Rhode Island

Wherever you are in Rhode Island, you can get to any other part of the state in less than an hour. That's how small the state is. It is not small, however, when it comes to looking for places to visit or things to do, particularly if it involves water. The nickname of Rhode Island is the "Ocean State," and most all of it lies near or around Narragansett Bay.

For the most part, America was populated by religious zealots cast off from England. This was particularly true of the Salem Puritans who settled in what is now Massachusetts. From them came other outcasts, in particular Roger Williams, who left that colony to found Rhode Island. Williams was granted a charter for the new colony in 1636.

Regions

Despite being so small, the state is divided into six regions. The cosmopolitan heart of the state is Providence, the state capital, known for being a center for the insurance industry. It also is known for its good restaurants, a reflection of the presence of many Italian-Americans who settled in the Federal Hall neighborhood. Down near the entrance to Narragansett Bay is the town of Newport, famous for its stately mansions and its annual jazz festival.

Further south and off the coast is Block Island, named for Dutch explorer Adriaen Block, who was the first European to reach the island in 1614. The island features 17 miles of beaches, more of New England's historic stone walls, and lighthouses. To the south of the state is what is called South County. Its real name is Washington County, but no one calls it that. Here visitors will find more beaches, the only ones in the state away from the bay.

Blackstone Valley

To the north and western parts of the state is what is called the Blackstone Valley, noted for being the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. The Blackstone River which runs through the valley once provided the power that drove early textile mills.

It is the place to go to visit the historic small mill towns where many immigrants came to make a life in the New World. Chief among these tourist attractions are the Slater Mill and the Museum of Work and Culture. The Blackstone River also is noted for its trout fishing.

info@newenglandtraveller.com