Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States, yet it has a lot to offer, from opulent 20th-century houses to isolated beaches and cultural institutions. Whether you desire a relaxing getaway or an urban adventure, Rhode Island is a memorable destination, and the following list of best things to do in Rhode Island will help you create your own favorite memory.
Block Island
Block Island is located around 10 miles south of the Rhode Island peninsula and less than 15 miles from Long Island, New York. This iconic New England island boasts gorgeous cliffs and lovely beaches, as well as a pair of lighthouses dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. Don’t miss the Mohegan Bluffs, 200-foot-tall clay cliffs with a 141-step wooden stairway that leads to a rocky beach.
Block Island is an hour’s boat voyage from the mainland (30 minutes by high-speed ferry) and has 17 miles of open beaches. It also serves as a nature sanctuary for migrating birds. Rental bikes are a fantastic method to travel the island, with a self-guided cycle tour lasting up to 15
Newport’s Cliff Walk and The Breakers
The Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile road with breathtaking views of the sea below, is free to the public, unlike the affluent Gilded Age homes it depicts. This Newport walkway has many access locations, and a map is provided online to help you navigate. Along the trail, you’ll traverse the grounds of several private mansions and discover items of interest such as the Forty Steps: As the name implies, it is around 40 stone steps to the lake below and was formerly a favorite meeting area for servants from the nearby estates around the turn of the century.
No matter how picturesque the Cliff Walk is, there is no alternative for a tour of one of the Gilded Age masterpieces with an
Stroll down Bellevue Avenue
Bellevue Avenue is a 2.5-mile section parallel to the Cliff Walk that some longstanding residents refer to as “The Avenue.” The street was home to many prominent inhabitants, including the Astors, Vanderbilts, Dukes, and other aristocracy who maintained summer residences (ironically dubbed “cottages”) in Newport.
Take a trip down this well-known stretch to get a fresh perspective on some of the Gilded Age homes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, including Rosecliff, which was used to shoot 1974’s “The Great Gatsby,” 1994’s “True Lies,” and 2008’s “27 Dresses.” You may also visit Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, and Marble House, which were all included in Julian Fellowes’ renowned series “The Gilded Age.”
International Tennis Hall of Fame: Newport
If you enjoy tennis, Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame showcases approximately 2,000 notable artifacts from 150 years of play. The museum closed to the public in 2024 to undergo a multimillion-dollar restoration and is set to reopen in May 2025. The museum will add new interactive displays to its already impressive collection, including a hologram of Roger Federer.
The Hall of Fame site is located on the grounds of the historic Newport Casino, which was founded in 1880 as a social club for the rich. It has a number of indoor courts as well as outdoor grass tennis courts that the public can reserve for an extra cost.
Roger Williams Park Zoo and Carousel Village
The Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, named for the state’s founder, is a top zoo in the United States. Of course, animals are the major attraction, with inventive exhibitions following explorer Marco Polo’s journey or emphasizing the importance of the Amazon Rainforest and how to help conserve it. Families will also enjoy unique activities such as “Explore and Soar” – a 115-foot zip line ride followed by a train ride on the Woodlands Explorer – and “Our Big Backyard,” an immersive natural play area.
The annual festivities include the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, a monthlong exhibition of brilliantly carved pumpkins, and the Holiday Lights Spectacular, when a winter paradise of more than 3.5 million glittering lights surrounds the zoo.
WaterFire Providence
WaterFire is built on a basic premise that produces a captivating creative experience. On certain evenings of the year, more than 80 braziers (small bonfires) are ignited atop the rivers in downtown Providence, producing a flaming show floating on water. Partial lightings, which normally focus on a smaller portion of the river, are just as amazing to see as the entire display. This amazing performance of the elements begins just after sunset and lasts until almost midnight. The demonstrations, which are free to the public, usually have specific themes and feature lovely music and live performers.