Rhode Island
Rhode Island is not an island, but its 400 miles (640 kilometers) of coastline have earned it the nickname of the Ocean State. Enjoy beaches and biking and learn about the nation’s past at numerous historical sites.
In the state capital of Providence, view the grand State House. Tour inside to see a replica of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell and an original portrait of George Washington. Look for the Governor Stephen Hopkins House, a 1707 building occupied by this 10-time governor and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Go to the 1891 Ladd Observatory, part of Brown University, to appreciate its striking architecture or observe the skies.
Visit the RISD Museum to browse its works from ancient Greek and Egyptian to modern contemporary art. It is affiliated with the renowned Rhode Island School of Design. For art of a different sort, explore the Culinary Arts Museum of Johnson and Wales University. Here you’ll find information about the heritage of cooking and the hospitality industry.
Just a 30-minute drive south, Newport is often called the sailing capital of the world. Charter a sail on an America’s Cup boat. See historic Gilded Age mansions, including the palatial Breakers, once the home of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Newport has museums for art, artillery, history and Irish history.
Enjoy a calm day on the beach and waterfront of Narragansett Bay with its breakwater protection. Listen to the pounding surf at other beaches on the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout the year at numerous seafood festivals, sample the fruit of the sea, the state’s famous oysters, from over 50 underwater farms.
You’ll find excellent restaurants and shopping across the state. Further inland, follow over 100 miles (160 kilometers) of bike and hiking trails.
Rhode Island was a colony for 40 years and the first to declare independence from the British in 1776. Although this is the smallest U.S. state, its name is the longest: The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Make a long visit to this small state.