Things to Do

Providence

With plenty of family fun, a critically acclaimed arts scene, a sophisticated nightlife, and world-class dining options, Providence, Rhode Island makes a great getaway.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do. With more than 430 acres, Roger Williams Park is comprised of waterways, walks, Botanical Center, a Carousel Village, Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, and the park's crown jewel, Roger Williams Park Zoo. In winter months, the Bank of America Skating Center offers ice skating in the heart of the city’s downtown.

History buffs will revel in the city’s rich and varied architecture, which ranges from Colonial to Modern, as well as landmarks such as the first Baptist Church in the United States.

With all that Providence has to offer, there’s only one thing to do – pack a suitcase!
www.GoProvidence.com

Rhode Island School of Design Museum
224 Benefit Street
Providence RI
401.454.6500

The development of the Rhode Island School of Design and its museum is tied to Rhode Island’s emergence after the Civil War as the most heavily industrialized state in the Union and to the growing desire for better design in manufacturing. With the region’s prosperity based on the production of silverware, jewelry, machine tools, steam engines, files, screws, and textiles, leading manufacturers as well as civic leaders felt the need for industrial-arts education and exposure to examples of fine art. Even before the war, the Rhode Island Art Association, chartered in 1854, determined “to establish in Providence a permanent Art Museum and Gallery of the Arts and Design.” In the absence of either state funding or private donations, however, the creation of a design school and art museum in Rhode Island did not occur until 1877. Faced with a choice between erecting a drinking fountain in Roger Williams Park or founding a school of design—the latter proposed by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf (1830-1895)—the Rhode Island Women’s Centennial Commission in that year voted to establish the Rhode Island School of Design by allocating to it the modest $1,675 remaining from its fund-raising for the Women’s Pavilion at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

John Brown House Museum
52 Power Street
Providence RI
401.273.7507

Open a Door to 1788 - One of America's grandest mansions when completed in 1788, the house at 52 Power Street was home first to John Brown, a businessman, patriot, politician, China Trade pioneer and slave trader who participated in the debates and practices that shaped the new nation and the world. However, this is more than an eighteenth century mansion. It was the home of John Brown's daughters and their families; the winter residence of the elegant Gammell family during the second half of the nineteenth century; the formidable mansion of Providence utility, real estate and trolley mogul, Marsden Perry in the early twentieth century. Today this magnificent and elegant building serves as a place in which the public can learn about these men and women who helped to create Rhode Island's capital city.

Summer walks: Benefit Street: A Mile of History
Contact: John Brown House Museum at 401-273-7507 ext. 62
11:00 AM-12:00 PM (John Brown House Museum - 52 Power St. Providence) (every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM)

Benefit Street. Do you like the feel of cobblestone streets and the sense that you are walking back through time? If so then perhaps the best free summer activity in Providence, RI for you is to be found by taking your own historic walk on Providence's Benefit Street. Located near Brown University and with a view of the city, Benefit St. stretches for almost a full mile and takes visitors back in time to colonial and federal times.

Providence Trolley Tours
Come spend a jolly hour aboard the Providence Trolley. Relax in climate controlled comfort and enjoy a historic and entertaining narrated tour of Rhode Island’s capitol city.

Federal Hill
Federal Hill is the "Heartbeat of Providence". From shopping to dining to nightlife Federal Hill has it all! Please use the links above and below to navigate around the site. You will find links to restaurants, shopping as well as our event schedule. Some of the Federal Hill Commerce Members have sample videos of their establishment so you can view what they have before you arrive!

Rhode Island State House
The General Assembly met in legislative session for the first time in this magnificent marble edifice on New Year's Day, January 1, 1901, a year after the building was completed. At one time in its long history, the Assembly met in five different locations throughout the state: Newport, Bristol, East Greenwich, Kingston and Providence.

Designed by the New York firm of McKim, Mead & White, the State House is sculpted from white Georgia marble and sits atop Smith Hill in downtown Providence. Construction took nine years to complete, beginning in 1895 and finishing in 1904. Legislators were quite taken with their new home, as can be evidenced in the 1899-1900 edition of the Legislative History and Souvenir of Rhode Island: "The feeble colony's first house was built of wood - and its next was a brick one. The wealthy little State moves into a marble palace at the beginning of the twentieth century."

