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Rhode Island > State > Things to Do and See > Attractions

Attractions - RI Statewilde

Rhode Island never comes up short for attractions. The largest assortment of historic places and landmarks in the country is here, as are nationally celebrated restaurants, seaside towns and resorts. In 2014, Providence was named the #1 City in the U.S. in Travel + Leisure’s Favorite Cities poll for its hotels, food and culture. Discover spectacular beaches, farms and vineyards, nature preserves, and beautiful gardens. Take a riverboat tour on the very river – the Blackstone -- that spun the first mill into operation in the U.S., and stop in at the America’s Cup Hall of Fame in Newport, RI.

WaterFire in downtown Providence, RI - Photo Credit Barnaby Evans
Go Providence Waterfire
Go Providence

1 Sabin Street Providence, RI, 02903 Phone: 401-751-1177

Providence - The Creative Capital

Providence, RI is known for its vibrant culinary, and arts and culture scenes. The RISD Museum is home to nearly 100,000 works of art ranging from the ancient to the avant-garde. Theater lovers will want to see a show at the beautifully gilded Providence Performing Arts Center or at the Tony Award-winning Trinity Rep. One of the city's most popular events, WaterFire, is a multisensory art installation highlighted by a series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence. You can even glide along the rivers in an authentic Venetian gondola. Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village has delighted generations of visitors, and The BankNewport City Center boasts ice skating in the heart of downtown. For more things to do in Providence, RI, visit GoProvidence.com.
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People in Vines - Newport Vineyards - Middletown, RI - Photo Credit Annabelle Henderson Photography
Newport Vineyards

909 East Main Road (Route 138) Middletown, RI, 02842 Phone: 401-848-5161

Food, wine, brews, fun: It’s easy to see whyvineyard is a major beverage and culinary destination

Newport Vineyards, set on over 100 acres of preserved farmland just minutes out of Newport, RI, is proud to be one of the region’s major beverage and culinary destinations. Spend an afternoon or evening enjoying its award-winning wine, fresh craft beer from Taproot Brewing Company’s on-site brewery, and a true farm-to-table dining experience sure to delight the foodie within everyone. Relax on the patio, in an Adirondack chair by the vines or indoors in the brewery space or in The Overlook, with views of the winemaking area and vineyard. Sign up for a winery tour with tastings, and check the website for special food, entertainment and event offerings, like the Spring Festival with wine and beer tastings, live music, grape stomping and pie-eating contests. Tours offered on select days & times. Tour reservations recommended.
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Attractions
Rhode Island Red Food Tours

Tours offered in Providence & Newport Providence/Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-684-1110

Rhode Island Red Food Tours is one of the state’s most flavorful attractions. We offer visitors a chance to taste Rhode Island’s food culture while exploring its history and neighborhoods.

Our guided walking tours highlight the culinary icons that define the Ocean State, from fresh seafood and local farms to unique drinks and regional specialties. Along the way, guests discover fascinating architecture, hidden alleys, and cultural landmarks. Whether exploring Providence’s creative capital vibe or Newport’s coastal charm, Rhode Island Red Food Tours combines sightseeing and eating into one unforgettable attraction that captures the heart of Rhode Island. Not to be missed!
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Close-up Traditional Ferry - Block Island Ferry - Narragansett, RI
Block Island Ferry

304 Great Island Road Narragansett, RI, 02882 Phone: 401-783-7996 Toll-Free: 866-783-7996

Sail away to an island adventure!

Sail away to an island adventure aboard the Block Island Ferry. Ferries leave from Newport or Narragansett, RI, and sail to Old Harbor on Block Island. Whether you’re going for the day or an extended vacation, you’ll find a full slate of fun things to do, from parasailing, kayaking, surfing, and paddle boarding to visiting an exotic-animal farm, hiking nature trails, going horseback riding and biking. Explore lighthouses, or just relax on a beautiful beach at sunset after a classic New England dinner. Ferries have full bars and beverage and food concessions, and leashed pets are allowed on open decks. Passengers may bring bikes and surfboards with a reservation, and discounts are available for seniors and for children. 
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Daffodils - Newport County Chamber of Commerce - Newport, RI
Discover Newport RI

