I Live in Rhode Island—and These Are My Favorite Hidden Gems in the Ocean State

Travel + Leisure

2 days ago

Rhode Island—blink and you could miss this tiny state on a map. But what this corner of New England lacks in size, it over-delivers with classic East Coast charm.
It's no secret Rhode Island's popularity has soared in recent years. Blame what you will—its oh-so Instagrammable beauty, its wealth of stunning Gilded Age mansions, or the Taylor Swift effect. But venture beyond the typical tourist track, and there are swaths of the Ocean State that remain delightfully off the radar. These include locals-only beaches, storied museums, and seaside cafes with world-class, live music performances.
As a Rhode Island resident, here are my eight favorite hidden gems across the state.
For those craving a blissfully remote escape—complete with windswept beaches, the call of seagulls, and nothing else—a Prudence Island trip delivers.
This six-square-mile teardrop of land in Narragansett Bay is only a 30-minute ferry (a round-trip ticket will set you back a little over $10) from downtown Bristol, yet it keeps a surprisingly low profile. With only 200 year-round residents, there isn't much to do on the island—but that's kind of the point. Here, visitors can tour what was the last one-room schoolhouse in the state, explore the North End Farm (a Revolutionary War-era homestead that was repeatedly raided by the British), and traverse 13 miles of trails through rocky beaches, pine forests, and grasslands.
There are no hotels on Prudence, but a day trip is all you need to experience its untamed, wild glory. Note: There is a general store on the island, but it's best to stock up on the mainland before arrival.
The sun setting over Sunset Cove in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Blair West/Travel + Leisure
With its peaceful waterfront location, you might expect Sunset Cove in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, to require hard-to-get reservations, but the reality is quite the opposite. This laid-back coffee shop, cafe, and concert venue feels like one of Aquidneck Island's best-kept secrets.
The pièce de résistance of Sunset Cove is undoubtedly its panoramic views over the bay, but locals flock to the restaurant for old-fashioned sundaes, food trucks, and live music performances. Jimmy Buffet even played his last concert here in 2023.
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace Museum in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
Courtesy of Visit Rhode Island/Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
While the historic mansions in Newport, Rhode Island, get all the attention (and the crowds), the masterfully restored Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum is arguably a much cooler visit. Located in Saunderstown, the bucolic estate was once the home of celebrated painter Gilbert Stuart, perhaps best known for his portrait of George Washington that's now on every $1 bill.
The museum is open seasonally from roughly mid-April to mid-October and gives visitors a glimpse into colonial life through Stuart's 18th-century, gambrel-roofed home. On the premises, you can find a gallery filled with original Stuart paintings as well as rotating exhibits and an old snuff mill, once used to grind tobacco into a fine powder. The surrounding 23 acres the estate sits on are full of trails ripe for exploring, too, and take visitors past historic stone walls, cemeteries, and babbling brooks.
While you're in Saunderstown, visit Plum Pt. Bistro, a family-owned restaurant specializing in house-made pasta dishes crafted with local ingredients. Don't miss their grilled twin pork chops or sirloin steaks, which are creatively served on cutting boards.
Reject's Beach, located next to the private Bailey's Beach in Newport.
Blair West/Travel + Leisure
At the very end of Newport's scenic Cliff Walk trail, there's a sandy, crescent-shaped sliver of coast that's considered to be one of the best beaches in the area. And while the majority of the cove belongs to an exclusive beach club, Bailey's Beach, there's a small portion that's open to the public. It's referred to—appropriately and affectionately—as Rejects Beach.
While it doesn't have parking, Rejects Beach is accessible via the Cliff Walk by foot or bicycle. It's a great spot for a picnic or sunset moment, and since it's rarely crowded, you may have it all to yourself.
Stores lining Broadway in Newport, Rhode Island.
Courtesy of Visit Rhode Island/Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Tourists often flock in droves to Newport's cobblestoned waterfront. But less than a mile from the main drag, you'll find a more authentic slice of the city: Newport's artsy Broadway District.
Start your Broadway jaunt at House of Waves, a popular art gallery and community gathering place for creatives. It's a vibrant space, plastered with murals, and it's the perfect spot to get a taste of the local art scene through the paintings and photography on display.
Your next step should be the TikTok-famous Nitro Bar, where you can get the best caffeine fix in town with fun, flavored lattes like the Wilbur (an iced espresso drink with coconut syrup, cinnamon, and coconut milk) as well as toothsome pastries such as the sun-dried tomato focaccia. For a sweet, Instagram-worthy treat, try the Fruit Loop, a delightfully blue, iced concoction made with pea flower tea, vanilla, and oat milk.
Fall pumpkin's at Sweetberry Farm in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Courtesy of Discover Newport
Picturesque Sweet Berry Farm feels like the setting of a summer Hallmark movie. It's conveniently located in Middletown, not far from Newport's popular beaches, but it still remains off the radar for many tourists.
Visitors come to Sweet Berry Farm to pick their own fruit, including strawberries in the spring; peaches and blackberries in the summer; and apples and pumpkins in the fall. There's also an on-site market and cafe filled with the literal fruits of the farm's bounty. And don't forget to make time to visit the Farmaesthetics Shed, a small-batch, organic skin care shop nestled in the woods. Inside an antique shop in Wickford Village.
Courtesy of Visit Rhode Island/Rhode Island Commerce
Despite its charming tree-lined streets and quaint harbor, Wickford Village is often overlooked for buzzier Newport and Watch Hill. However, Wickford Village is chock-full of history, with many homes and churches predating the Revolutionary War. Take a stroll down the main street and browse local artisanal shops, where you can find everything from handblown glass and pottery to funky jewelry and home goods. Once you've stocked up on gifts, refuel with lobster rolls and clam chowder beneath the blue-and-white-striped umbrellas at Tavern by the Sea. Round it all out with a visit to the nearby Hamilton Lotus Pond, known for its unusually large (and pretty) water lilies.
An elephant and giraffe topiary at the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Newport.For a family-friendly outing without the crowds, head to this whimsical estate on Aquidneck Island. Green Animals Topiary Garden is the oldest garden of its kind in the U.S., but these aren't your grandma's topiaries. Instead, the 80 giant hedges here take the shape of giraffes, lions, elephants, and teddy bears. Visit on a clear day to explore the seven acres of flower-lined pathways, trickling fountains, and herb displays while enjoying prime views of Narragansett Bay. And while the topiaries are decidedly the stars of the show year-round, nearly 40,000 blooming tulips take center stage during the spring—no need to book that trip to the Netherlands.