Once you have seen the online tour, we encourage you to visit the State House in person. Educational tours are offered daily and can be scheduled by calling the Secretary of State's office at (401) 222-2357. We hope you enjoy your visit!

Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University
315 Harborside Boulevard
Providence, RI
401.598.2805

The Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University is the premier museum devoted to the preservation of the history of the culinary and hospitality industries.

Come and experience:
      A diner museum
      A stove museum
      A pantheon of chefs
      The New England Tavern
      Kitchen gadgets & appliances
      Presidential palate & state dinners
      Culinary showpieces

Roger Williams Park / Botanical Garden & Zoo
1000 Elmwood Avenue
Providence, RI
401.785.3510

Botanical Gardens

The Roger Williams Park Botanical Center opened in March 2007. Voted the “Best Urban Oasis” by the 2007 Editor’s Poll in Rhode Island Monthly magazine, it is the largest public indoor display gardens in New England encompassing approximately 12,000 square feet of indoor gardens. During a visit to the Botanical Center, relax by a waterfall, enjoy the wonderful fragrance of flowers from around the world, take a child on a scavenger hunt or bring a camera or sketch pad! Our displays change during the year so please come back to see something new!

RWP Zoo
The Zoo has been the recipient of several conservation awards from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), including the Bean Award, the North American Conservation Award and the International Conservation Award.

Roger Williams Park Zoo is home to approximately 130 species of rare and fascinating animals from around the world including elephants, giraffes, snow leopards, kangaroos, moon bears, gibbons and many others, all in naturalistic settings. Our nation’s third oldest zoo (opened in 1872), Roger Williams Park Zoo is also one of Rhode Island’s top tourist attractions, welcoming nearly 600,000 people annually from throughout New England and beyond.

Newport, RI

Home to spectacular coastal scenery, awe-inspiring architecture, a thriving waterfront downtown, and welcoming hospitality, Newport, Rhode Island is considered by many to be a shining gem in the coastal crown of New England. From weekend getaways spent touring the famed Gilded Age mansions that once were the summer playground for socialite families with names like Astor and Vanderbilt to an afternoon of wine tasting through Newport's three scenic vineyards, the options for interesting activities, distinctive stories, and enticing photo opportunities are countless! With all that Newport has to offer, there's only one thing to do - pack a suitcase!
www.GoNewport.com

The Mansions
Welcome to the Newport Mansions in scenic Newport, Rhode Island. We are The Preservation Society of Newport County, a private non-profit institution dedicated to historic preservation. We invite you to come and explore our eleven properties, representing more than 250 years of social and architectural history in the city that was America's First Resort.

Fort Adams State Park
1 Lincoln Drive
Newport, RI
401-841-0707

Make history come alive for every member of your family. Just a short drive or a water taxi ride across Newport Harbor stands the largest coastal fortification in the United States. Visit this engineering and architectural masterpiece to see where the soldiers lived, enter the casemates, explore the tunnel system, and climb the bastions for breathtaking views. Consider renting the Fort with its 6-acre parade field or North lawn on the water for your special function. Watch for our upcoming special events including military reenactments, music festivals, and classic vehicle shows. From 1824 to 1950 Fort Adams housed generations of our soldiers; today it still stands ready for your enjoyment.

International Tennis Hall of Fame
194 Bellevue Avenue
Newport, Rhode Island
401-849-3990 / toll-free: 800-457-1144

The Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino, site of the first U.S. National Championships in 1881, was founded by tennis innovator James Van Alen in 1954 as "a shrine to the ideals of the game." The Tennis Hall of Fame was officially sanctioned by the United States Tennis Association in 1954 and was recognized by the International Tennis Federation in 1986. Over the last ten years, the Hall of Fame complex and Museum have been restored to their original splendor with the 1997 completion of a five year, $7.5 million renovation and endowment project. Built in 1880 by the firm of McKim, Mead and White, the Museum's galleries chronicle the rich history of tennis through interactive exhibits, dynamic videos, and popular memorabilia from historic champions and the superstars of today. Dramatically set in the original club rooms of the Casino, visitors of all ages delight in Stanford White's architectural detail as well as the state-of-the-art gallery experience. In Enshrinee hall, plaques commemorate the great players, coaches, administrators and writers that have been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Classic Cruises of Newport
2 Bowens Ferry Landing
(adjacent to the Newport Harbor Hotel)
PO Box 3316
Newport, Rhode Island
401.849.3575


