
Tiny New England state Rhode Island packs a real punch for its size. One of the original 13 colonies, the area is ripe with historic landmarks and colonial architecture. Providence, at Narragansett Bay, is the capital city with a metro population exceeding 1.5 million. Ivy League Brown University was founded here in 1764; the renowned School of Design was established a little over a hundred years later. You will find a nice selection of Rhode Island hotels located in this urban area. Roger Williams Park is the site of a National Memorial dedicated to the peace-loving state founder.
Less than a half hour drive brings you to Colt State Park, near Bristol and directly on Narragansett Bay; this park offers fishing, boating, bridle trails and seasonal snowmobiling. Another 15 miles south and you arrive at Newport, popular for whale and seal watching sails, beaching and exploring a quaint, historic cobblestone town. Take a narrated cruise to see ten lighthouses and sail past the Bay Islands. Don’t forget the historic Newport Mansions which are open for tour as well.
Second largest city, Warwick, is just a dozen miles south of Providence. It is easy to see the entire state in a matter of days! NFL fans will be happy to know that the New England Patriots play in Foxborough, just 20 miles away. Enjoy the salty air as you drive along scenic Routes 1 and 1A; the beaches in Washington County in southern Rhode Island offer clear waters and sunny summer days. When visiting the Eastern Seaboard, be sure to spend a little time in Rhode Island, where you are sure to have big fun!