Rhode Island, TX Road Trips

The state's historic full name, as established by the Royal Charter granted by King Charles II in 1663, was "The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." However, due to the connotation of plantation with slavery, the official name of the state has been shortened to "Rhode Island" in 2020 after a referendum. Despite east coast urban sprawl, there is still both gently-developed oceanside territory and farmland here. The origin of the name (pronounced "road island") is debatable. It is either derived from the name Roode Eylandt given to it by Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, because of its red clay, or because Block Island reminded the Italian navigator Giovanni Verrazano of the Greek Island of Rhodes, and subsequent explorers became confused and renamed Aquidneck Island 'Rhode Island.' The state's population is just over a million, so even though it is the smallest state in the U.S., it is ranked 43rd in population and second in population density after New Jersey. Rhode Island is nicknamed "the Ocean State," and though many other states have more coastline, few are shaped more by the sea. Every Rhode Islander lives within a 30-minute drive of either the Atlantic Ocean or Narragansett Bay, New England's largest estuary, and the state's most densely populated areas are closer to the water. Fresh seafood can be found on restaurant menus throughout the state—calamari is the official state appetizer—and nearly all Rhode Islanders have a favorite beach; if you're around in the summer, ask a local for recommendations.

Bellevue Avenue Historic District, Newport. In the late-19th and early-20th centuries, some of America's wealthiest families built ostentatious summer homes along the Newport waterfront. Today seven of these jaw-dropping American palaces, winkingly known both then and now as "cottages," are National Historic Landmarks, and 11 are open to the public for tours. Bowen’s Wharf Christmas Tree Lighting in Newport. Bright Night Providence - Dec 31. Providence. Features hundreds of the best local sings, actors, dancers, acrobats, musicians, magicians and clowns. Bristol 4th of July Parade, Bristol The oldest Independence Day celebration in the country, the parade attracts marching bands from all across the nation. Be prepared for crowds; many parade goers camp out overnight to get the best views. International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino in Newport. Features the only professional tennis events played on grass in North America and the largest collection of tennis memorabilia in the world. Jamestown Penguin Plunge - Jan 1. Jamestown. Hundreds of tuxedo-clad swimmers take the frozen plunge into the water to raise money for charity. Beavertail Lighhouse Museum, Jamestown. This museum at the southern tip of Jamestown features a collection of information and artifacts about the third-oldest lighthouse in North America. The lighthouse has panoramic views of Narragansett Bay. Jamestown Museum, Jamestown. The Jamestown Historical Society's Museum on Narragansett Avenue was built in 1886 as the town's one-room schoolhouse. Open seasonally with changing displays.

Rhode Island is a small state offering a wide array of activities. The coast is one of the best kept secrets of the east. Rhode Island has a great deal of culture with Rhode Island School of Design and Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute. The region has a distinct dialect and you might need to have some words repeated or explained. There are four distinct seasons, with great variability in temperature. The Atlantic coast allows for many outdoor adventure activities such as spending time at the beach, chasing lighthouses and experiencing good food and music venues. Autumnfest Held every Columbus Day Weekend (October) in Woonsocket, this 5-mapleleaf festival in one of New England's "Little Canadas" attracts a varied crowd of locals and out-of-towners. Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre in Woonsocket. Renowned for its acoustics, intimacy, and decor, Stadium Theatre has been a center for performing arts since 1926. Though it stopped operating in the 1970s, a grassroots project and strong business support in the 1990s raised over 3 million dollars for restoration. It has been operating ever since. Newport Folk Festival - The first place where Bob Dylan played electric. Part of the Festival Network. Newport Jazz Festival - Held every August in Newport, this festival attracts some of the biggest names in jazz. Founded in 1954, it was the first outdoor music festival devoted to jazz and is now internationally known. Highly recommended for any music lover. Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence.