The Newport Cruise Company's Majestic is Newport's premier luxury yacht for charter. The first class amenities of the Majestic combined with the unsurpassed beauty of Rhode Island's Newport Harbor & Narragansett Bay make for an unforgettable experience on the bay. A variety of cruise offerings are available including our one hour narrated harbor tours, luncheon cruises and our elegant dinner cruises. Of course, the Majestic is the ideal venue for corporate events, office parties and meetings or social events for groups up to 120 people. The staff and crew of the Newport Cruise Company are delighted to welcome you aboard the beautiful Majestic.

Classic Cruises of Newport is the local favorite for sailing tours and harbor cruises. Enjoy breathtaking sailing offering spectacular views of Newport Harbor, Narragansett Bay and the excitement of the Sailing Capital of America.

Sakonnet Vineyards
West Main Rd
Little Compton, RI
1 800.91.WINES

Sakonnet Vineyards, in Little Compton, Rhode Island was founded in 1975 on the well-researched premise that the microclimate and soil conditions found along the Southeastern New England coast closely resemble some of the great wine regions of the world, particularly, the maritime climates of northern France. At present, fifty acres are planted with many Vinifera varietals including Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Franc as well as Vidal Blanc one of the French-American hybrids. Wine production has climbed to over 30,000 cases annually with many wines receiving awards in domestic and international competitions.

Newport Vineyards
909 E. Main Rd (RT 138)
Middletown, RI
401.848.5161

Newport Vineyards was originally planted in 1977 on a hill overlooking Rhode Island Sound with the goal of producing fine wines and as a way of preserving beautiful agricultural land from rapid development. Aquidneck Island is blessed with one of the most desirable farming areas in the country, if not the world. This extraordinary micro-climate is created by a combination of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream to the south and the moderating effects of Narragansett Bay. These conditions provide a long, cool growing season ideal for developing complex flavors in wine.

Since the original vineyard plantings in the 1970s, Newport Vineyards, under the ownership of John and Paul Nunes, has grown to 60 vineyard acres. Below is timeline of significant events in the history of Newport Vineyards.

Greenvale Vineyards
582 Wapping Rd.
Portsmouth RI
401.847.3777


Greenvale’s mission is to maintain the beautiful historic farm by making world class wines and selling the wines from the restored stable turned Tasting Room as well as locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. We focus on conservation of open space, preservation of beautiful buildings and provide both recreation and education to our visitors.

Cortlandt Parker, the farm’s fourth generation, and his wife Nancy Parker started to grow grapes here as a hobby in the 1960’s. In the early 80’s, the Parker’s realized the pressure that farm land would experience on beautiful Aquidneck Island and decided to embark on the development of a commercial Vineyard to develop a viable farming operation. Greenvale started its grape growing operation as growers for Sakonnet Vineyards across the river in Little Compton. In the early 90’s, the Parker’s with the assistance of their daughter Nancy Parker Wilson and her husband William Wilson embarked on the development of Greenvale’s own wine. A consultant that they had hired from the North Fork of Rhode Island believed that their fruit was too good and should make a wine under its own Greenvale label.

In 2000, under the leadership of son in law William Wilson, a Boston architect, Greenvale restored the Stable which allowed Greenvale to be open for tours and tastings and to develop a popular music series. Other special events include the annual Restoration Celebration to honor the restoration of the beautiful stable and a Harvest Festival in November.

Greenvale Vineyards is open for Vineyard Tours and Wine Tastings from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Bristol, RI

It will not take you long to realize what makes Bristol such an extraordinary community. Our eclectic shops and delectable restaurants, water views from almost everywhere, parks and recreation areas with open space to enjoy, museums and a rich history are just a few examples of the treasures that you can find here in Bristol.

Bristol is known as the most patriotic town in America and with good reason. Host to the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration in the nation, Bristol has celebrated its independence since 1785 with a parade that rivals any other. The parade route is lined with historic homes that are meticulously kept and our flag waves proudly everywhere one looks. Main Street is adorned year round with a red, white and blue center stripe, a testament to the place that patriotism holds in our hearts.

