OFFICIAL 2019 Rhode Island TRAVEL GUIDE TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Welcome 5 Rhode Island Regions 15 The Foodie 23 The Adventurer 29 The Artist 35 The Historian 41 The Ocean Lover 47 The Family 53 Seasons & Events 63 Tours 65 Where To Stay Providence, Rhode Island Fall in Love with Rhode Island — South County’s should be at the top of your list for Ocean House included in 12 Most Luxurious WELCOME summer getaways this year Valentine’s Day Hotel Packages Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but with more than 400 miles of Cook Your Catch at the Hotel Viking coastline and countless amenities, there’s Rhode Show: It may be the smallest state, but Makes the List of 5 Great Culinary always something new to explore. We’re best Rhode Island goes big on culinary traditions Adventures for Active Food Lovers known for our beautiful beaches, but I expect you’ll be just as enchanted by our exciting arts and cultural attractions and our vibrant culinary scene. Regardless of the length of Newport: An Affordable Winter Block Island’s Mohegan Bluffs and Mansion Beaches your stay, I trust you will find the Ocean State Wonderland in Rhode Island Among the Best Beaches in New England welcoming, accessible and accommodating. Thank you for visiting, and we hope to see you again soon. Providence named an Awesome Family Trip Charlestown Seafood Festival Made the List of the You’ll Actually Want to Take This Fall Top 2018 Summer Food and Wine Festivals Sincerely, Providence’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular A cache of restored colonial houses make Named One of the Best Halloween Parties, Newport a mecca for “heritage tourists” Gina M. Raimondo Parades and Festivals of 2018 Governor 1 VisitRhodeIsland.com 2 RHODE ISLAND ISN’T SMALL. It’s fun-sized. There might be some places that can claim beaches as gorgeous as ours. Or an equally buzzing restaurant and arts scene. Sure, we’re not the only place with fascinating history, family-friendly attractions or a brochure-load of things to do — inside and out. But there is nowhere that has all this so easily within reach — nothing more than an hour from anything else. In short, we are about as much state as a state can fit into a state. 3 VisitRhodeIsland.com 4 BLACKSTONE VALLEY Drink in the history. And local brews. With a mix of vibrant diversity and peaceful natural beauty, the region is dotted with old mill villages and new breweries. There are Rhode Island many family-owned farms where you can pick seasonal fruits in the aptly named Apple Slater Mill offers an inspiring exploration of its role as the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Valley. Whether you are interested in the history that shaped the nation or the good food REGIONS that will shape your evening, you’ll find it in Wait, Rhode Island has regions? Yup. Believe it or not, Blackstone Valley. despite our diminutive size, we have seven distinct regions. Each brings something unique to your vacation — from nature to nightlife, history to hiking Blackstone Valley and beaches to bouldering. Head to Lincoln Woods State Park for swimming, hiking, bouldering, and more. Take a tour and maybe a taste at any of our exceptional breweries, including The Guild (the largest American-made brew house in the country). 5 VisitRhodeIsland.com Mohegan Bluffs – Block Island Try your luck at Twin River Casino. Pedal more than 60 miles of bicycle trails. 6 BLOCK ISLAND BRISTOL COUNTY Lower your blood pressure Peaceful, Pristine & Patriotic — and with sand, salt and birds. other things that don’t start with “p.” Named one of the “12 Last Great Places in the If you were to describe the quintessential Western Hemisphere” by The Nature Conservancy, New England waterfront town, then you Block Island’s dramatic cliffs, unspoiled beaches could write this paragraph for us. Hundreds of and nature trails make it feel like it’s from another years of history have made the bay an integral era. About 45% of the island is preserved, making it Unspoiled white sand beaches beckon. part of life here: from the wildlife preserves Bristol’s Fourth of July parade is the country’s oldest continuous Independence Day celebration. a favorite stop for migratory birds. Humans seem to and parks, to bike paths and quaint seafood enjoy it, too! Shopping, dining and drinking in the restaurants, all sharing the lengthy waterfront. quaint island town of New Shoreham after a day of You'll find boutiques and historic homes lining swimming, biking or beaching is the perfect antidote the red, white and blue-striped streets. to whatever may be happening on the mainland. Block Island is a favorite of kayakers Coggeshall Farm immerses you in life and paddleboarders. on a 1790s tenant farm. Bristol County The stunning 14-mile East Bay Bike Path Lighthouses are majestic reminders of Block Island’s nautical history. hugs the shore from Providence to Bristol. Block Island The 45-room Blithewold Mansion is framed The Audubon Environmental Education Center Mohegan Bluffs drop 200 feet to beautiful by truly incredible gardens filled with rare plants 7 VisitRhodeIsland.com Shop, dine, and perfect your chill-out skills in Old Harbor. offers nature-focused programming year-round. 