2024 Best Sights Around Rhode Island

Intro

Two of the major cities in Rhode Island are Providence and Newport. Two vastly different cities in the smallest state in the US, but both packed with rich history, historic architecture, and fun things to do. This state hugs along the Atlantic Ocean in the northeastern most region of the United States. Little Rhody might be a small state but it also has the longest ratio of coastline to overall square mileage in the US. Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach trip, a town with rich history or roaming the city, you have options in Rhode Island.

• My Story

  I grew up in northern New Jersey. Jersey gets a lot of flack, but some great points about it are the gardens and nature but also the ability to see some amazing sights in the northeast within a few hours of driving. By the time I was a few years old I had already been to over 10 states, one of them being Rhode Island. I have been to Rhode Island several times. Twice  in recent days to Providence while visiting a friend at Johnson & Wales and a road trip to Newport for a girls weekend of relaxation and seeing all of the tourist attractions.

• State History

  1. Rhode Island is the smallest state in America.

  2. The International Tennis Hall of Fame is in Newport, RI.

  3. JFK and Jackie Kennedy got married in Rhode Island's oldest Catholic Church.

  4. Bristol, RI has been celebrating the 4th of July with fireworks since 1785.

  5. The first time the game of polo was played in the United States, was near Newport in 1876.

  • Details courtesy of RI.gov

• Planning the Trip

  Rhode Island is not a very big state. The two most known cities in Rhode Island, Newport and Providence, are only 35-miles apart.

  The first thing I would start with is identifying how you are getting to Rhode Island. Are you close enough for a road trip or are you flying in? Providence does have an airport but Boston is under an hour away and have a bigger international airport so depending on where you are coming from and if you are renting a car or taking Rideshare, you might want to consider looking into flights into Boston.

  The next step would be to identify how much time you have to stay in Rhode Island. Because it is a small state, you don't need an extraordinary amount of time to cover a lot of region in the state. I do always recommend at the beginning of planning a trip to identify when and how much time you can take off, what your budget is and who you are traveling with because these three points can narrow your search down tremendously.

  If you are traveling with your kids vs. your girlfriends, looks a lot different. Or if you only have a long weekend or a full week of time to take off of work. So identify those details early on and it will help navigating of planning your Rhode Island adventures.

• Hotels in Rhode Island

  When I went to Providence I had stayed with friends. In Newport we stayed at a Marriott property. Rhode Island is filled with cute B&B's, AirBNB and many hotels. Below are a list of some of places and sites to check out for accommodations in Newport and Providence.

  1. AirBNB

  2. Hilton Providence

  3. Omni Providence Hotel

  4. Aloft Providence Downtown

  5. Courtyard Providence Downtown

  6. Renaissance Providence Downtown

  7. Homewood Suites Providence Downtown

  8. Hampton Inn & Suites Providence Downtown

• Sights Visited in Rhode Island

  WaterFire

  One of the most unique things in Providence, is watching the WaterFire during the summer months, while hearing live music pipe through the streets. WaterFire is these containers filled with wood on the river through Providence, that are set ablaze. It takes place weekly June through July but then just a few times thereafter until November. It is an entertaining way to spent your evening before checking out the local vendors, shops, and restaurants.

  Art Lovers Paradise

   Providence is home to several major universities including Brown University, Johnson & Wales, and Providence College. Just outside the city, if you are feeling like outdoor activities and love animals, check out the Roger Williams Park Zoo. If architecture is what gets your goat, the Rhode Island State House and the John Brown House Museum are not too far from Brown and will give you a chance to walk around and see the sights. For the art lovers or even just someone looking for indoor activities, there is the Providence Children's Museum, RISD Museum of Art, and the Providence Performing Arts Center are all known for being a popular spot around the city. The lucky folks in the city on the 3rd Thursday of the month between March through November can partake in Gallery Night. 

  If you are a fan of the arts, check out Newport's music scene at the Newport Folk Festival or the Newport Jazz Festival. They also have the Newport Art Museum and RISD Museum for the art aficionado’s. For a tinier city, there are also a bunch of art galleries, including Seaside Art Gallery and the Sheldon Fine Art Gallery. For the car lovers out there, don't forget to visit the Audrain Auto Museum or the Newport Car Museum.

