10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Rhode Island That You Shouldn't Miss

December 30, 2021 Cedrick Jardin

With the perfect combination of great seaside views, colorful local culture, and endless family activities, Rhode Island is a big vacation destination in a small package. Whether you are into art and culture, beautiful seaside sights, or great family-friendly activities, there is sure to be something for you in Rhode Island. If you're staying in Newport, try a breathtaking tour of the harbor in the Schooner Madeleine, or enjoy a bit of history at Fort Adams State Park. The Newport mansions are one of the most popular attractions around, and the nearby Cliff Walk is a great place for a hike. Narragansett is home to the lovely Narragansett Town Beach and Point Judith Lighthouse, and if you hop on the Block Island Ferry you are only a short trip away from Block Island, where you can enjoy the sights of the Mohegan Bluffs or party it up at Capt. Nick's Rock and Roll Bar. Take a drive up to Providence for some great shopping at Providence Place Mall and to visit the unforgettable Roger Williams Park Zoo.
Restaurants in Rhode Island

1. Mohegan Bluffs

Mohegan Trail, New Shoreham, Block Island, RI 02807 +1 800-383-2474 http://www.blockislandinfo.com/island-events/mohegan-bluffs
Excellent
81%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 718 reviews

Mohegan Bluffs

Two-hundred-foot cliffs with great views of the Atlantic.

Reviewed By stevendO6647JP

Beautiful! We got there at 10am only a few people there but right after that people kept constanlty coming (probably because the ferry arrives around this time which i believe is the first of the day). Honestly, even with more people its pretty big and its not crowded. Tip - keep walking right or even left to walk along shoreline and away from people. It is very rocky (small uneven rocks) so wear good shoes. As a billion other people said, there is alot of stairs but unless you have difficulty with normal stairs, this will be fine for you. Going up is of course more tiring but will only take a few minutes if you go at a slightly brisk pace. There are plenty of taxis from the ferry to take you there. I believe it was 16 or so around there bucks one way for 2 people and only takes like 5-10 minutes to get there. It is got friendly, the taxis are dog friendly and the ferry is dog friendly. **If you have a drone and want to fly it here such as a DJI drone you have to do special authorization before flying. I did not and could not fly it here due to airport nearby. Only place i could fly my drone was the northern part of the island where the other lighthouse is (there is southeast lighthouse by Mohegan bluffs) and they have a nice quiet beach area up this way too. Have fun!!

2. Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge Headquarters, 50 Bend Road, RI +1 401-364-9124 http://www.fws.gov/refuge/trustom_pond
Excellent
95%
Good
5%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 20 reviews

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge

Free refuge which has trails over fields and around salt marshes.

Reviewed By SusanD678 - Narragansett, United States

National wildlife refuge in coastal RI will not disappoint if you enjoy serenity and beauty. Lookout platforms available for close up views of wildlife. So nice seeing a deer enjoying his habitat. Sunset on Moonstone Beach indescribable ..

3. Napatree Point

Fort Road, Westerly, RI 02891 +1 401-348-2500 http://www.rifamiliesinnature.org/2015/08/18/napatree-point-conservation-area/
Excellent
80%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 144 reviews

Napatree Point

Watch Hill bird sanctuary.

Reviewed By Davidcarmytraveler - Coventry, United States

We came for Memorial Day and got there about 10:30. Thankfully it wasn’t very crowded. You pass the watch hill yacht club and walk over the dunes and drop down on to this beautiful beach. It goes way out into the water and has beach on both sides. There are great views of the watch hill light house and all the boats. It’s the only place we have been that you can play on the dunes. There isn’t much public parking so go early. 2 hours free on the street and 2 hours free in the shopping parking lot; or spend 20-30 dollars for all day in the paid lot. This is a must visit beach in RI, off season or now during covid is probably the best time to go.

4. The Stephen Hopkins House

15 Hopkins St Corner of Benefit & George Sts., Providence, RI 02903 +1 401-524-3012 [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/stephenhopkinshouse
Excellent
89%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 114 reviews

The Stephen Hopkins House

TEMPORARILY CLOSED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS Take a tour of the 1707 home of Declaration-signer Stephen Hopkins, his family and their slaves, eight rooms full of antiques, Hopkins heirlooms and 18th century atmosphere. Learn about Rhode Island's own Founding Father and his house, the city's oldest, moved twice but virtually unmodernized, where George Washington was a guest in 1776 & 1781. Relax in our parterre garden designed by Alden Hopkins of Williamsburg. We're on Benefit Street between the John Brown House and First Baptist Church, a block from the RISD Museum, the Providence Athenaeum, the Brown campus and spectacular WaterFire. Open all year, Wednesdays 11AM to 2PM, April though November, Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM, and year-round by appointment *** til 10 PM when it falls on FULL lightings of WaterFire (last tour at 9:30)*** Not 12/26th Tour highlights available in Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and soon French!

Reviewed By garygDC

This is a 1700s house with lots of history that has been well preserved with love and attention to detail. Some of the contents are original and some period pieces added for context. The former are carefully ID'd. We got an excellent tour from Dan, who permitted us to come into the middle of one, which he then completed for us. Chris also added additional color and commentary in the kitchen, where we dawdled and chatted about history and its relationship to current events (read between the lines). We learned a lot about local history and enjoyed the architecture and contents. Very well done. I would say a 'must see'.

