Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it offers something exciting to do at every turn. The Ocean State is packed with activities for the young, old, and young at heart, solo travelers and families, leisure seekers and adventure lovers, and everyone in between. Don’t believe it? Here are some fun things to do in Rhode Island, from savoring the best lobster rolls to attending local-favorite festivals.
1. Watch the flames at WaterFire
Make your way to Providence, the state’s capital, for a spectacularly fiery scene. For more than two decades, the city has put on a pyrotechnic display — a “fire sculpture installation” called WaterFire. Every few weeks from April through November, the three rivers that flow through downtown Providence are illuminated with displays of fire on and off the water. The show is free, though donations are welcome, and sometimes accompanied by an art and food market. WaterFire is typically held on Saturday nights.
2. Check out the local talent at RISD Museum
The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence is renowned for its talented student body. At the RISD Museum, you can see their works and then some. The museum, founded in 1877, is home to about 100,000 works of art across media from ancient times all the way to modern masterpieces, including works by Picasso, Monet, and Andy Warhol.
3. Attend a Trinity Repertory Company performance
The Trinity Repertory Company puts on intimate performances of classics, new plays, and, around the holidays, “A Christmas Carol.” The nonprofit regional theater company’s performances take place at the Lederer Theater Center in Providence. Whether you catch a show at the venue’s 500- or 250-seat theater, you’ll never be more than 12 rows from the stage.
4. Explore the boutiques and galleries at Bowen’s Wharf
Hearkening back to pre-revolutionary Rhode Island, Bowen’s Wharf on the Newport waterfront is a charming blast from the past now brimming with boutiques and restaurants. With its brick pedestrian walkways and colorful shop fronts, the seaside square is picturesque and always lively, also partly because tourists flock here to board cruises from Bowen’s Wharf Marina.
5. Pedal the Blackstone River Bikeway
The state’s second-longest bike path, the Blackstone River Bikeway stretches 18.2 miles between Cumberland and Providence (the longest is the Washington Secondary Bike Path, extending for about 19 miles). The route provides cyclists with soothing wilderness scenery in the Blackstone Valley and is too beautiful to pass up, though pleasure pedalers might want to stick to the 11.6-mile off-road portion between Cumberland and Woonsocket.
6. Try the lobster roll at Monahan’s
Coming to Rhode Island and forgoing a seafood meal would be downright criminal. Stay on the right side of the law by paying a visit to Monahan’s and ordering its famed lobster roll, which comes loaded with meaty chunks lightly sautéed in drawn butter and secret seasoning. The beloved institution provides beautiful waterfront views from Narragansett’s State Pier No. 5, and it has a second location in Charlestown.
7. Tour the manicured masterpieces at Green Animals
In Newport, you might be inspired to cut your shrubs into fun shapes after visiting the Green Animals Topiary Garden. The green space overlooking Narragansett Bay boasts some 80 topiary masterpieces, all depicting different animals. Visitors are welcome to pack a picnic and eat beside their favorite creature. Between May and October, floral displays make the grounds explode with color.
8. See North America’s largest collection of frescoes.
St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center in Woonsocket used to be a Catholic church but is no longer affiliated with any religion. Now, it’s all about celebrating and preserving the Romanesque building’s artistic, architectural, and historical splendor. The cultural center claims to contain the largest collection of fresco paintings in North America, all created by Guido Nincheri of Italy. It also has more than 40 stained-glass windows to admire.
9. Ride a Venetian gondola on the Providence River
Never mind that it’s a teeny bit touristy, cruising the Providence River in a Venetian gondola driven by a gondolier clad in classic stripes and a straw hat is one of the best things to do in Rhode Island. La Gondola tours run for about 40 minutes and allow you to bring your own snacks and wine aboard.
10. Spot sea critters on the Middletown coast
Take a walk through Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown to see anything from harlequin ducks to salamanders to snapping turtles. The refuge’s 242 wild acres are a common stopover for migrating birds. On its plentiful trails, discover how many different species you can spot — maybe a saltmarsh sparrow or piping plover?
11. Take a spin on the “flying horses” carousel.
Go for a ride on America’s oldest continuously operated carousel in Watch Hill. The iconic “flying horses” have been a source of pure joy since the 1880s, and people of all ages still ride the nostalgic beachside attraction while trying their hand at the brass ring game. The merry-go-round runs seasonally and costs as little as $1 a ride.
12. Go tide pooling at Beavertail State Park
See more ocean creatures (of the small variety) by taking a walk along the tide pools at Beavertail State Park. Go it alone or alongside a park naturalist, who will happily point out all the different species calling these little ocean puddles home, from starfish and sea urchins to crabs and tiny snails.