In South County, you feel like you are on vacation even if you only have a few hours to spare.

The next time you’re sitting in holiday traffic, slowly inching toward the Hamptons, Cape Cod or another congested beach hot spot, consider the virtues of South County, R.I. This gem of the Ocean State, with 100 miles of coastline, is 2.5 hours from Manhattan, 1.5 hours from Boston and requires no planes or ferries. Between the coastal communities of Watch Hill and Charlestown lies 14 public beaches.

I’ve been a day tripper here most of my adult life. I come for the clean, clear water, the soft sand and to play in the waves. These are less crowded and underdeveloped beaches, ones that families have returned to for generations. In the towns, instead of busy thoroughfares, tree-lined streets meander through quiet neighborhoods leading to the shore. Chain stores and name-brand eateries are a bit harder to find, but fresh seafood, caught by local fishermen, is in abundance, as are pristine nature preserves for biking, hiking and bird watching, and salt ponds for recreational shell fishing.

People are friendly and relaxed, and it’s contagious. You feel like you are on vacation even if you only have a few hours to spare.