Keep busy in the country’s smallest state with these fun activities.
Don’t believe it?
Marvel at the Newport Mansions.
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Soak in the scenery along the Cliff Walk.
The 3.5-mile trail follows the ocean’s edge from Bellevue Avenue to Memorial Boulevard.
This is where you’ll seeThe Breakers,Ochre Court, and Salve Regina University.
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Visit the Tennis Hall of Fame.
Newport’sInternational Tennis Hall of Famehonors the greats from Maria Bueno to Roger Federer (the latter via hologram).
The hall of fame is in the Newport Casino, a stunning 19th-century building.
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Paddle out at Narragansett Beach.
Though every now and then, a good swell comes through and lures the surfer crowd in.
Keen to try it?
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Get some instruction from the pros atWarm Winds, who will happily show you the ropes.
Meet the residents of Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Watch the flames at WaterFire.
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Make your way to Providence, the state’s capital, for a spectacularly fiery scene.
The show is free, though donations are welcome, and sometimes accompanied by an art and food market.
WaterFire is typically held on Saturday nights.
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Check out the local talent at RISD Museum.
The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence is renowned for its talented student body.
At theRISD Museum, you’ve got the option to see their works and then some.
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Attend a Trinity Repertory Company performance.
The nonprofit regional theater company’s performances take place at the Lederer Theater Center in Providence.
Explore the boutiques and galleries at Bowen’s Wharf.
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Pedal the Blackstone River Bikeway.
Try the lobster roll at Monahan’s.
Coming to Rhode Island and forgoing a seafood meal would be downright criminal.
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The beloved institution provides beautiful waterfront views from Narragansetts State Pier No.
5, and it has a second location in Charlestown.
Tour the manicured masterpieces at Green Animals.
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The green space overlooking Narragansett Bay boasts some 80 topiary masterpieces, all depicting different animals.
Visitors are welcome to pack a picnic and eat beside their favorite creature.
Between May and October, floral displays make the grounds explode with color.
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See North America’s largest collection of frescoes.
It also has more than 40 stained-glass windows to admire.
Ride a Venetian gondola on the Providence River.
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Spot sea critters on the Middletown coast.
The refuge’s 242 wild acres are a common stopover for migrating birds.
Take a spin on the “flying horses” carousel.
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Go for a ride on America’s oldest continuously operated carousel in Watch Hill.
Themerry-go-roundruns seasonally and costs as little as $1 a ride.
Go tide pooling at Beavertail State Park.
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Taste Federal Hill’s delicious Italian fare.
Federal Hillis the Little Italy of Providence.
Get a late-night dog at Olneyville New York System.
Order it with cheese fries on the side for a truly indulgent experience.
Shop for souvenirs at a whimsical and one-of-a-kind market.
Everything is housed in a complex of charming buildings for a bazaar-like feel.
Take an oyster farm tour at Matunuck Oyster Bar.
An absolute must-visit for oyster aficionados isMatunuck Oyster Barin Wakefield.
Delight your kids at the Providence Children’s Museum.
Little ones will be enchanted by the play area designed to look like a magical woodland.
Sip local varietals at Carolyns Sakonnet Vineyard.
This place claims to be New England’s oldest winery, around since 1975.
Ferry over to Block Island.
Extend the stay by booking a room at theBlock Island Beach House.
Explore the Southeast Lighthouse.
While you’re there, check out the boulder marking its original location.
It was moved in 1993 due to coastal erosion.
Taste Rhode Island’s best clam dishes.
Clams are practically their own food group in Rhode Island, where “clear” clam chowder was born.
Try the regional favorite at Matunuck Oyster Bar in Wakefield.
See pufferfish, sharks, and more New England marine life up close.
Feedings and demonstrations are held every half hour on weekends.
Find a Del’s truck on a hot day.
Del’s Frozen Lemonademay very well be the perfect treat on a summer day.
Pro tip: Never, ever drink it with a straw.
Get a sense of life in 18th-century Rhode Island.
Walk through the red-brick mansion to see antique artworks, furnishings, and even a fully restored 18th-century carriage.
Enjoy diner fare from a food truck.
Haven Brotherstakes the concept of a classic American diner and puts it on wheels.
The stainless-steel facade has the same curb appeal as a fixed restaurant, but Haven Brothers is mobile.
Explore the campus of an Ivy League university.
Brown Universitybrings liberal arts and science progressives from all over the country to Providence.
Experience a drive-in movie.
The theater, which opened in 1951, is still projecting major films weekly from April to September.
Walk through history at Fort Adams State Park.
The park is home to an 18th-century fort used during World War II.
The coastal surroundings also beckon outdoor enthusiasts looking to go fishing, boating, hiking, and picnicking.
Time your visit with a festival.
Visit Rhode Island in July to catch some of the greatest musical acts alive strum out their hits.
