Things to Do in Rhode Island

1. Cliff Walk

The Cliff Walk was designated a National Recreation Trail in 1975, the first in New England.

• Question: What is the Newport Cliff Walk known for?
  • Answer: This unique 3.5-mile walk combines the stunning natural beauty of the Newport shoreline with its premier architectural history in the National Historic District.
• Question: What can guests experience along the Cliff Walk?
  • Answer: Guests will be delighted by the geology, wildflowers, and birds while walking from smooth paved pathways to rugged and rough terrain along the shore.
• Question: What makes the terrain of the Cliff Walk unique?
  • Answer: One minute visitors will be passing through manicured lawns on private property, and the next they'll be scrambling across sandy boulders or staring into a 70-foot drop.
• Question: Why is the Cliff Walk a top attraction in Newport?
  • Answer: The stunning Cliff Walk views, coupled with the mixture of history and nature, make this a top attraction in Newport.

117 Memorial Boulevard, Newport, RI, Phone: 401-845-5300

2. Beavertail Lighthouse Museum

The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum is the third oldest lighthouse in North America, sitting on the southernmost point of Jamestown, Rhode Island.

• Question: What can visitors find at the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum?
  • Answer: This historic lighthouse boasts a museum with a collection of artifacts and informational material on the lighthouse itself, Narragansett Bay's maritime science, technology, and art pieces depicting the culture of the community.
• Question: What is the experience of climbing the lighthouse tower like?
  • Answer: Guests can climb the tower via 49 steps up a spiral staircase and a 7-foot ladder that opens onto the observation catwalk.
• Question: What can visitors see from the top of the lighthouse?
  • Answer: The reward for climbing the lighthouse is an epic view of the bay and skyline.
• Question: What additional amenities are available near the lighthouse?
  • Answer: There is a museum gift shop and open space at the adjacent Beavertail State Park.

PO Box 83, Jamestown, RI, Phone: 401-423-3270

3. RISD Museum

The RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) Museum is housed in five buildings on the historic East Side of Providence.

• Question: What is the mission of the RISD Museum?
  • Answer: They've created a space where culturally diverse designs and artwork from ancient times to the present are maintained, exhibited, and interpreted.
• Question: What can visitors find at the RISD Museum?
  • Answer: The RISD Museum houses nearly 100,000 art pieces covering seven departments, including Asian art, ancient art, contemporary art, costume and textiles, painting and sculpture, prints, drawings, and photographs, and decorative arts and design.
• Question: How can visitors enhance their experience at the RISD Museum?
  • Answer: Visitors can explore the galleries using their cell phones to tune in to the museum channel and listen to artists, designers, scholars, and students talking about exhibits and objects.

20 North Main Street, Providence, RI, Phone: 401-709-8402

4. The Elms

The Elms became a National Historic Landmark in 1996 after having been occupied from the late 1800s to the mid-1960s by the Berwind family.

• Question: Who designed The Elms, and what inspired its construction?
  • Answer: Used as a summer home, Mr. Berwind commissioned architect Horace Trumbauer to construct it, drawing inspiration from the mid-18th century French Chateau d'Asnieres.
• Question: When was The Elms completed, and who contributed to its interior designs?
  • Answer: The stately home The Elms was completed in 1901 and featured interior designs and furnishings by Paris designers Allard and Sons.
• Question: What notable collections does The Elms house?
  • Answer: It became the backdrop to Berwind's accumulation of 18th century oriental jades and French and Venetian paintings.
• Question: How can guests experience The Elms?
  • Answer: Guests can see this lovely home, artifact collections, and intricate Classic Revival gardens by joining one of the hourly Servant Life tours or audio tours.

367 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI, Phone: 401-847-1000

5. The Avenue Concept

The founders of The Avenue Concept in Providence, RI believe that art needs to be in public areas where it can be seen and enjoyed by lots of people. In helping to support the creation of public art works, The Avenue Concept brings people together, encouraging debate, discussion, and exchange of ideas among the local community.

6. The Breakers, Rhode Island

The Breakers is a National Historic Landmark comprised of a 70-room Italian Renaissance-style palazzo, stable, and carriage house.