There are many different types of culinary venues available: from diners, to theme-based establishments, to the most formal dining. The College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University provide a steady stream of well-trained chefs to the area. Providence's Federal Hill district lives up to its heritage with some outstanding Italian restaurants, but there is great Italian cuisine throughout the state. If you happen to be in the area on St. Joseph's Day (March 19th), pop into an Italian bakery and join the locals eating zeppoli, a heavenly sort of cream puff. Unique Clam Cuisine can be found at "clam shacks" along RI's beaches, especially in South County. Chowder (sometimes pronounced and spelled "chowda," in deference to the local dialect), is much debated and always delicious. The three major varieties are: traditional white (made with cream), Manhattan red (made with tomatoes), and Rhode Island clear (unsullied by either cream or tomatoes). Add quahogs (stuffed clams or "stuffies"), clam cakes (fried dough with pieces of clam in it), and a summer beer to guarantee a perfect trip to the shore, no matter what the weather. Coffee milk is the official drink of RI and can be ordered in most local restaurants. It is sweet like chocolate milk and very nearly tastes like coffee. Del's Lemonade. A state-wide phenomenon; when coffee milk was named the state drink, a large and vocal minority complained that it should have been Del's.

Rhode Island is home to quite a few great bars, a few brewpubs, a couple of vineyards, and a growing number of breweries. Newport is the home of the Newport Storm brewery. Try the excellent local brew in many places across RI. Pawtucket has emerged as the state's brewing hub. Rhode Island law specifies that beer and wine are only sold at liquor stores, not supermarkets or convenience stores, but liquor stores are open on Sundays.

Theodore Francis Green State Airport (PVD IATA), Warwick (central Rhode Island). T.F. Green is serviced by many major US airlines, either non-stop or from a spoke. From Canada, Green offers service to Toronto Airport. It is a smaller, easy airport with many airline carrier options. It is the most convenient airport when spending time in Rhode Island. In Terminals C & E, all rental car companies have direct line telephone boards connecting to the local facility and their worldwide reservation centers. Each rental car company has complimentary shuttle buses that transport passengers to/from the terminal and the rental car facility. Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS IATA) is much larger and is generally used for international flights. Amtrak (From the south), ☏ +1-800-USA-RAIL (872-7245), has three Rhode Island train stations - Providence (PVD) (downtown), Kingston (KIN) (located in the town of South Kingstown, close to the University of Rhode Island and the beaches of Narragansett), and Westerly (WLY), (the westernmost town in Rhode Island, along the Connecticut border). Providence is also on Amtrak's Acela Express and Northeast Regional routes connecting Boston through the south and west to Washington and Virginia. The Acela train takes just under 3 hours to arrive at New York's Penn Station on the way to points further south. From Boston, it is more economical to take the MBTA commuter rail.

Although you can travel from the top to the bottom of the state in about an hour, car is probably the simplest mode of transportation since there is no elaborate public transportation system in the state other than bus lines. Rental cars are available Downcity in Providence, at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, and other places around the state. Local custom often overrules traditional driving right-of-way laws at intersections. Drive defensively, and be aware of the locals' casual disregard for turn signals, stop signs and red lights. Many state highways, especially in urban areas, are marked extremely poorly, and some are not marked at all. Because you're in New England, there's no real street grid to speak of. It is best to have a map or a GPS handy. Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA), +1 401-781-9400. Services 38 of RI's 39 cities and towns with a central hub in Providence at Kennedy Plaza. RIPTA operates public transit 7 days a week with a program called RIde specifically for senior citizens and the disabled. They provide 27 sites for Park n’ Ride service throughout the state and special seasonal routes to the southern beaches for $2. On an average day $2.00 will get you from one end of the state to the other, and if you need a transfer, it's $.50. RIPTA also runs a seasonal ferry from Providence to Newport (mid-May to mid-October), while a separate company, Block Island Ferry, runs ferries to Block Island.

RI is generally safe in most neighborhoods you would intentionally go to. The most dangerous part is probably driving, as the locals are prone to run red lights, shift lanes with no warning and turn out of parking lots with little regard to oncoming traffic. Locals are also known to run through stop signs. Many accidents are the results of not signaling properly when changing lanes and running through red lights and stop signs. Providence is relatively safe, but be careful while walking around the capital city at night. Areas in which to exercise caution, unless you know where you are going, are Camp Street on the East Side, South Providence, and the Olneyville section of Providence. Broad Street and Elmwood Avenue on the South Side of Providence are also areas in which to exercise caution. While swimming in the ocean, be careful of the undertow. Make sure you feel confident before you venture out.