8 beaches and incredible views. and specimen trees. NEWPORT COUNTY PROVIDENCE The dream summer spot for the It’s like a trip to the big city. Vanderbilts, the Astors and the Only you can afford it. (your family name goes here). With the ease of a town and the sophistication of a It began as a colonial port, became the Gilded city, Providence is a revelation to anyone who has Age playground for the country’s wealthiest dealt with the congestion and cost of New York and families, and is now home to our state’s newest Boston. It’s got the same kind of buzzing arts scene, See how America’s wealthiest families summered at Newport mansions, like the Breakers. casino. It was recently named one of the “Top diverse neighborhoods, the iconic Brown University WaterFire is an epic experience that engages all the senses. Add it to your bucket list; it's that incredible. Destinations in the Nation” by Condé Nast and unique shopping — the only difference is you might Traveler. This coastal haven is so dense with actually be able to find a parking space. Named the great food, historic sites, boating, beaches and “Best City for Foodies,” it’s a beautiful, walkable city— sunsets that it just might break your Instagram. which is important because, as any seasoned traveler knows: the more you walk, the more you can eat… Start your engines and head over to the Newport Car Museum featuring a private collection of Walking tours (self-guided or with a group) are an enjoyable way to explore Providence. over 60 automobiles from 1950 to present day. Providence Play tennis on the legendary grass courts of the Live “la bella vita” among Federal Hill’s unique shops, International Tennis Hall of Fame. great restaurants, and piazza with its iconic fountain. Credit: Erin McGinn Credit: Newport County Touro Synagogue is America’s oldest Jewish The world-famous Cliff Walk: unspoiled coastline on one Roger Williams Park Zoo thrills and Providence is the perfect home base for 9 VisitRhodeIsland.com 10 house of worship, dedicated in 1763. side, breathtaking Gilded Age architecture on the other. educates children of all ages. your excursions on land or sea. SOUTH COUNTY WARWICK & WEST BAY More beaches than you have Somehow manages to be both in vacation time. the center and on the coast. It’s hard to believe that there are 100 miles of “Central” because it’s close to everything, coastline and 20 public beaches in our southern- home to the state’s international airport most region, but there are. We checked (tough (named the third-best in America), and loaded job, I know). Hike or bike through forests and with attractions, parks and shopping. “Coastal” Do stay a while, won’t you? Choose a luxurious triple-five-star resort like the Ocean House, a local inn or a cozy B&B. Gaspee Days is an annual celebration of Rhode Island’s first strike for nature preserves. Kayak, canoe, or paddleboard because its location on the western side of independence, one year before the Boston Tea Party. along inland waterways. Savor coastal cuisine, Narragansett Bay gives it the beaches, boats and tour a craft brewery or distillery. Ride a John Woodmansee Credit: and beauty you sensibly assumed the Ocean surfboard at Narragansett Beach or a helicopter State would have. along the coastline. There is so much to do that, if you’re bored, it’s because you choose to be. Someone once said, “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” We beg to differ. Sample craft beer at Apponaug Brewery. Warwick & West Bay With 20 public beaches to choose from, C & L Stables will take you on a horseback riding tour along the you have plenty of places to explore. shoreline of beautiful Goddard Memorial State Park. South County If you like local history, you’ll love our 16 museums, Our nature preserves are great for biking, hiking, The region’s farms offer corn mazes and other seasonal Rocky Point State Park sits on 120 acres, with fishing access, 11 VisitRhodeIsland.com including the Gilbert Stuart Museum. bird-watching, or just standing still and breathing. activities (not to mention fresh local produce). a paved walking path and over 150 years of history. ENOUGH ABOUT US. WHO ARE YOU? You are unique and there's no one else quite like you on Earth.