With www.discoverbristol.com you will be able to plan that perfect trip or family outing.

Museums

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road, Bristol, RI
401.253.2707

Originally the summer home of Pennsylvania coal baron, Augustus Van Wickle, the property includes a 45-room mansion and 33 acres of landscaped grounds and gardens. Blithewold is a true Arboretum consisting of over 300 different tree species and more than 2,500 herbaceous plants. The 17th century English manor style mansion contains original furnishings and artwork. Blithewold is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds and gardens are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily year-round with admission. The mansion is open to tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, April 14 through Columbus Day. Blithewold is also open during the month of December. Call for a holiday schedule. Admission for the mansion and gardens: Adults $10, Seniors $8, no charge for children 16 and under or members.

Herreshoff Marine Museum and America's Cup Hall of Fame
1 Burnside Street
Bristol, RI
401.253.5000

Bristol's reign as the yacht-building capital of the world is recalled with displays of 60 historic yachts, steam engines, fittings, photographs and memorabilia of the unique accomplishments of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Co. The Herreshoffs were designers and builders of seven successful America's Cup defenders between 1893 and 1934, as well as the first torpedo boats for the U.S. Navy. The Nathanael G. Herreshoff Model Room contains three generations of Herreshoff design half-models. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 31 to October 31. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $2 for students; children under 12 and members are free. Call for group reservations.

Coggeshall Farm Museum
1 Colt Dr. Bristol, RI
401.253.9063

Coggeshall Farm Museum is a living historical farm set on 48 acres that have been cultivated by Europeans since the late 17th century, and probably for generations before that by the Pokanoket. The Museum's c. 1790 farmhouse overlooks a salt marsh toward the north of Poppasquash point. Near to the farmhouse are a kitchen garden, pastures, a stone spring house and animal barns. Sheep, chickens and farm cats roam the grounds, while oxen, donkeys and a horse graze in the fields. The farm's garden hosts a variety of early fruits and vegetables surrounded by an abundant border of herbs. Antique and reproduction tools - axes, saws, scythes are regularly in use around the farm.

Boating

Bristol is a great place to enjoy the ocean and the bay. Whether you are taking a cruise around the bay on the Bayqueen or renting a kayak, a wonderful day on the water will be had by all. Bristol Harbor Inn, Northwind Sports and Ocean State Adventures offer kayak rentals at great prices.

Northwind Sports is located on Thames Street Landing, just a few steps from down town. Besides kayak rentals they also offer bike rentals and tons of equipment to purchase. You can visit them online at www.northwindsports.com or call 401.254.4295.

Bristol Harbor Inn located at 259 Thames Street, offers kayak and bicycle rentals. Lessons are also available. You can visit them online at www.bristolharborinn.com or call 401-254-1444.

Ocean State Adventures is located at 99 Poppasquash Rd in Bristol which is just a short drive from downtown. They offer kayak rentals and lessons so even the beginner can enjoy a wonderful day on the bay. You can visit them online at http://oceanstateadventures.com/index.htm or call them at 401.254.4000.

Deep Sea Fishing / Whale Watches

Seven B’s V
Frances Fleet
BIGBOY II Sport Fishing Charters
Sara Star
Flaherty Charters

Golf

GolfLink's list of the Best Rhode Island Golf Courses details the top public and private golf courses in the state of Rhode Island. Although similar lists are often produced by various golf publications, those magazines tend to rate golf courses based solely on the subjective views and limited experience of a handful of their editors. The GolfLink list is calculated from a more objective range of factors, including the preferences of up to a million or more visitors to our site every month. This makes our Best Rhode Island Golf Courses list the definitive online guide to the top Rhode Island golf courses.

Beaver River Golf Club
Carnegie Abbey Club
East Greenwich Golf & Country
Exeter Country Club
Fenner Hill Golf Club
Jamestown Golf Course
Kirkbrae Country Club
Newport Country Club
Newport National Golf Club
Richmond Country Club
Triggs Memorial Golf Course
Wannamoisett Country Club
Quidnessett Country Club