These 7 Towns In Rhode Island Feel Like Home
While it may be the country's smallest state, Rhode Island is as steeped with culture and charm as anywhere. Maybe you're pulled by the coast, or drawn by the historic architecture. Maybe you're one for beautiful beaches and seaside strolls. Or maybe it is that the nickname Ocean State comes with its own magnetism, and the coastal stretch of land caught snugly between Boston and New York deserves to be higher on everybody's travel list. Don't hesitate: here are seven of Rhode Island's towns that feel like home. If you visit, your only regret might be that you did not visit sooner.
West Greenwich
This list starts with West Greenwich because the town serves as a great representation for the state as a whole: surrounded by nature and history, and too often overlooked. West Greenwich is a feels-like-home town deserving of attention. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy the hiking opportunities that abound in Wickaboxet State Forest, and history buffs can visit the Colonial-era Stephen Allen House, which was built in 1787. Proudly featuring several schools and an almost limitless opportunity for outdoor recreation, the town's family atmosphere ensures that all ages are not just welcome in West Greenwich, but would love their stay no matter how long.
Foster
Like West Greenwich, the rural, inland town of Foster is a quiet getaway saturated with local history and acres of nature waiting to be explored. What sets this town apart, though, is the preservation of its past: its original winding roads are bookended by classic farmhouses, Colonial-era stone walls weave their languid way throughout the town, and even at its heart, town meetings are held in the historic Foster Town House, still in use all these centuries later.
There are plenty of modern amenities, too. With no congested downtown to worry about, roadside markets offer fresh fruit in the spring and summer, and the Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge is a local highlight. It doubles as a place for seasonal decoration at holiday time. As wide open as the sky above, Foster contains all the peace and quietude of home, and then some.
Little Compton
Little Compton, tucked away in the southeastern corner of Rhode Island, is a windswept paradise. Built on the shores of the Atlantic, the rugged-but-beautiful town has seasonal appeal down to a science: there are miles of beaches in the spring and summer, many local produce stands in the fall, and an untamed wilderness in the post-tourism winter solitude.
And speaking of solitude, standing at Sakonnet Point, it is easy to think that the ocean is your very own. The old lighthouse guarding the entrance to the Sakonnet River stands vigil against the thrashing waves. Narrow roads lined with stone walls lead to a rocky lookout point, and sprawling into the waters below, the Sakonnet Point Marina glistens in the hot sun.
Though it may seem like an odd combination, the familiarity that comes with Little Compton's friendliness and charm meshes nicely with its wild countryside. But be careful: once you are there, you may never want to leave.
Westerly
A perfect counterpoint to the southeastern Little Compton, the southwestern town of Westerly has so much to offer. Misquamicut State Beach is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, while the beach in the oceanic Watch Hill neighborhood is a “haven for bird watching, surf casting, and photography.”
In town, you will find the old Westerly Armory, which offers exhibits displaying Westerly's most formative years, and the Westerly Library, founded in 1894 to commemorate volunteer soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. Big enough to offer a downtown of local shops and quiet cafes, yet small enough to surround itself by the same pastoral and untamed nature of Rhode Island's most secluded towns, Westerly can make anyone feel right at home from the moment they set foot on its historic streets.
Tiverton
With roots going back to the 1600s, the town of Tiverton is an important part of Rhode Island's history. Playing a big part in the Battle of Freetown, men from the outpost of Tiverton used the town and surrounding area as a base of operations, as the town's proximity to a water network leading directly to the ocean made it a strategic location. Founded as a farming village, the commerce surrounding the production of menhaden oil was a chief driving point of the Tiverton economy until 1900. Nowadays, its tranquility and community-oriented feel are welcoming to all ages, and with so much history on the town's rocky shores, there is no shortage of excitement for the family upon visiting.
Visit Fort Barton, a Revolutionary War redoubt, or perhaps the Tiverton Four Corners, a village within a village, which provides shops, galleries, food, and even accommodations in a refurbished 19th-century schoolhouse. Enjoy the expansive Tiverton Farmers Market, or, if you happen to visit in June, catch the annual Farm Coast Art & Garden Ramble.
Every step in Tiverton unveils its mix of past and present. Just as thriving now as it was centuries ago, Tiverton is a must-see in the state of Rhode Island.
Barrington
Barrington is a serene and suburban town that comes riddled with all the creature comforts of home. Known to be a peaceful community, Barrington has plenty of green space, modern and historic homes, bike paths, and local parks. Priding itself on educational opportunities, the town has four elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, and several private schools.
Barrington Town Beach is perfect for a day out with the family, but if you are more content to walk the city streets, the mixture of modern, Colonial, and Victorian architecture makes for excellent sightseeing, including Barrington Congregational Church, built in 1871, and Barrington Town Hall, a medieval-looking stone building erected in 1888.
In short, Barrington has everything from beaches to schools to beautiful homes—a perfect, home-like place for a family stay.
East Greenwich
This list started with West Greenwich, so it is only fitting that it ends with East Greenwich, located along the west shore of Narragansett Bay. The town's Main Street provides a walking tour that will “allow you to travel back in time to the early days of the revolution.” It makes sense that a town which claims to be the birthplace of the navy will have waterfront entertainment, too: there are several parks and restaurants, the latter of which includes Blu on the Water, a fine dining experience with local seafood and a palatial deck that has views of the bustling marina.
Nearby, Goddard Memorial State Park stretches along the shoreline and extends deep inland, thus providing a great location for either woodland activities or more coastal adventures.
Small But Mighty
Do not be fooled by the country's smallest state: what it lacks in geographical size, it makes up for tenfold in its beauty, history, and above all, welcoming nature. Rhode Island is absolutely packed with towns both coastal and landlocked, providing innumerable opportunities for adventure or relaxation. And best of all, since it is so small, you do not need to choose: why pick between West or East Greenwich when they are 20 minutes apart by car? Why not enjoy Bristol's famous Fourth of July fireworks, and then see the covered bridge in Foster? Wherever you choose to go in Rhode Island, one thing is guaranteed: you will feel right at home.