35 Valley Road Middletown, RI, 02842 Phone: 401-847-1600

Newport County is steeped in history and beauty. The City on the Sea, in addition to the famous mansions, has the distinction of having more authentic colonial era structures than any other American city. The region, which also includes Jamestown, Portsmouth and Middletown, features beaches, vineyards, scores of great and interesting shops, an array of restaurants, luxury hotels and quaint inns and B&Bs. Beautiful parks and dramatic vistas are found along Ocean Drive. Also not to be missed are the Tennis Hall of Fame, Fort Adams, and Newport’s world famous folk, jazz, and classical music festivals. The Newport County Chamber of Commerce can provide you complete information and help in planning your visit.
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Holiday Lights Rainforest - Roger Williams Park Zoo - Providence, RI
Roger Williams Park Zoo

1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI, 02907 Phone: 401-785-3510

Amazing adventures await when you visit the animals, and go on the rides, at this zoo

There’s always an amazing adventure to be had at the Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village. Watch elephants swimming in a waterhole, journey to the Amazon rainforest, interact with the hyacinth macaws inside the free-flight aviary, or even feed a goat. And, located just a ¼ mile from the Zoo is Carousel Village. Start your visit with the iconic carousel itself – an indoor ride for both kids and adults. To complete your visit, don’t forget about the outdoor and fully accessible Hasbro™ Boundless Playground, which is open for full all year long! The Zoo also is home to an exhilarating zip ride and train excursion, as well as Hasbro™’s Our Big Backyard, and a nature play space.
Charles W. Greene Museum

Main Street Warren, RI, 02885 Phone: 401-245-7686

This museum houses the Charles R. Carr collection of pre-Columbian, Peruvian, and North American Indian artifacts including wampum and glass beads. Colonial fishing and farm also are featured. Open Wednesday from 2 pm to 4 pm and by appointment.
Crescent Park Carousel

Crescent Park, 700 Bullocks Point Avenue Riverside, RI, 02915 Phone: 401-435-7518

The Crescent Park Carousel, one of the finest surviving examples of hand-carved carousels in the country, was built just prior to 1900 by Charles I. D. Looff as a display model. Open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 7 pm. Easter weekend and Memorial Day weekend and from June through Labor Day. After Labor Day through Columbus Day, open Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8 pm. Wheelchair accessible.
Herreshoff Marine Museum and America's Cup Hall of Fame

1 Burnside Street Bristol, RI, 02809 Phone: 401-253-5000

The museum and hall of fame present the story of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and the America's Cup competition. From 1863 to 1945, the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company produced the world's finest yachts on the cutting edge of design and engineering. This Rhode Island museum's collection includes 60 original Herreshoff boats, steam engines, artifacts, and photographs from the Golden Age of Yachting.
Hours: April 26-November 2, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; other times of year by appointment.
Admission: Adults, $10; seniors over age 65, $8; military, $8, youth over age 10, $5.
Information: www.herreshoff.org/
Blackstone Valley Explorer Riverboat Tours

Departs from Central Fall landing, 45 Madeira Avenue Central Falls, RI Phone: 401-724-2200

The Blackstone Valley Explorer is a 40-passenger riverboat, the only one of its kind on the Blackstone River. Since 1993, when the boat cruises began, more than 25,000 passengers annually have come from local, national and global destinations to take 45 minute narrated tours along sections of the Blackstone River. Explore the river that was once called "America’s Hardest Working River" and discover the river’s ecosystem as you learn about the river’s industrialized past, the river’s restoration, and what we are doing to help the river live again. Public tours held on Sunday afternoons from early May to mid-October. Private charters also available by advance appointment.
Coggeshall Farm Museum

Off Route 114 Bristol, RI, 02809 Phone: 401-253-9062

This is a 35-acre colonial farm, established in 1750. This Rhode Island museum features rare breeds of livestock, a barn, cooling house, blacksmith, and springhouse, making it a great thing to do with kids for a family activity on vacation.
Hours: Year-round, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: Adults, $5; children, $3.
Information: www.coggeshallfarm.org.
Slater Memorial Park Carousel - Pawtucket, RI
Slater Memorial Park Carousel

Newport Avenue (Route 1A) Pawtucket, RI, 02861 Phone: 401-728-0500

The stately grounds of this park include an early carousel by Danish immigrant Charles I. D. Looff. The carousel boasts 42 horses, three dogs, and a lion, camel, and giraffe; they are some of the earliest examples of Looffs work.
Hours: The carousel is temporarily closed. Please call for updated information.
Fire Museum

Baker Street Warren, RI, 02885 Phone: 401-245-7600

This former fire barn on Baker Street once housed the Narragansett Steam Fire Co. Station #3 in the 1800s. Faithfully restored, it now houses the volunteer fire department’s museum and The Little Hero, the first fire engine purchased by the town in 1802. Open by appointment. Call the fire chief.