Rhode Island Summer Guide 🌊🦞🏤🔥🤹🏻‍♀️

A curated guide to Rhode Island’s highlights, summed up from three summers! From coastal luxury mansions to the city’s nighttime WaterFire, you can check off Rhode Island’s classics in one day✨—the whole family loved it when we visited. 🏤 9:00 AM: Newport MansionsHead straight to Newport’s mansions right when they open. Booking tickets online incurs an extra service fee, so buying them on-site is much more convenient. Ticket options include “The Breakers only” or “The Breakers + 1/2/3 other mansions.” If you’re short on time, pick 1 or 2 mansions. Marble House: Also built by the Vanderbilt family, it’s opulent with gold accents and even a Chinese tea house! Allow about 1 hour per mansion for these two. If interested, you can also visit Rosecliff (romantic palace-style, popular for wedding photos and a filming location for The Great Gatsby) and The Elms (features modern amenities and underground facilities). P.S. The hydrangeas this season are absolutely stunning 🌸! 🌊 Before Lunch: Newport Town & Cliff WalkExplore Newport’s small town before lunch, or enjoy ocean views along the first half of Cliff Walk. The second half isn’t recommended if you’re not a hiker—check my previous post for details. 🍴 Lunch: Lobster Rolls You Can’t Miss 🦞Two recommended spots (both popular old-time favorites, so expect a short line): Monahan's Clam Shack Blount Clam Shack The lobster rolls are generous in portion. Note: Both are not in Newport—allow 30–40 minutes of driving time. 🛣️ Afternoon: Providence ExplorationDrive to Providence and wander around Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) to soak up the academic and artistic vibe 🎓. If you have time, stop by the RISD Museum too. 🌃 Evening: Riverwalk & WaterFireTake a stroll along the Providence Riverwalk—bring a light jacket, as it can get cool. During summer, the iconic WaterFire event is held monthly. Before the show starts, the streets fill with beverage stalls and craft vendors. As dusk falls, small boats light up over 80 fire basins one by one. It gets extremely crowded, so arrive early to find parking and a good spot. Fitting this into one day makes the trip totally worthwhile! 🅿️ Parking Tips Newport Mansion Area: Each mansion has visitor parking, but it can get tight on holidays. If you have time, park in the town center and take the free Route 67 shuttle. Providence Downtown: On WaterFire days, crowds are huge. Reserve nearby parking in advance or find street parking before 5:00 PM. #RhodeIslandTravel #BostonDayTrips #USARoadTrip