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For ‘Little Rhody’, small is certainly beautiful. It may be the USA’s smallest state but Rhode Island carries a lot of prestige as the onetime playground of New England’s aristocracy.
The name Rhode Island is something of a misnomer. Set around Narragansett Bay ‘the Ocean State’ has 400 miles of glorious coastline and includes 35 islands, but the state itself is not an island. Rhode Island’s enduring appeal has made it a millionaire’s playground, where America’s earlier aristocracy built their sumptuous summer mansions.
Tucked between Connecticut and Massachusetts, Rhode Island was the first of the original 13 American colonies to declare independence from British rule. Rhode Island has long been a seafaring state; a onetime haven for pirates, a hub for the slave trade and the birthplace of the U.S. Navy and since the early days of the republic its main cities of Newport and Providence were among America’s main ports.
At the head of Narragansett Bay, Providence is the state capital of Rhode Island and has heritage in abundance. In the East Side of town, Benefit Street is lined with 18th and 19th century buildings and is often referred to in the guidebooks as the ‘Mile of History’. While on Constitution Hill, the State Capitol dominates the skyline with the world’s biggest dome. Another of the city’s seven hills is Federal Hill, where a ‘Little Italy’ of restaurants, coffee shops and markets make it the place to eat in Providence.
Newport has long been a New England summer resort and as the starting point for countless America’s Cup races, Newport is synonymous with sailing. During the 19th century, the great and the good of American high society; the Vanderbilts, the Astors and the Morgans built their summer homes in Newport. These Gilded Age mansions are veritable treasure houses of paintings and antiques housed in sumptuous palaces like the Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, Marble House and the grandest of them all The Breakers, which are open to visitors. The Museum of Newport History illustrates the halcyon days of the town, while visitors can take a stroll along Newport’s Cliff Walk overlooking Rhode Island Sound. In summertime, Newport hosts a raft of festivals for jazz, folk and classical music fans.
While Newport, with its shops, eateries and hotels is a hub of tourist activity, Block Island, some 12 miles out from Narragansett Bay, is the place to get away from it all. Discovered by Dutch navigator Adriaen Block in 1614, Block Island is the least accessible of the state’s islands. Block Island is best explored by bicycle or on horseback and is perfect for cliff top walks along the famous Bluffs, picnics on the beach and home made ice-cream.
More history can be found in Wickford, a Colonial town that film buffs may recognise from the film, The Witches of Eastwick, while in nearby Sanderstown is the birthplace of Gilbert Stuart, the portrait artist whose painting of George Washington appears on the one-dollar bill
Rhode Island boasts a number of cultural attractions with excellent art museums in Providence and Warwick housing a wealth of works from ancient Greece to French Impressionist paintings. While for sports fans there is the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport.
Along with Newport’s music festivals, Rhode Island’s events include, the Newport Tall Ships festival at the end of June, the Waterfire lights along the rivers of Providence in summertime and the Pawtucket Arts festival in September.
Small but beautifully formed, Rhode Island is worth a visit anytime of year.
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