a place in Newport, or on Cap Cod.

Opps, that's "Cape" Cod.

I would also suggest Westerly, RI. Misquamicut Beach is beautiful...and Watch Hill which is a cute little seaside village with sidewalk cafes and antique shops is a great place to spend a few hours.

westerlychamber.org
stantonrealty.com

kenm

WOW - Thanks for all the great advice! I think I'll skip Portsmouth and research some of the suggested options. Thanks Rhode Islanders!!