Here’s Our Best & Worst Things From Rhode Island

Shae and I left Rhode Island last week after spending 10 days there on our 50 state road trip.

We tend to spend an average of five weeks in each state seeing as we’re doing this trip over the course of five years (although we might be having to extend that). That doesn’t mean we spend five weeks in each state though, as larger states need more time and smaller states need less.

That’s why we only spent 10 days in Rhode Island. It’s the smallest US state and covers less than 1,600 square miles, so you can get to pretty much anywhere in the state within an hour no matter where you start.

It’s also why we haven’t really published any posts from our time there – other than our hotel review and Shae’s experience doing goat yoga – as such a short time meant we’ll likely recap everything we did here.

So here’s a look back at some of our favorite – and not so favorite – things from our time in Rhode Island.

Favorite Accommodation We Stayed At

Stephen – Seeing as we stayed in the same place for all 10 days, I’ll have to say the Hampton Inn Providence/Warwick Airport.

Shae – We only stayed in the one location and it was OK. I’d like to stay nearer to Newport next visit.

Favorite Meal

Stephen – Our budget was strained while in Rhode Island as our hotel was so expensive compared to normal. We therefore didn’t eat out much other than using the monthly Uber Eats and Grubhub credits from some of our Amex cards. From those options, I’d go for Dragon Dragon as their Chinese food was both tasty and reasonably priced.

Shae – The Chinese was very good. I was hoping to have some wonderful seafood. It will have to be saved for our next visit.

Most Disappointing Meal

Stephen – We didn’t have a disappointing meal; what was more disappointing was that we didn’t get to eat out as Federal Hill in Providence apparently has a bunch of great restaurants.

Shae – It was disappointing not to even try a local meal to decide if it would be disappointing or not.

Favorite Free Activity

Stephen – The cliff walk in Newport was beautiful, although the kite festival we came across at Brenton Point State Park in Newport on our first day there was also fun.

Shae – The beach evening at Bailey’s Beach was my favorite activity. We swam in the water, relaxed to the sound of the gentle waves and watched the sunset from rocks along the cliff walk.

Favorite Paid Activity

Stephen – I think the only activity we paid for in Rhode Island was the Roger Williams Park Zoo where we met up with Jenni and her kids who we’d met in Connecticut.

Shae – I loved the zoo – it was a fantastic day. But my favorite paid activity was Goat Yoga at Simmons Farm.

Favorite Pet-Friendly Activity

Stephen – I’d say probably the cliff walk. Truffles might disagree as there wasn’t much shade and she’s not a big fan of being out in the sun.

Shae – I think Truffles loved the kite festival with all the pets, it was my favorite pet-friendly activity as well.

Least Favorite Activity

Stephen – Wandering around Providence during the day. It’s not that I disliked it, it just didn’t strike me as somewhere we needed to spend a bunch of time.

Shae – Definitely going around Providence. We tried to see more of the city but it didn’t seem to offer as much as other state capitals that we’ve been to.

Favorite Hike

Stephen – The Newport cliff walk.

Shae – The Newport cliff walk for sure. I love being by the sea. It was a hot day but it was worth the time. I just wished we’d done the first half mile as well as we started a half mile along the trail.

Favorite Quirky Thing We Did

Stephen – Going to WaterFire. During the summer, they light 80+ bonfires on the rivers in downtown Providence. There’s a really relaxed atmosphere with people relaxing by the rivers, music, stalls, etc.

Also, a kite display (or dance?) at the kite festival that was set to Stairway To Heaven.

Shae – I think Goat Yoga qualifies as quirky so I have to go with that. It was an amazing time that I would happily repeat in every state if I could.

Favorite Memory

Stephen – Getting back to the car after the cliff walk. It was a really hot day with very little shade, so we didn’t have as much water with us as we should’ve. I’d left a bottle of ice water in the car, so having that still be cold when we got back was incredibly refreshing.

Shae – Watching the sun set from the rocks. The colors were beautiful and it was peaceful taking pictures and listening to the waves.

Funniest Moment

Stephen – Scooter. He was a lovely dog we met at a nearby dog park who was incredibly goofy when playing with a ball.

Shae – Getting selfies with the goats at Simmons Farm, especially when Angel was on my back for her close up.

Thing We Most Regretted

Stephen – Not having enough money in our budget to experience Rhode Island to the full. We didn’t get to go to The Breakers or any of the other mansions, didn’t eat out, etc. Having spent 10 days in the state, we’d also much rather stay in Newport rather than the Providence/Warwick area.

Shae – I agree with Stephen. I would stay in Newport and have more funds to enjoy the state.

Something We Missed And Want To See

Stephen – The Breakers. Edit having read Shae’s answers: I completely forgot about Block Island too.

Shae – There’s the oldest carousel in the US that we didn’t get over to see despite being so (relatively) close, plus not having the funds to go to Block Island for a day.

Our Biggest Surprise

Stephen – How much we enjoyed Newport. With beaches, cliffs and a couple of state parks, it was a great area to visit.

Shae – How much I loved Rhode Island in general. I’d happily go back.

My Rhode Island Drinking Game Would Be…

Stephen – Take a drink every time it takes you an hour to drive 25 miles. Even though Rhode Island isn’t very large, it can take longer to get places than you might expect because of traffic and 30 mph speed limits.

Shae – Take a drink every time you’re asked how long you’re in Rhode Island and are then told it’s still too long.

Summary Of Rhode Island In 10 Words Or Less

Stephen – Stay in Newport, go with a bigger budget than us!

Shae – It’s beautiful at the shore and friendly for New England.

Rhode Island Cities We Visited In Order From Favorite To Least Favorite

Stephen – We only stayed in one city, but visited a few places. I’d therefore say Newport, Providence, Warwick.

Shae – NEWPORT!!!, Warwick and then Providence.