Travel Rhode Island

Introduction

Welcome to Rhode Island! Whether you're visiting our state for the first time or coming home after a long absence, we hope that you'll be inspired by the beauty and creativity of our natural resources, our historic sites and museums, and our thriving arts community.

Clingstone House

The Clingstone House is a historic landmark that was built in 1877 by a wealthy New York City merchant named Edward Payson Weston. It’s an absolutely gorgeous example of English Victorian architecture, and you can visit it any day of the week for free!

The house sits on 10 acres of land at the end of a scenic road that connects Barrington with Bristol. The interior features four bedrooms with matching furniture, ornate molding throughout the house, and even an old-fashioned elevator (which unfortunately isn't operational). You can expect to see lots of antiques and period pieces throughout your tour: everything from antique clocks to hand-painted wallpaper. If you're interested in learning more about local history or just want somewhere quiet to sit down for awhile after visiting all these other attractions nearby, this would be my top choice for something relaxing but also beautiful.

Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum

Blithewold is a National Historic Landmark, and it's open to the public. The gardens are open daily from sunrise to sunset, and are free for anyone to visit. They're also open on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during the summer.

The main house at Blithewold was built by shipping magnate Henry Shipman in 1917. Built in an Arts & Crafts style of architecture, this sprawling mansion offers visitors a glimpse into what life was like at that time period—and even before—through its antique furniture collections, historical photographs and extensive library collection.

Lippitt Morgan Horse Farm

Lippitt Morgan Horse Farm is a historic farm located at 654 County Road in Middletown, Rhode Island. The Lippitt Morgan Horse Farm is a working farm that was founded by Charles Henry Lippitt in 1879. It is now owned and operated by Kim Cassidy, who also owns and operates the nearby Triple Crown Stables.

The first building on the property, which today houses its small public museum (open Wednesdays through Sundays), was built in 1789 as part of an iron forge that worked nearby cedar swamps for fuel. In 1812 it became part of Moses Brown's extensive textile mill complex but later reverted to family ownership until it was sold to Lippitt in 1896. For over 100 years thereafter he worked the land as an agriculturalist and breeder until he passed away at age 102; his son continued these activities until his own death at age 80 in 1958.[1] Today visitors can explore preserved buildings from various periods including an old schoolhouse where author Thomas Wolfe attended class as a child;[2] two barns that house about 50 horses;[3] several cow/calf pairs raised for beef production (they have their own personal pasture);[4] a small greenhouse where vegetables are grown year-round;[5] greenhouses where flowers are grown during spring through fall months (these include both annuals such as petunias or perennials like roses);[6][7][8]

Basilica of St. Mary of the Bay

The Basilica of St. Mary of the Bay was built in 1844 and is the oldest Catholic church in Rhode Island. The design was created by Patrick Keely, an Irish-American architect who trained at Trinity College in Dublin and worked on many churches throughout New England. The building's architectural style is Greek Revival, with a dome and portico typical of that style.

International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum

The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is located in Newport, RI and is open year-round. The museum is open from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and 11 AM to 5 PM on weekends in the summer.

For a small admission fee of $10 per person (children 12 and under are free), you can explore the museum's vast collection of tennis equipment and memorabilia. Highlights include an interactive exhibit where you test your skills against some of the world's greatest players, including Serena Williams; an exhibit detailing how technology has changed sports over time; a wall featuring digital images from every Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon in 1877; and a replica court where visitors can practice their serves or return volleys among other activities. And if that wasn't enough for you, there are also exhibitions about building tennis courts as well as videos explaining how tennis comes together with music—definitely worth checking out!

Old Colony & Newport Scenic Railroad

You can drive to the Old Colony & Newport Scenic Railroad, or you can take a ferry from New Bedford’s Whaling Museum. Either way, it takes about three hours to get there. Once on-site, visitors can go on a tour of the historic railroad itself or walk along its grounds and see some of the old buildings that are still standing. There are also many animals around like horses, pigs and goats!

The Old Colony & Newport Scenic Railroad offers multiple different types of tours: general admission; First Class luxury train car trips; first class dining cars; standard fare dining cars with second floor observation area; standard fare dining cars without an observation deck; and open-air gondolas with bench seating that hold up to 12 passengers each but no food service (just snacks) available during these rides.* The prices vary depending on what type of package you choose but generally range from $15-$40 per person for an individual ticket or anywhere between $20-$200 per person for groups larger than 2 people.*

Beavertail Lighthouse Museum and Park

If you've ever watched an episode of Friends, you're probably familiar with the lighthouse at Beavertail State Park. The actual lighthouse is located about a mile and a half from the mainland on Rhode Island's southernmost point. It's also just off of U.S. Route 1, making it easy to find if you're driving into Providence from Boston or New York City (the latter being only 45 minutes away).

The light was first lit in 1747, but wasn't fully automated until 1882 when the Coast Guard took over responsibility for its operation. In 1969, the original Fresnel lens was replaced by one that used electricity rather than oil as fuel; today both versions are on display at the museum next door to the lighthouse itself—as well as an exhibit dedicated to Samuel Colt's invention of his famous revolver there in 1847!

If you want some exercise along with your sightseeing experience, there are several trails around this area that will help get your heart rate up while taking in views across Narragansett Bay—or even over towards Newport!

The Breakers

The Breakers is one of the largest and most opulent mansions in the country, and it's also a National Historic Landmark. Located in Newport, Rhode Island, The Breakers was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II between 1895 and 1899 by Richard Morris Hunt (designer of New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art).

The house has 67 rooms spread over 22 acres of land. It has three floors with approximately 45 rooms on each floor plus servants quarters in the basement. The main entryway is decorated with marble statues depicting George Washington and Lafayette; there are also Italian mosaics depicting scenes from Roman history on either side of the entrance hall staircase. The Breakers also boasts a conservatory filled with tropical plants as well as an enormous indoor swimming pool that was once heated using hot water pipes underneath it!

The Breakers has been open to the public since 1950 so you can visit all year round if you want! Tours are offered daily at 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am & 1 pm but tours sell out quickly so make sure to book ahead online here .

First Baptist Church in America

The First Baptist Church in America is located at the corner of State and Benefit streets, right across from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). The church was founded by Roger Williams in 1638, making it the oldest continually operating Baptist church in America.

It's worth a visit if only to see how little has changed over 400 years. Visitors can tour a small museum that contains an exhibit on Roger Williams' life and work as well as artifacts from this period.

Slater Mill Historic Site

Slater Mill was built in 1793 and is one of the oldest operating mills in America. The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966, and today it's part of the Slater Mill Industrial Complex (which also includes nearby Slater Memorial Park). The mill was purchased by Moses Brown in 1810 and operated until 1929.

One of the most important parts of Rhode Island history happened here when workers walked off the job on January 10th, 1828, leading to what's known as "The Great Strike", or "Slater’s Strike". This successful labor movement led to many changes that affected worker rights throughout America.

Blackstone Valley Visitor Center

You can start your adventure in the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center. This visitor center has a large collection of exhibits and displays, so it’s a great place to learn about the history of Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley. The center also provides information on what you can see and do throughout the region, from hiking trails to historic sites.

Takeaway:

The takeaway from this article is that you can travel Rhode Island in one day. Not only will you see many different places in one day, but the variety of things to do that the state has to offer makes it an entertaining day trip for anyone looking for a short getaway.

Conclusion

We hope this list has inspired you to explore the rich history of Rhode Island. The state is home to many beautiful places and we think it’s important that you take time to experience them all!