  Cruising Down Narragansett Bay

  Some other fun things to do in Providence are taking a boat tour or cruising down Narragansett Bay to Newport. This is also a convenient way to commute between each location, that will allow you to not have to worry about traffic or for the best parking areas, as well as enjoy stunning views. If your group is filled with nature lovers, Rhode Island is the perfect place for a quick weekend getaway or an extended stay. Given Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State, it is not surprising to learn that Providence has the Rhode Island Seafood Festival every September. The foodies will sure want to make a pitstop in Little Italy, also known as Federal Hill for some window shopping or a cannoli. If you're anything like me you would be planning your Providence trip around that event. For the tough people out there, make sure to include a Providence Ghost Tour around the city after the sun goes down. 

  Gilded Age Mansions Newport

  There are quite a few mansions in Newport when I took a tour in 2014. We did the tour of 6 of the homes, which by the end was a bit too much. You see one Gilded Age mansion, you have seen them all. If choosing to only go to one or two, I would check out the Marble House as the ideal place to start, as the family name Vanderbilt is most well known to this day and still has prominent figures in society like Anderson Cooper (son of Gloria Vanderbilt).

• Best Beaches in Rhode Island

  1. East Beach

  2. Sachuest Beach

  3. Narraganset Beach

  4. Scarborough State Beach

• Some of the Best Colleges in Rhode Island

  1. Brown University

  2. Providence College

  3. University of Rhode Island

  4. Johnson & Wales University

  5. Rhode Island School of Design

• Some of the Cutest Towns in Rhode Island

  1. Warwick

  2. Cranston

  3. Pawtucket

  4. East Greenwich

• State Parks & Historic Sights in Rhode Island

  1. Colt State Park

  2. Pulaski State Park

  3. Fort Adams State Park

  4. Rocky Point State Park

  5. Fort Wetherill State Park

  6. Lincoln Woods State Park

  7. Goddard Memorial State Park

  8. Roger Williams National Memorial

  9. Block Island National Wildlife Refuge

  10. Trustom Pons National Wildlife Refuge

• List of the Best Things to Do & See in Rhode Island

  Providence Sights & Attractions

  1. WaterFire

  2. RISD Museum

  3. Waterplace Park

  4. Providence Athenaeum

  5. Lippitt House Museum

  6. The John Brown House

  7. Roger Williams Park Zoo

  8. Annmary Brown Memorial

  9. The Stephen Hopkins House

  10. Providence Children's Museum

  11. Rhode Island Museum of Science

  12. Providence Performing Arts Center

  13. Rhode Island Black Heritage Society

  14. Holocaust Education and Resource Center

  15. Museum of Natural History and Planetarium

  Newport Sights & Attractions

  1. ​Cliff Walk

  2. Mansion Tours

  3. Bowen's Wharf

  4. Easton's Beach

  5. Newport Art Museum

  6. Castle Hill Lighthouse

  7. Fort Adams State Park

  8. Herreshoff Marine Museum

  9. Surprise Valley Farm Newport

  10. US Naval War College Museum

  11. International Tennis Hall of Fame

  12. National Museum of American Illustration

• Restaurants With Food Allergy Options

  1. Mooring - Newport

  2. Corner Cafe - Newport

  3. Tori Tomo - Providence

  4. Fifth Element - Newport

  5. Gas Lamp Grille - Newport

  6. Waterman Grille - Providence

  7. Jo's American Bistro - Newport

  8. The Malted Barley - Providence

  9. Wharf South Kitchen & Whiskey Bar

  10. Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant - Newport

• Some of the Best Restaurants in Rhode Island

  1. Diego's - Newport

  2. Julian's - Providence

  3. The Black Pearl - Providence

  4. Midtown Oyster Bar - Newport

  5. East Side Pockets - Providence

  6. Massimo Restaurant - Providence

  7. Den Den Cafe Asiana - Providence

  8. The Red Parrot Restaurant - Newport

  9. Hemenway's Restaurant - Providence

  10. 22 Bowedn's Wine Bar & Grille - Providence

Conclusion

​Moral of the story, if you are anywhere near New England, be sure to check out Rhode Island. Whether that’s culture and sights in Providence or history and nature in Newport. You’re sure to be entertained by the Firewater or the Providence Performing Arts Center or driving down to stroll along the Cliff Walk while gazing at the Vanderbilt Mansion, the Breaker’s; there is never be at a shortage of activities for the whole family to enjoy, learn, and grow from.

Quote

“I’ve been to Rhode Island a lot…Man, Rhode Island’s a good place. It’s a really good place.” Taylor Swift

Next On The Blog…

If you are road-tripping around the Northeast and want to head a bit more upward, check out my Montreal blog.

Map thanks to Wanderlog, a vacation planner app on iOS and Android