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Champlin's Seafood restaurant and fish market, in the Galilee section of Narragansett, RI (photo by Eric H.)

Ultimately, we give you perspectives and information on Rhode Island travel that can't be found anywhere else. Because we are paying travelers looking ourselves for the best in Rhode Island vacations, we pass along the best trip planning information to you -- as if we were planning our own Rhode Island vacation. Ultimately, we focus more on providing you "pure" New Hampshire travel information rather than marketing hype. Enjoy the travel essays and tips on things to do, en route to your Rhode Island vacation!

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Rhode Island is packed with oceanside fun and great city life   

by Eric H.

The Rhode Island South County coastline features some of the best beaches in New England, and serves as a terrific alternative to Cape Cod. In that area, you'll find some of New England's most charming towns, villages and neighborhoods, including, Watch Hill, Galilee, Wickford Village and Charlestown. From Gallilee, a ferry leads to Block Island, an instantly appealing island well preserved in nature. If you are inclined to pristine ocean amd beaches, rolling green fields and pastoral farms, abundant plant and wildlife, and a slower-paced lifestyle, then by all means plan a trip to what the Nature Conservancy has designated as "one of the 12 last great places in the Western Hemisphere." 

It's easy to see why. With the exception of a small downtown, Block Island's 21 square miles -12 miles south of Rhode Island's main land--provide a treasure chest of unspoiled terrains -- the perfect place for a New England summer vacation. Most people walk, ride bikes or drive motor scooters to trek around the island. What they will find is their own beach, their own forest, their own special place, their own discovery. Walking off the beaten path will surely lead you to nowhere. And nowhere is a beautiful place.

Newport is a wonderful Rhode Island vacation destination, famous for its grand mansions. The fun doesn't end there, however, as visitors will find a plethora of things to do, including downtown shopping, great beaches, The Tennis Hall of Fame, summer music festivals, the wide open Fort Adams State Park (great for kite flying), a wonderful oceanside cliff walk, countless bed and breakfasts, inn, hotels and motels, and some of the best seafood dining that New England has to offer. It's a colorful town with myriad tourist attractions, sure to please on every visit.

A few miles from Newport is Bristol, a quintessential New England town -- tree-lined and quaint with an incredible Patriotic nature (flags waving everywhere you turn). Surrounded by Mount Hope Bay to the east and Narragansett Bay to the south and west, Bristol is stunning from every perspective. Colt State Park is especially impressive with its sweeping views of the Narrangansett Bay and ideally located walking paths. The downtown features well maintained older homes and an understated but pleasing array of restaurants, shops and lodging. Bristol is also offers the oldest (and extremely popular) Fourth of July celebration in the country. Bristol is a perfect start to your Rhode Island and New England vacation.

Rhode Island has a great city, too, -- Providence. From the colorful Italian streets of Federal Hill to the elegant brownstone, Ivy League neighborhoods of Brown University, Providence feels like a complete city. There's the mile of colonial houses on Benefit Street juxtaposed against a rapidly growing skyline. Providence Place Mall, one of the biggest malls in New England shines its modern leanings against the architecturally old world aura of the State House. Providence also offers some of the best restaurants in New England (Al Forno, Pot Au Feu) and a plethora of high quality hotels and inns.

Providence Place Mall is hands-down the best shopping mall in New England. Although forever controversial and either loved or hated with no middleground, the Providence Place Mall has steadily gained respect with its three floors of 165 shops, elegant surroundings with plush rugs, colorful architecture, shiny walls, and a wonderful view of the Providence skyline, including the beloved waterfront.

Providence is a world class city for several blocks, with expansion of that greatness on the way.

We encourage you to "travel Rhode Island" through our library--at Visiting New England.com, native New Englanders bring you the best in New England vacations and travel information with detailed essays, reviews, tips and resources. We hope you enjoy browsing our Rhode Island travel library and hope to see you travel New England soon. Please feel free to e-mail us with any questions, or sign our guestbook.

RHODE ISLAND FEATURE TRAVEL ARTICLES, VACATION TIPS AND RESOURCES

Rhode Island Destinations - Great Towns and Cities

Rhode Island's best travel destinations

Hidden, less-traveled Rhode Island destinations

Visiting Newport, RI 

Unspoiled, rural Little Compton, RI, hasn't changed much at all.

Galilee in Narragansett R.I., is an authentic, live fishing village... with great beaches and seafood.

Providence, R.I., has quickly transformed into a "must-visit" Rhode Island city with its incredible mix of the old and new.

Bristol, RI: The All-American New England small town.

Block Island is for nature lovers only.

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Rhode Island Attractions (includes shopping)

Read our New England tourist attractions page for the best things to do in Rhode Island.

Gray's Ice Cream, Tiverton Four Corners, R.I.

A Fourth of July Celebration, Bristol RI Style!

Ann and Hope in Cumberland, R.I., finds an "outlet."

The Appeal of Phantom Farms Roadside Farm Stand in Cumberland, RI, is No Mystery

Travel Review and Photo of Brown and Hopkins Country Store, Chepachet, RI

A relaxing country drive to the Cumberland Reservoir, Cumberland, RI.

Travel photo essay of Ocean Drive in Newport, RI.

A peaceful walk along the Cliff Walk in Newport, RI

Travel photo essay of Astors' Beechwood Mansion, Newport, RI

The top 10 things to do in Providence, RI.

Del's Lemonade is the local (Rhode Island) lemonade stand that became famous.

The East Bay Bike Bath offers great biking along the Narragansett Bay

Colt State Park in Bristol, R.I.: The ultimate New England state park

Adams Farm in Cumberland, R.I., is a place where the sweet smell of fresh air and the postcard-perfect scenes of pumpkins, white fences and green land define the true meaning of pastoral beauty.

Your New England vacation planning would not be complete without a visit to the Providence Place Mall.

Consider watching a baseball game as part of your New England travel in the spring with a trip to the family-friendly McCoy Stadium, home of the minor league Pawtucket Red Sox.

When the weather is great, Easton's Beach in Newport, R.I. is a lot of fun. When the weather is bad, Easton's Beach is still a lot of fun.

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Rhode Island Dining

Famous Ma Glockner's "berched" chicken dinner returns to River Falls Restaurant and Lounge in Woosocket, RI.

Enjoying a delicious fried seafood platter at Evelyn's Seafood, Tiverton, R.I. (at the Thrifty New England Traveler Blog)

The Beef Barn in North Smithfield, R.I., lends rural charm and delicious roast beef to the Northern Rhode Island dining scene.

The Western Hotel, in tiny Burrillville, R.I., offers top notch comfort food and steaks in a historic setting.

Wright's Farm won't leave you in a fowl mood.

Seafood: Read about Champlin's and George's, both in Narragansett, RI, in our "Best Seafood in New England" dining page.

Read about the Modern Diner, in Pawtucket, RI, at our "Best New England Diners' article.

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Rhode Island Hotels

Find hundreds of Rhode Island Hotels at discount rates -- book online through VisitingNewEngland.com.

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Rhode Island Calendar

Check the New England calendar of events section for key Rhode Island events and news.

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Have a question about visiting Rhode Island? Ask the experts for all your Rhode Island trip planning needs!

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Rhode Island Travel Archives/Past Press Releases

Sample some of Rhode Island's top attractions.

New! Newport, R.I., is known for its historic mansions, recreation and music festivals.

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