Rhode Island attractions guide vacationers to the heart of this quirky state

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

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.

WaterFire-Providence-credit--Barnaby-Evans

Newport County Chamber of Commerce

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.

Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau

10 Memorial Boulevard Providence, RI, 02903 Phone: 401-456-0200

Providence - The Creative Capital

Providence 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. Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village has delighted generations of visitors and The Alex and Ani City Center boasts ice skating in the heart of downtown. For more things to do in Providence, visit GoProvidence.com.

Proclamation Ale

298 Kilvert Street Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-787-6450

Big beer from a small FUN state!

Believe it or not, breweries (also true of wineries) are becoming venues for socializing and entertainment well beyond the confines of just drinking or buying beer. Proclamation Ale welcomes guests to its large tasting room and retail area, where music is playing, a projector is streaming TV shows and movies, and food trucks (on weekends) stand by to match the flow of beer with its counterpart of tasty bites. Kids are allowed to come in if parents keep a close eye on them, and your dog may accompany you to the outdoor patio, too. It’s like a party zone, with onsite crafted beer!

Roger Williams Park Zoo

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

Spectacular Zoo Events Happening All Year Long

Roger Williams Park Zoo is home to more than 100 species of rare and fascinating animals from around the world. Open year round, the Zoo offers up close and personal animal encounters, new and exciting rides and attractions, year-round educational family programming, and a variety of special events. Don’t miss Zoobilee: Feast with the Beasts in late June, local favorite Brew at the Zoo in August, and the Zoo’s renowned 32-night Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular in October. For more information and a full calendar of events please visit rwpzoo.org.

Naval War College Museum

686 Cushing Road Newport, RI, 02841 Phone: 401-841-4052

Naval history from ancient to modern times focus of extensive museum collection

Explore the history of naval warfare and the naval heritage of Narragansett Bay when you visit the Naval War College Museum. The museum’s history begins with Founders Hall, the college’s original site. The stately building is now a National Historic Landmark. Inside, find priceless art, artifacts and documents that bring alive naval history and battles from ancient times to the present. Displays include naval uniforms, ship models and maps, relics from the Naval Torpedo Station and wars in which the Navy has played a critical role. U.S. citizens who want to visit must submit information for a background check seven days before arrival; 14 days for non-citizens.
Year round hours: Monday -Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed weekends & federal holidays. Reservations required in advance for those without base access.

Newport Vineyards

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

The best of Newport and an exceptional glass of wine

Newport Vineyards is the region’s premier agritourism destination and the largest grower of wine grapes in New England producing and bottling over 20,000 cases of estate-grown wine each year on 60 prime vineyard acres. Minutes from Newport and easily accessible from Providence, Boston and New York, you’ll find fine wine grown in an extraordinary micro climate on beautifully preserved agricultural land. There are daily tours and tastings, facilities for public and private events, a wine shop, and seasonal activities that will keep you coming back for music, comedy, clambakes and celebrations of every kind. With Brix Restaurant, The Vineyard Café, Marketplace, new Tasting Room and Tank Room, there is something for everyone at Newport Vineyards.

Central Rock Warwick

275 West Natick Road Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-889-5452

Get yourself and you kids up and moving, enjoy some (overdue?) exercise for yourself, and build family bonds with a day or afternoon at Central Rock Gym Warwick, an indoor rock climbing facility that welcomes everyone. Kick it free-style and just spend some time messing around on the walls with your kids, or get more serious by joining a coach-led weekly climbing team. The 20,000-square-foot facility offers space for adult or kid birthday parties. Try staffed climbing, when experts take you out on high wall ‘top rope’ climbing in any area of our facility. Create a family outing tradition!

Launch Trampoline Park

920 Bald Hill Road Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-828-5867

Launch Trampoline Park is a 26,000-square-foot indoor sports and family entertainment facility. With over 11,000 sq. feet of connected trampolines forming one GIANT jumping surface and angled trampoline walls to bounce off of, Launch will get your whole family off the couch and in the air in no time! Launch Trampoline Park is suitable for all ages and fitness levels. We offer guests a wide variety of physical activities including open jump time, group exercise classes, trampoline dodgeball, and foam pit fun! This makes us the perfect venue for your next date night, birthday party, family event, or corporate event.

Sekkonk Grand Prix Family Track Seekonk MA

Seekonk Grand Prix

1098 Fall River Avenue Seekonk, MA, 02771 Phone: 508-336-8307

A grand day out at the Grand Prix

Imagine that a friendly game on mini golf course and 60 of your favorite video games are just the appetizers. It’s go karts on specially designed state of the art tracks that make this place sing and dance. There’s the ¼ miles Family Track, the largest in New England that gets you humming through speedy straight-aways, hairpin curves, tunnels and new two-seater go-karts. There’s the slippery Slick Track to test your skills, a new Rookie Track for the youngest, and a Kiddy Track and Beginner Track got the growing youth. Bumper cars and boats in a gigantic pool will whet your appetites and your buddies. And who doesn’t love go karts. Check out the group rates and bring the gang.

Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth RI with VisitNewEngland.com

Green Animals Topiary Gardens

380 Cory's Lane off Route 114 Portsmouth, RI, 02871 Phone: 401-847-1000

Delightful property inhabited by giant animals carved from bushes. Fun for the young and young at heart. Open seasonally. See full description of Green Animals Topiary Gardens.

Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

101 Ferry Road / Route 114 Bristol, RI, 02809 Phone: 401-253-2707

The glorious mansion, built in the early 1900s for a wealth Chicago family, is in the English country manor style with Colonial Revival elements. House tours on the 45-room mansion demonstrate the lively activities and occupations of this home of independent-minded women (following the first generation). The lawns and gardens are spectacular, varying from season to season. Many special events for adults and children are hosted throughout the year.
See full description of Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum.

Roger Williams Park Botanical Center

1000 Elmwood Avenue Cranston, RI, 02907 Phone: 401-785-9450

Indoor conservatory is open year-round. Beautiful, seasonal plantings, waterfall, warm interlude in cold weather. See full description of Roger Williams Park Botanical Center.

Slater Memorial Park Carousel

Newport Avenue (Route 1A) Pawtucket, RI, 02861 Phone: 401-728-0500 Ext - 25

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: Open during warm weather: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Call ahead for changes in hours.
Admission: Rides are 25 cents.
Information: http://nationalcarousel.org/psp/Pawtucket

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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