 Rhode Island |
Rhode Island Travel Guide
In surface area, the smallest state of the union (1214 sq. miles) but featuring slightly higher up the population league table (just over 1 million). It sits on the Atlantic seaboard just north of New York.
It is not an island. The full name of the state is, The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the original 'Rhode Island' was the isle of Aquidneck, largest of the islands in Narragansett Bay. Over the years the 'Providence Plantations' bit has largely been dropped, although it still exists for formal use.
The State was 'founded' in 1636 by Roger Williams, a clergyman who had been driven from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for preaching religious freedom and tolerance. He started a settlement and named it Providence. The city is still there, grown to be State Capital and one of the largest cities in the New England region.
Founded on the strong principals laid down by Williams, Rhode Island was one of the first states to declare independence from Britain. The prosperity of the state was based on sea trade and the textiles industry. Forestry and agriculture also played their part but nowadays farming only covers 10% of the land area whilst the forests account for nearly 60%.
Tourism is a major contributor to wealth in the state; with its huge forests and sandy beaches it is a popular place with visitors from the large urban areas within relatively close reach.
When to Go
The sea and the huge state-bisecting Narragansett Bay mean the state has a maritime climate for the most part. Winters are mild but rain is never far away in the summer. All year round, the weather is changeable, spring may be brief or late or both, autumn may start early and Indian Summers can occur in November. Take a coat.
Where to Go and What to See
Newport
Playground of the very seriously wealthy, Newport has become a Mecca for the yachting set.
Initially it was a shipbuilding town but in the 18th and 19th century it became a tourist destination for the wealthy coming out from New York. Astors, Vanderbilts, Rothschilds, they all had a little place here somewhere. It has become very much a tourist town with some historic sites, a number of decent museums and bracing sea views. Most tourists come, however, to gape at the opulence of a bygone age.
Most spectacular of these tycoon-built 'holiday homes' is the Vanderbilt Mansion, 'The Breakers'. Built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, it was finished in 1895 and is a vast 70-room palace. The interior décor is fabulous, it is clear no expense was spared. Sadly, Vanderbilt died in 1899 at only 56.
Other mansions, all in a good state of repair, include Kingscote, The Elms and Belcourt Castle amongst others. Many are run by the Preservation Society of Newport and most are open to public gaze.
Elsewhere in Newport is the first synagogue in the US. Still used as a place of worship today, the Touro Synagogue was founded in 1763 by Jews who had fled persecution in Spain and Portugal.
The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is the oldest in the states still in use, housed in a fine dignified building it first saw use in 1750.
For a breath of fresh air, the Fort Adams State Park is nearby. The centrepiece is the fort itself, a huge place designed in the 1850's to house nearly 2,500 men. Inside the park is also the Museum of Yachting and the park regularly hosts special events including a number of world class music festivals. Also, for a stretch of the legs the 3.5 mile Cliff Walk offers great views of some of the mansions.
Newport: Eating Drinking and Sleeping
This is not a cheap place to stay and in the summer rooms are hard to come by. The big hotels provide a full range of amenities and occupy the best locations. The cheaper accommodation is more out of town and away from the seafront.
As a resort town Newport is most alive during the summer with several music festivals and the Boat Show amongst other events.
For dining out, again the pressure is on during the summer. Check first to see whether your restaurant of choice is a 'turn-up-and-queue' or a 'book-well-in- advance' kind of a place. Not all restaurants here will accept plastic so check before you get stuck with the washing up. Prices are not too high for dining out and the seafood is excellent.
Hit the Beach
There are two main elements driving the tourist trade in Rhode Island, one is the historic, the other is the beach.
From the eponymously named town on the edge of Narragansett Bay to Watch Hill on the state border with Connecticut stretch over 100 miles of unspoiled white sandy beach. The beaches are easily accessed from Highway 1 and offer beaches to suit all tastes. There are wildlife reserves, child friendly beaches and surf beaches, just take your pick.
The beaches on the margins of the Narragansett Bay are also worth a visit, they are more sheltered so don't expect as much by way of surf but they are clean and with good facilities.
Block Island
A quiet spot with uncluttered roads is transformed into a bustling tourist magnet in the height of the summer.
Block Island is a ferry ride 10 miles off the mainland and has long been a getaway location for vacationing New Englanders. A quarter of the island is a protected environment and much of the island hasn't changed in the last hundred years.
Principal pastimes for visitors include birdwatching, lolling about on the beach, exploring the island by bicycle, hiking and watersports.
Each year in June the island goes nuts when the 'Yachties' hit town. They come for Block Island Race Week, a series of round the island races.
Whether visiting the picturesque Old Harbour, going hiking in the Rodmans Hollow Natural Area or canoeing on the Great Salt Pond this is a great place to go to unwind. Pay the island a call in the off-season and you will find yourself away from the madding crowd.
Providence
With a population close to 175,000, this is by far the largest city in the state. Founded in 1636 on the high ideals of Roger Williams this is a place that retains an air of independence. Initially Providence was an agricultural town but in the 17th century, the seaport started to prosper. As it grew into a commercial centre in the 19th century, the textile industry took off as well. This prosperity subsequently faded as the mills closed, however, Providence has emerged from its hardships as a fine place to visit. This is largely thanks to a recently completed restoration project. A billion dollars has been spent on saving some great historical buildings for the nation.
Providence has a student population in the region of 20,000. These attend one of the cities three notable seats of learning; foremost of these is Brown, an Ivy League college. A visit to Brown will repay the time spent; some of the buildings date to 1770 only six years after Nicholas Brown founded it.
Providence is something of a Brown Town, Nicholas and his brothers were responsible for founding some of the institutions that have put the city on the map. There is the John Brown Mansion - now a museum, the Quaker School was Moses' work, whilst brother Joseph, the family architect, designed several of the cities most notable buildings.
Of the places to visit in Providence, John Brown Mansion and the university are two of the most popular but there is much more to recommend a stay here.
The architecture is stunning, to see this to its best effect take a stroll along the Benefit Street Mile of History. Apart from the Providence Athenaeum, one of the nations oldest libraries and the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design, there is the simple pleasure of seeing buildings that range from early colonial to Victorian, all in prime condition.
Elsewhere there is the Roger Williams Park and Zoo and the first indoor shopping 'mall' in the States at the impeccable 3 storey Victorian Arcade.
Providence: Eating, Drinking and Sleeping
One of the great things about Providence is the fact that both the School of Design and the Johnson and Wales Universities run superb culinary programmes. This has the knock on effect of filling the city eateries with keen, new chefs, eager to impress. The large number of students in the city also ensures that there are plenty of places to eat without breaking the bank. Equally, the students give a lively zest to the place as evidenced by the number of places you can go to catch a live band. There is a wide range of accommodation available as long as you dodge parents weekends and college graduation weekends.
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