I had wanted to visit The Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, for quite a while, and we finally went for a long weekend in early September 2024.
I liked it so much that I’d love to return one day. Our room was spacious and beautiful, filled with one-of-a-kind, stunning decor. We had a porch and windows that looked directly over the ocean—such a breathtaking view. The beach was lovely too. The sand was powdery soft and white, which is surprisingly rare in New England! There were also gorgeous sunsets over the water. One night, I had so much fun getting us all dressed up for a sunset photoshoot on the beach—I got so many amazing shots of Tru!
The resort offered plenty of activities. Tru got to try his first croquet lesson with a professional croquet player (I didn’t even know that was a thing!). He picked it up quickly—probably because it’s similar to golf. There was also a small putting green on the property, so we spent a lot of time there. In addition, Tru had fun splashing in the indoor pool and playing on the shuffleboard court. We even visited a nearby golf course since he’s always up for a game!
Tru also had a blast checking out the massive mansion next to the hotel, which is apparently one of Taylor Swift’s homes—maybe. He’s not a Taylor Swift fan, but a lot of girls in his class are. The house remained completely empty the entire time we were there.
Now for some tragic but, in hindsight, pretty funny moments: hornets had descended on The Ocean House! Thankfully, we only saw them when we were eating. We found an outdoor restaurant with stunning beach views and delicious food. But as soon as our appetizer arrived, the table next to us leaped to their feet, exclaiming in panic—swarms of hornets had surrounded their sugary drinks. They were so aggressive that the entire family asked to be moved indoors. Then, the hornets turned their attention to us. Chris remained calm, but Tru and I were jumping up and running from the attacks. We ate as quickly as possible and got out of there.
The next morning, we decided to enjoy a delicious room service breakfast (eggs, potatoes, pancakes with fresh berries) on our porch. I assumed the hornets would be busy attacking the restaurant on the other side of the hotel. Not so! They found us at our own room too. Sadly, we had to move inside on a glorious, perfect morning. At least we still had beautiful ocean views through the wall of windows!
Mealtimes were a struggle in more ways than one. Chris had booked a reservation at one of the hotel’s highly rated formal restaurants, Coast. We all got dressed up and were seated at our table. And then… we waited. And waited. The restaurant felt more stuffy and pretentious than anything I could remember, even in Boston. Poor Tru was scanning the menu and couldn’t find a single thing he’d be willing to eat. He was already getting antsy before an appetizer had even been served. I told Chris we needed to leave, and he agreed.
We were moved to the casual restaurant next door, The Bistro. Unfortunately, we were seated next to a table of drunk men who were getting increasingly loud and obnoxious. They didn’t seem to notice or care that there were children nearby and were swearing up a storm. So, for the second time that night, we had to ask to be moved. Finally, at a quiet table, Tru was given an adorable children’s menu in the shape of a wooden sailboat. He happily ordered one of his favorites, penne with butter, and Chris and I got to enjoy our favorite—parmesan and truffle fries!
We were lucky to get beautiful weather, so we spent lots of time on the beach. Tru is never all that excited about beach trips—he’d rather go to an amusement park—but once he gets there, he’s in heaven. He could spend all day building castles, rolling and running in the sand, and splashing in the waves.
I always want to just sit and relax on the beach with Chris, but Tru always asks me to help him dig tunnels or build sandcastles. I’d hate to miss those precious moments with him, so I always find myself down in the sand, helping. The day will come when he doesn’t ask me to play with him anymore, so I’m taking every opportunity while I can!
One memory that really stuck with me: Tru and I saw a seagull lying in the sand. Tru wondered if he was just tired, but I knew it was unusual for a bird to let us get so close. He was opening and closing his beak, sometimes tossing his head forward and back. I had to tell Tru that he seemed to be dying. So, we held hands and said a prayer that he could peacefully and quickly transition. Up close, his feathers looked so soft and intricate—he was beautiful. He didn’t appear injured, so I have no idea what was wrong. Later, I saw a hotel staff member scoop him up with a trash bag and carry him away. I understood that it was standard procedure, but it still felt so cold and undignified. I was glad Tru and I had sent him some love and light at the end.
Another special moment: stepping out onto our porch at night when the beach was empty and the stars were out. I love those peaceful moments when I can just sit outside, gazing at the vastness of the twinkling sky.
Some other sweet memories: We did a sunset sailboat ride on our first evening, which was really memorable. Tru rode the Watch Hill Merry-Go-Round, one of the oldest functioning carousels in the country! Every morning, we took long walks on the beach. Chris and I held hands while Tru searched for cool stones and shells and splashed in the water. That was especially meaningful for me because I had just started walking on the beach again after recovering from my ankle and knee injuries. Our family beach walks are one of my favorite things—I was so grateful to be physically able to do that again!
Although the hotel wasn’t perfect, I’d definitely return. It’s so close to home and incredibly convenient, and the beach is truly beautiful.