• Question: What is the history behind The Breakers' construction?
  • Answer: Originally a premier summer cottage purchased by the esteemed Vanderbilt family in the late 19th century, a fire burned its wood-framed structure to the ground. This allowed for the construction of the grand estate, inspired by the Genoa palaces of the 16th century.
• Question: When was The Breakers opened to the public, and what can guests see there?
  • Answer: Open to the public since 1948, guests can tour the impressive The Breakers grounds, where one-of-a-kind sculptures by Karl Bitter and pristine architecture by Ogden Codman are eloquently featured.
• Question: What unique tours are offered at The Breakers?
  • Answer: Beneath the Breakers tours are offered every half hour, where guests learn about the rich history the Vanderbilts brought to steamships and railroads.

44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI, Phone: 401-847-1000

7. Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry

When traveling to Martha's Vineyard, there is no faster way to get there than with Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry, which travels between Quonset Point, RI, and Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard.

• Question: What makes Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry unique?
  • Answer: Known for being the most opulent fast ferry on the island, Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry is a great alternative to Cape Cod traffic.
• Question: What features does the Ava Pearl fast ferry offer?
  • Answer: The new Ava Pearl fast ferry allows guests to relax in the business class-designed interior, featuring plush Beurteaux seating and flat-screen satellite televisions.
• Question: How is the ride quality on the Ava Pearl fast ferry?
  • Answer: The ferry's high-tech ride control system is world class, allowing for a smooth ride.
• Question: What seating options are available for riders?
  • Answer: Riders can choose to cross in the upscale air-conditioned interior or on the beautiful sundeck.

1347 Roger Williams Way, North Kingstown, RI, Phone: 401-295-4040

8. Providence Performing Arts Center

The Providence Performing Arts Center is a world-class venue in the heart of the arts and entertainment district of Providence, Rhode Island.

• Question: What is the history of the Providence Performing Arts Center?
  • Answer: Open since 1928 under the name Loew's State Movie Palace, Providence Performing Arts Center has long been considered the Jewel of Weybosset Street.
• Question: What makes the Providence Performing Arts Center notable?
  • Answer: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and voted one of the world's top venues by Pollstar, it is the second biggest theatre of its kind in New England, boasting a full roster of contemporary and theatrical performances annually.
• Question: What kind of productions can visitors expect at the Providence Performing Arts Center?
  • Answer: Visitors will love the many world-renowned productions throughout the year, such as The King and I produced by Rodgers & Hammerstein.

220 Weybosset Street, Providence, RI, Phone: 401-421-2787

9. Rough Point

Rough Point is the shoreline estate of Doris Duke - heiress, art collector, and philanthropist.

• Question: What can visitors expect to see inside the Rough Point estate?
  • Answer: The Rough Point estate remains exactly as she left it, with stunning French furniture, opulent European art on the walls, Flemish tapestries, and her collection of Chinese porcelains.
• Question: When does Rough Point open, and what can guests explore?
  • Answer: When its season opens in April each year, guests are welcomed on guided tours of the house and on self-guided exploration of the exquisite grounds and gardens.
• Question: What kind of exhibitions does Rough Point feature?
  • Answer: Exhibitions change annually, including the 2016 Waterscapes exhibition, prominently displaying Doris Duke's collection of Shangri La art pieces, and the 2017 Nature Tamed exhibition, visualized in garden, landscape, and estate collections.

680 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI, Phone: 401-847-8344

10. Fort Adams State Park

Fort Adams State Park is the biggest and most intricate complex coastal fortification in the nation, built between 1824 and 1874 in Newport, Rhode Island.

• Question: What was the historical significance of Fort Adams during World War II?
  • Answer: This fortress, surrounded by Narragansett Bay, was active during World War II; it was able to mount over 400 cannons and house just under 2,500 troops.
• Question: What can guests explore during a tour of Fort Adams?
  • Answer: Now inactive, guests are welcome to tour the grand facility on hour-long guided walks from the top of its massive walls to the depths of its underground tunnels.
• Question: What other activities are available at Fort Adams State Park?
  • Answer: Fort Adams State Park visitors can also experience a sunset walk around the perimeter of the state park. The 2.5-mile jaunt offers exemplary views.

90 Fort Adams Drive, Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI, Phone: 401-841-0707