Wicked Tulips in Exeter .
Spring
DAY 1 : A GILDED AGE EXPERIENCE IN NEWPORT Before you jump back in time to the late 1800s , start your day with craft coffee concoctions and light bites from The Nitro Bar at either of its Newport locations on Pond Avenue or the famous Thames Street . While you ’ re strolling along the cobblestone road , pop your head into Vitamin Sea & Co . for new homeware , Flori ’ s Treasures for fine glass gifts or Lemon & Line for new accessories . Each shop is locally owned and operated with access to the many wharfs .
If a sit-down breakfast is more your pace , try Corner Cafe ’ s all-day breakfast . As you walk around , make note if there are yellow flowers sprouting up everywhere . It ’ s a sign that Newport Daffodil Days are here , with more than 1.2 million daffodils blooming throughout the city from mid-April through May .
Start your Gilded Age journey at the historic Newport mansions and gardens that dot Bellevue Avenue . Take guided tours or go off on your own as you wander through the homes of the wealthy . Stroll along the Newport Cliff Walk , a 3.2-mile path along the ocean that passes by some of the most beautiful historic landmarks year-round .
For lunch , check out CRU Cafe for local flavors in a wide array of menu options , located right behind the Audrain Auto Museum . Pack a picnic for Fort Adams State Park . The nineteenth-century fort offers daily guided tours that take you from the top of the fort walls to the depths of the underground listening tunnels .
For seafood lovers , The Red Parrot never fails to please . The building once served as a meat-packing house that employed hundreds of people during the Gilded Age and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
DAY 2 : OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN THE EAST BAY Grab a bite at Cafe Water Street in Warren , which makes about 150 crepes each day . Visit the Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol located on the Claire D . McIntosh Wildlife Refuge for interactive exhibits exploring local habitats and wildlife . Only two miles away lies Colt State Park where you can rollerblade , bike or run around the park loop with waterfront views from every angle .
Frolic through some of the state ’ s oldest standing gardens at the thirty-three-acre estate of Blithewold Mansion , Gardens and Arboretum .
Meet up at Newport Vineyards in Middletown for a flight and farm-focused scratch kitchen . Not into wine ? Opt for its counterpart at Taproot Brewery . For a more elevated grape , visit Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth to get a taste of fortified and orange wines outside of the usual lineup .
DAY 3 : SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND ESCAPE Explore Wakefield ' s charming Main Street filled with local shops and dining . Grab an egg melt and latte at Caf Bar and find a new ( used ) book next door at Rarities Books & Bindery .
You can pick your own flowers at Wicked Tulips Farm in Exeter in May for a unique experience that you can take home with you . Go off the beaten path to the Tilted Barn Brewery in Exeter if you get the chance for small batch , hand-crafted ales or Leyden Farm Vineyard & Winery in West Greenwich for a tasting and cheese board .
Feeling adventurous ? Saddle on up at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick for horseback riding at C and L Stables . Ride bay-side , on the beach or on the trails . While you ’ re spending a day in the park , put your putt to the test on the public golf course . Walk or hike the gently sloping hills , taking in the expansive greens and beautiful bay views . D Finish the evening down in Narragansett with seafood favorites and the beach scene . Try clam cakes and chowder , a Rhode Island classic , at Aunt Carrie ’ s or Iggy ’ s Chowder House .
LOOKING TO ISLAND HOP ? You can catch the Block Island Ferry out of Galilee to New Shoreham , Block Island , where it disembarks onto Water Street dotted with local shops and dining . The Block Island Trading Company boasts souvenirs , home goods and clothing with the signature island emblem . The National Tap and Grille awaits with surf and turf overlooking the ocean . D Visit the Southeast Lighthouse , built in 1873 but moved in 1993 to where it now overlooks the Mohegan Bluffs . These large clay cliffs stand 200 feet high , and the 141 steps to the base serve as both a beautiful photo op and a workout all in one . To see the island , take a two-and-a-half hour scenic bike tour with Block Island By Bike to learn the history and island folklore .
Grab seafood specials and Irish-inspired dishes at McAloon ’ s Saloon , or ( healthier ) fast food favorites in a sit-down setting at The Lunch-Bucket or boba tea and baked goods at Odd Fellows Cafe for an afternoon pick-me-up .
Just when you think the island is all coastline , look no further than the 1661 Exotic Farm and Gardens , home to camels , llamas , pygmy and fainting goats , red kangaroos and more . After a day of island fun , stop at Poor People ’ s Pub , a surf shack-style hangout serving inventive , casual grub and cocktails .
WHERE TO STAY Historic towns like Bristol , Newport and Jamestown have maintained their New England architectural charm through homes that serve as bed and breakfasts by the sea . The Admiral Fitzroy Inn in downtown Newport is right on the waterfront . Built in 1854 , each guest room is hand-painted and decorated with antique furniture and patterns but offers modern amenities to make sure you have everything you need . For families , Homewood Suites by Hilton in Middletown provides lodging away from the Newport traffic but close to central shopping areas . Surf Shack , a new B & B , is located in the heart of Narragansett ’ s shopping and dining areas .
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PHOTOGRAPHY : ( TOP TO BOTTOM ) COURTESY OF WICKED TULIPS ; COURTESY OF BLOCK ISLAND TOURISM ; COURTESY OF IGGY ' S CHOWDER HOUSE .
28 RHODE YOUR ISLAND ULTIMATE MONTHLY GUIDE l TO JULY RHODE 2023 ISLAND l FALL-WINTER-SPRING l 2023 – 24