Rhode Island

Rhode Island is an unforgettable destination. This compact New England state boasts breath-taking beaches, rich history and attractions for all ages.

Rhode Island has long been “America’s First Resort”. In the 19th century, the wealthy trekked to Narragansett, Westerly and Newport for the cooling ocean breezes. Today, visitors flock to the magnificent mansions along the ocean in Newport. Nature and sports lovers can explore the Blackstone River by kayak, pedal the East Bay Bike Path, or golf at eighteen public courses. Ocean-lovers can relax on a sunset cruise, ferry to Block Island or just loll on a South County beach.

From Colonial clapboard homes and stately Federal period houses to the Gilded Age mansions, Rhode Island has one of the largest collections of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors will also find Rhode Island has an especially vibrant arts and culture scene, with more than fifty museums. And throughout the state, the music and dance scene and an innovative theater, keep things lively with events like WaterFire.

Shoppers can roam from the boutiques of Newport to the antiques of the East Bay and Blackstone Valley to the upscale Garden City Center and the capital city’s Providence Place Mall.

Winter brings Christmas in Newport. Spring means Daffodil Days in Bristol, traditional May Breakfasts all over the state and the opening of baseball season with the Pawtucket Red Sox. Summer brings outdoor music festivals, evening theater and the oldest Fourth of July parade in the nation. And autumn might just be the best time of all, when the leaves turn brilliant colors and the scent of apple cider fills the air.