July might be your favorite month of the year. It’s when work slows down and long weekends take over. It’s when holidays and vacations become priorities. It’s when days are long and warm temperatures keep you outside well after sunset. Most importantly, it’s when you decamp for the beach.

It has to be a New England beach, though. You’re captivated by the historic towns, the picturesque lighthouses, and the small fishing boats. You’re obsessed with the windswept beaches and the line-out-the-door seafood shacks. Plus you love the little beach hotels that quickly feel like home.

The Break is one of those hotels. The boutique hotel is in Rhode Island’s South County. That’s the part of the Ocean State with more than 100 miles of coastline. Narragansett—quickly shortened to ‘Gansett—turned into a summer resort almost as soon as it became a town. The east bank of the Pettaquamscutt River still has traditional shingled homes, a historic casino (turned wedding venue), and the second-largest fishing fleet in the Northeast. Shipwrecks dot Narragansett Bay. The ferry to Block Island departs from Point Judith. While the community’s population more than doubles this time of year.

The hotel never feels overcrowded, though. It’d be hard to with only 16 rooms. The grand white building sits a block from the water. Scarborough State Beach, Roger W. Wheeler State Beach, and the Point Judith Lighthouse are all less than a mile away. When you enter the lobby, you’ll immediately notice a gas fireplace and a saltwater fish tank. Shades of turquoise and sand fill the space, too. That color scheme extends into Chair 5 (the restaurant named after a lifeguard stand), up to the rooftop lounge (with views of the Newport Bridge and Block Island), and out to the saltwater pool (heated year-round). A wooden sauna, Peloton bikes, surf-inspired workouts, and beach gear (bikes, chairs, bags, towels) are available, too.

The common areas are certainly chic and cozy. But the true test comes upstairs with the rooms. They’re divided into Ocean and Sunset Rooms. The former has better views since they face the water, while the latter glows at the end of the day. Some have extra space for sleeper sofas and club chairs. Others have small balconies with brightly colored chairs. They all have king beds with custom headboards, gas fireplaces, and beach-inspired artwork. While amenities run from high-tech (Apple TVs and tablets) to luxurious (heated bathroom floors and Kimono robes). This is so much better than home.

Now off to the rooftop lounge for a drink. You can toast your return to the beach with a flight of three teeny tinis (those are small martinis, of course). Cheers to the beginning of summer.