If you want to day a little day trip away from the beach while visiting Westerly, there are several options that might keep  you well entertained.

If it’s a Saturday in the summer, head for the Babcock-Smith House. Originally belonging to Dr. Joshua Babcock, who was Westerly’s first physician and the state’s chief justice, the house features lightning rods that were supposedly supplied by Babcock’s friend, Benjamin Franklin. The house was built in 1734 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is located at 124 Granite St., in Westerly.

Interested in learning about the town’s history while riding in an authentic World War II military vehicle? Consider taking a tour with Duck Land and Water Tours, which provides you first with a fully narrated tour of the downtown area (on land) and then more fun when the vehicle heads into the Pawcatuck River. The tours are good for the whole family and only last 70 minutes.

Lighthouse lovers will want to take a journey to Watch Hill Lighthouse Museum, which is located about a 15 minute walk from the downtown. The 1858 lighthouse itself is closed to the public, but there is a museum in the oil house and the grounds are open to the public during limited hours in the summertime.