7 Of The Most Eccentric Towns In Rhode Island

At 37 miles wide and 48 miles long, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country. But don’t let its tiny size fool you; this state may be small in stature, but it is big on personality. A lot of whimsy and wonder is packed into these eccentric small towns! For example, travelers can stand by the grave of New England’s last vampire, enter a woodsman/woodswomen contest, meet a topiary giraffe, or take part in an island scavenger hunt. Rhode Island should be at the top of your list if you’re looking for a vacation that’s a little out of the ordinary— see a new side of New England in these eclectic destinations!

Charlestown

Charlestown is a charming coastal community with a quirky sense of humor. One of the town’s most popular attractions is the Fantastic Umbrella Factory, a whimsical collection of gift shops on an old farm homestead from the 1800s. The complex includes a department-store style curiosity shop selling crafts, clothing, musical instruments, and handcrafted collectibles. Also on site is a flower garden, a candy store, a novelty toy store, and George, the resident emu.

Charlestown is known for its wide sandy beaches, but sometimes the best scenery is right overhead. The Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center has ‘the best stargazing in New England’ according to Yankee magazine and is open year-round on Friday nights. See the Milky Way, Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, and more from the Observatory telescopes.

If you’re visiting Charlestown at the end of summer, look out for its annual Rhythm & Roots music festival. Held on Labour Day weekend, the event is three days of camping and music in Charlestown’s scenic Ninigret Park. Musical acts span various genres from Cajun to blues and country to bluegrass.

Foster

A tucked-away, rural community close to the Connecticut border, Foster has a few memorable record breakers in its midst. The town is home to the oldest government meeting house in the United States, the Foster Town House, which was built in 1796, and Swamp Meadow Home Bridge, Rhode Island’s only 19th-century style covered bridge. The bridge, which spans 40 feet, was built by a team of volunteers using local lumber.

Foster is also the site of Rhode Island's highest point, Jerimoth Hill. Hike the trail, accessible from the Hartford Pike, to reach the 881-foot summit and enjoy breathtaking views of the New England scenery below.

In July, the normally quiet town becomes a hive of activity as visitors flock to Foster’s annual Old Home Days Festival. Held at the Foster Fairgrounds, the festival began in 1904 as a fundraiser for the old Town House but has grown to a packed schedule of family-friendly events including the woodsman/woman contest, clam cake and chowder dinner, horse show, pie eating contests, cornhole tournament, and more.

New Shoreham

The ‘Smallest town in the smallest state’, New Shoreham, is located on Block Island, 12 miles south of mainland Rhode Island. The island is tiny, making it easy to navigate, and is filled with picturesque landscapes and landmarks. Visit the Southeast Lighthouse to enjoy some of the best views. Located on the Mohegan Bluffs, the lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark built in 1873.

To really get to know the island, take part in the Block Island Glass Float Scavenger Hunt, which begins the first weekend in June and runs until all the floats are found. The floats are glass orbs handcrafted by a local artist and hidden around Block Island’s beaches and trails. Finders can keep one of the floats as a memento.

For more quirky and beautiful art, visit the Spring Street Gallery, which showcases local painters, sculptors, photographers, potters, jewellers, and more.

Bristol

The waterfront town of Bristol has seen many landmark moments from over three centuries of New England history. It’s also known as ‘America’s most patriotic town’ as it hosts the oldest uninterrupted celebration of Independence Day. The town’s July 4th festival lasts three weeks and attracts over 200,000 visitors each year.

While in town, take a wander around Blithewold, a beautiful 33-acre estate and 45-room mansion which dates back to the late 1800s. The estate enjoys sweeping views of Narragansett Bay and includes an arboretum, gift shop, and cafe.

Go even further back in Bristol’s history with an immersive 1700s experience at Coggeshall Farm. A 48-acre coast farm, this outdoor museum recreates life for middle-class tenant farmers in the late 18th century. The property includes a heritage apple orchard, a forge, a farmhouse, and a cheese house, as well as friendly farmyard animals.

Exeter

There’s a very eccentric story attached to Exeter. This pretty town in southern Rhode Island is said to be the final resting place of New England’s last vampire. In 1892, local townspeople Mercy Brown died, but she couldn’t rest very long. After a spate of deaths in the village, the town dug Mercy up to check that she wasn't a vampire and, as the story goes, found the body suspiciously intact. The grave, located in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, has now become a macabre tourist attraction.

For local history that’s a lot less ghoulish, visit the Tomaquag Museum. The state’s only Indigenous museum, this tells the story of the region’s first inhabitants through fascinating displays of Native American artifacts local to New England.

Exeter is also home to Rhode Island’s only ski resort, the Yawgoo Valley Ski Area. In the winter, it’s open for skiing and snow tubing. In the summer, the sports park transforms into a lively outdoor activity center with a family-friendly waterpark.

Newport

Nicknamed ‘America’s first resort,’ Newport is a lively coastal town with a 400-year history of hospitality. Among its more unique attractions is the Newport Common Burial Ground, also known as ‘God’s little acre’. The largest and most intact colonial-era African burial ground in America, the cemetery contains around 300 gravestones dating from the 1600s.

There’s another unusual cultural landmark in Newport, the Newport Tower. This is a round stone tower that was once a 17th-century windmill. Located in the city’s Truro Park, there are a few eccentric stories about the tower’s origins, with some historians speculating that it was a Renaissance-era timekeeping device that tracked the movement of the sun through its north, south, east, and west-facing windows.

For more eccentric architecture, take a trip to Belcourt of Newport. Now a museum, this unique house was built in the late 1800s to mimic the style of King Louis XIII’s Versailles hunting lodge. Recently restored, the house is open to the public and available for tours. If you’re feeling particularly brave, take the candlelight ghost tour which delves into the house’s haunted history.

Portsmouth

Located on Aquidneck Island, Portsmouth was founded in 1638 by settlers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Scenic and historic, the town is a charming island settlement with some whimsical and weird attractions.

Stroll around the Green Animals Topiary Garden, the oldest and northernmost topiary garden in the United States, to mingle with more than 80 topiary animals, including teddy bears, a camel, a giraffe, and an elephant.

For something a little different, take a tour with Rail Explorers. The company offers a 90-minute guided ride on custom-built pedal-powered vehicles that run on former railroad tracks. The trip traverses Aquidneck Island and Narragansett Bay and runs from April to October.

Browse the eclectic selection at Cory Farms Past & Presents, a one-of-a-kind gift shop housed in an 1849 farmhouse and its renovated outbuildings. The shop specialises in tableware, linens, books, gifts, jewelry, and clothing for women and babies, while its outbuildings carry European antiques and vintage collectibles.

Creating Unforgettable Memories in Quirky Rhode Island

The Ocean State has seen centuries of American history, helping to shape the nation and mark its milestones. Most visitors come to Rhode Island to enjoy this rich heritage and the state’s stunning coastal scenery, but don’t be afraid to venture off the beaten path and explore Rhode Island’s eccentric side. The best vacations take you somewhere out of the ordinary into new experiences, unforgettable moments, and exciting adventures. Plan a trip to these Rhode Island towns, and you’ll go home with stories and memories that will make you long for a return visit.