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Ditch the car ; ferries make for a more scenic commute , anyway . And these destinations are well worth the ride .
Bristol to Prudence Island . Cut across the heart of Narragansett Bay to a nature lover ’ s paradise . About seven miles long and one-and-a-half miles wide , the third-largest island in the bay is ripe for easy exploration . Bring the bikes and head south to check out the salt marshes and historic farm site within Narragansett Bay ’ s National Estuarine Research Reserve . Grab some picnic takeout from Bristol ’ s restaurants or pick up snacks at Prudence Variety — the island ’ s only store — and re-fuel by the historic lighthouse . prudencebayislandstransport . com
Galilee to Block Island . You ’ ve heard the jingle , now sing it IRL . You ’ re sailing away on the Block Island Ferry ! Taking a trip back to carefree times ! Yes , BI is worth all the hype . There are breathtaking beaches , historic lighthouses and beautiful green spaces . In town , you ’ ll find quaint shops , Victorian hotels and excellent restaurants . You ’ ll leave knowing the jingle told no lies . blockislandferry . com
Jamestown to Newport . This hop-on , hop-off ferry line also offers scenic cross-bay and sunset cruises . Stops include Fort Adams , Ann Street Pier , Perrotti Park , Rose Island Lighthouse and Jamestown Village . Crack open an onboard refreshment and make the journey your destination . conanicutmarina . com
PVD to Newport . You could take 95 to the Pell Bridge or 114 over the Mount Hope Bridge . Or you could take the ferry . Not such a hard choice , now is it ? Leave the car by the old Shooter ’ s , board the boat and enjoy scenic views of the bay , no beach traffic in sight , as you head for the iconic City by the Sea . seastreak . com
Snorkel with the sharks ( and try not to get bit ).
On Rhode Island Shark Diving excursions and daytrips , the only thing between you and the jaws of a mako shark is a five-millimeter wetsuit . Now that ’ s close . Snorkel , cage-free , on the surface with the sharks encircling you and the well-trained crew . They know their stuff ; two even helped create footage for Discovery Channel ’ s Shark Week . rhodeislandsharkdiving . com
Hang ten at Narragansett Beach .
Risk a few wipeouts and , before long , you ’ ll be walking the board with ease . Learn from bushy blond teens at the Warm Winds Surf School or opt for Rhode Island surfing legend Peter Pan ’ s Surf Academy . Both have boards and wetsuits available and offer group and private lessons as well as youth camps . warmwinds . com ; peterpansurfingacademy . vpweb . com
Be in three places at once at the Tri-State Marker .
This selfie-worthy spot in Burrillville , Douglas , Massachusetts , and Thompson , Connecticut , is marked by an iconic granite monument . Get there from our side via the Buck Hill Management Area .
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