Great Things to Do in RI
Great Things To Do - South Country Region RI
Scenic South County offers seaside lodging and unique shopping at a gourmet kitchenware outlet and a funky gift shop in the woods (The Fantastic Umbrella Factory). Hit the trails on horseback in a 14,000-acre state park. There’s a mobile paint party that will bring art and music to your home and a brew bus to transport you to small-batch and artisanal beer brewers. You’ll find pristine beaches and beach resorts, cozy harbors, lighthouses, the fishing fleet, and the Block Island Ferry and free classes will teach you the simple art of digging for clams. The last of the great Victorian Hotels is here complete with Five Diamond Lodging status by AAA.
Our picks
Providence, Newport & Westerly, RI
Featured listing: Save The Bay
Multiple Centers & Dock Locations, directions to Save The Bay 401-272-3540From seal tours to touch tanks, Save The Bay has lots of activities for explorers.
Start with this: seal tours! And if that’s not enough, the environmental nonprofit Save The Bay also offers lighthouse tours, nature cruises and the Hamilton Family Aquarium where you can meet sea stars, dogfish sharks and sea urchins. Lighthouse Tours are offered June through October, while Nature Cruises and Seal Tours take place October through April. The organization’s Bay Center in Providence, RI offers public, Bayside walking trails, a kayak launch and fishing platform, while the year-round Hamilton Family Aquarium in Newport, RI offers dozens of exhibits featuring local species.
Boat tours depart from Newport, Westerly, and Providence RI.
Narragansett, RI
Featured listing: Block Island Ferry
304 Great Island Road, directions to Block Island Ferry 401-783-7996Your island adventure is waiting for you when you book the Block Island Ferry
Sail off to an island adventure when you take the Block Island Ferry from Newport or Narragansett, RI [Point Judith] 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. Walk out to a lighthouse, or just relax on a beautiful beach at sunset after a classic New England dinner. In Point Judith, stroll the streets of charming Galilee. In Newport, RI, take a mansion tour, or go on the Cliff Walk. Ferries have full bars and beverage and food concessions, and leashed pets are allowed on open decks.
Watch Hill, RI
Ocean House Resort
1 Bluff Avenue, directions to Ocean House ResortWhen you stay at this oceanfront inn, you’ll need a list to decide among all the activities, attractions
When you arrive at the Ocean House, take the time to make a list: There are so many different things to do on and off the inn’s 13 gorgeous acres of oceanfront property. There’s the private white-sand beach, with cabana service and surfing and paddle-board lessons, the tournament-level croquet lawn, putting green and shuffleboard court. There are movies in the screening room, children’s day and evening programs, bikes to take out to explore Watch Hill Village’s shops and galleries, and a heated indoor saltwater lap pool. Go for a sail on a yacht, or just relax in your spacious room, suite or cottage. Nearby activities include a carousel, lighthouse museum, theaters, wineries, casinos and hiking trails. Ocean House was recently named to Forbes Magazine's list of "Most Luxurious Hotels & Spas", and is one of the top 100 hotels in the world among Travel + Leisure readers.
Visit our sister property, Weekapaug Inn.
Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn have once again earned Five-Star recognition from the esteemed Forbes Travel Guide for 2026, and have been voted among the top hotels in the Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards.
New London, CT
Block Island Express
2 Ferry Street, directions to Block Island ExpressThe Easy, Scenic Way to Reach Block Island
Start your Block Island adventure with the Block Island Express, where the ferry ride itself feels like part of the vacation. Departing from New London, CT or Orient Point, NY, the high-speed ferry offers a smooth 90-minute cruise across scenic waters. Relax in comfortable indoor seating or head to the open decks for panoramic views of sailboats, lighthouses, and the Long Island Sound. Onboard, the Cross Sound Deli serves up sandwiches, snacks, craft beers, and specialty cocktails, making it easy to unwind. For a great deal, try the Thursday Night Dinner Run from New London, with half-price fares and an early evening departure. Once on the island, spend your day biking, beach-hopping, kayaking, and dining under the stars.
RI
Glass Blowers Create Shop & Studio of Delicate Art
The Glass Station Studio and Gallery on Main Street in Wakefield is an art project for Eben Horton and Jennifer Nauck, and a shopping delight for you. The glass blowing workshop is attached to the gallery, allowing visitors to see the artists at work and even to try blowing glass for themselves. The gallery offers many glass objects, from small hostess gifts to large platters, vessels, and sculpture. In addition to the owner / artists, other glass and jewelry makers display their art here. This is a fun shopping experience. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays. 401-788-2500
RI
Peace on a Pristine Pond
A visit to Ninigret Pond off Route 1A in Charlestown is a unique experience on the water. The pond is shallow, brackish, and protected from the Atlantic by a narrow barrier beach. Kayakers skim the surface and dart among the grassy hillocks while clamdiggers stand in the shallow water beside their boats and rake for quahogs. Watch for kids hitch-hiking from one tiny island to another. And, if you have a kayak, bring it!
North Kingstown, RI
Re Antiques and Interiors Makes Browsing Easy
401-667-5996Re Antiques and Interiors at 7511 Post Road in North Kingstown loves the concept of “re-”in the sense of re-use, re-design, and renew. The collection of antiques found here is vast in scope and very, very interesting. The objects to browse and buy are curated by the shop owner, who knows how to invite antiques into a contemporary design setting that maintains relevance with current interior trends. Here’ s a nice feature: on the Re Antiques and Interiors, you can click on the dropdown ”Shop” and see many and very detailed photos of what is in the store. Check website for operating hours. Pictured here: a Black Forest carved box with Meershaum pipes. (On your trip here, don’t miss the chance to also visit the charming village of Wickford, just a bit further down Post Road).
Charlestown, RI
Summer Stargazing Nights From a Coastal RI Park
401-859-1450Stargazing Nights are happening each Friday at the Frosty Drew Observatory in beautiful Ninigret Park in Charlestown. If the weather allows, the observatory opens itsSky Theatre and telescopes for free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in the night skies. Expect to see nebulae, star clusters, binary stars, the moon, and possibly Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.