5. Colt State Park

114 Hope St, Bristol, RI 02809-2048 +1 401-253-7482 http://riparks.com
Excellent
83%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 454 reviews

Colt State Park

Reviewed By SugaKows - Rhodes, Greece

This is an excellent spot for a family reunion, or just soaking up the sun and breeze. Right by the water, so no matter how hot it gets, you always get an ocean breeze, blowing off the water. Prices are really reasonable, and the spots are spacious and open. You also have Bristol Town Beach right next store. The park is a walkable park, and you have access to the East Bay Bike path.

6. Rhode Island State House

82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903-1105 +1 401-222-3983 [email protected] http://sos.ri.gov/publicinfo/tours/
Excellent
59%
Good
32%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 404 reviews

Rhode Island State House

This imposing marble building houses King Charles' 1663 charter of the Rhode Island colony.

Reviewed By Decaf7

Take the half hour free guided tour, worth your time. See the House and Senate chambers, the library, portraits of former governors, portrait of George Washington painted by our very own Gilbert Stuart and learn about the history of this beautiful building. Dome is a beautiful piece of architecture.

7. Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art

224 Benefit St, Providence, RI 02903-2711 +1 401-454-6500 http://risdmuseum.org/visit
Excellent
72%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 946 reviews

Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art

This innovative and internationally renowned museum showcases more than 80,000 works of art from Paul Revere's silver and caricatures of 18th century Europe, to French Impressionists and the avant-garde works of recent alumni. A 12th-century Japanese Buddha has its own room with benches for meditating.

Reviewed By margatemensch2016 - Coconut Creek, United States

Recently,I returned to Providence and the delighful RIsd Art Museum.I devoted my day to studying its quality European paintings and sculpture.I did not see everything in this art museum that has a broad range of Art.Old Master personal favorites were Spinello Aretino's"Saint Anthony Abbott Enthroned",Jacopo di Cione's"Taking of Saint Peter",Giusseppe Cesari's"Perseus and Andromeda".Aert de Gelder's"Esther and Mordecai",Francisco Collantes'"Hagar and Ishmael".Marinus Van Reymerswaele's"Money Changers",and Giovanni Pannini's"Colliseum".19th Century favorites were Jean Victor Bertin's"Tivoli",Edouard Manet's"Repose",Claude Monet's"Bassin At Argentieul"(awesome French Impressionism),Carolus Duran's"Portrait of Manet",and Edgard Degas'"La Savoissiene".I also savored the fine Gothic and Renaissance Period sculptural works that were on display such as Ivory Diptych from 13th Century France depicting Nativity and Crucifixion,and Tillman Riemenschneider's "Pieta",among others..Kudos to a fine art museum in historic Providence.

8. Cliff Walk

Newport, RI 02840-3659 401 849-8048 https://www.discovernewport.org/things-to-do/cliff-walk/
Excellent
71%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5,342 reviews

Cliff Walk

A scenic 3.5 mile walkway that borders the back lawn of The Breakers and many other Newport mansions.

Reviewed By Kirkpatd - Whitehead, United Kingdom

We parked at Easton beach (free) so you also get the benefit of the beach before you start the walk At this point the walk is pathed so very easy and on one side you get great views of the Atlantic Ocean and views back over the town. On the other side you get a view of the mansions and stately homes of the rich and famous About a mile into the walk the path becomes a little more challenging as you have to manoeuvre across rocks and uneven ground but this is not majorly difficult and you can pass with care. Make sure you have good soled shoes or trainers to give a bit more support The walk itself is about 3.5 miles and you end up at a small beach and from there you can get a trolley bus back into town if you don’t want to do the return leg Bring water, sun cream and a camera you won’t be disappointed

9. The Breakers

44 Ochre Point Ave, Newport, RI 02840-6906 +1 401-847-1000 [email protected] http://www.newportmansions.org/
Excellent
78%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5,904 reviews

The Breakers

The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad, which was a pivotal development in the industrial growth of the nation during the late 19th century. The Commodore's grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, became Chairman and President of the New York Central Railroad system in 1885, and purchased a wooden house called The Breakers in Newport during that same year. In 1893, he commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design a villa to replace the earlier wood-framed house which was destroyed by fire the previous year. Hunt directed an international team of craftsmen and artisans to create a 70 room Italian Renaissance- style palazzo inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin. Allard and Sons of Paris assisted Hunt with furnishings and fixtures, Austro-American sculptor Karl Bitter designed relief sculpture, and Boston architect Ogden Codman decorated the family quarters.

Reviewed By BackPacker84936

The Vanderbilt family were fabulously wealthy and this grand “summer” house is an incredible testament to their social status and power!! Beautiful art and architecture and rich in history- this is a must see!! Our tour guide was great and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! We will definitely visit again if we get the chance!!

10. Ocean Drive

Newport, RI http://www.oceandrivenewport.com
Excellent
77%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,924 reviews

Ocean Drive

The marked scenic route along the dramatic Atlantic shoreline that circles Newport.

Reviewed By 1973romabella - New York City, United States

It’s just a wonderful drive or you can stop and sun bathe , or just have a picnic , you can also fly a kite , lots of fun for the whole family

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