Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Rhode Island
7 Most Scenic Small Towns in Rhode Island
The smallest American State by total area and with a total population of just over 1 million inhabitants, what the “Ocean State” of Rhode Island may lack in size it compensates for with splendid natural beauty and fascinating history. A key component of the New England Region, Rhode Island’s welcoming and charming towns reflect the very best of this historic destination that joined the Union in 1790. From breathtaking Atlantic Ocean vistas to alluring communities dating to the 18th century, the scenic and unique towns in Rhode Island are perfect ways for the entire family to enjoy a holiday. So come see some of the best of New England through an exploration of these beautifully scenic and inviting Rhode Island towns!
Jamestown
One of Rhode Island’s oldest European settlements, Jamestown can trace its foundational history to the mid 1600s! Beautifully located on Conanicut Island (in Narragansett Bay), this historic place is indeed a most fascinating destination to discover where history and natural beauty come together. Including the small islands of Dutch and Gould, visitors to Jamestown will find a most charming community of just under 6,000 residents. Full of stunning ocean views and island breezes, guests will also never be short on historic attractions to experience. These include the Beavertail Lighthouse (1856), the Windmill Hill Historic District, Fort Getty (1901), the Conanicut Battery, and the Jamestown Archeological District, amongst many others. Add in a welcoming assortment of local businesses, restaurants, and shops, and the sights and sounds of Jamestown truly make it one of the most welcoming and scenic places in all of Rhode Island.
New Shoreham/Block Island
The town of New Shoreham can also trace its history to the mid 17th century, where today a modest population of just over 1,400 reside. Located on Block Island, New Shoreham is the State’s southernmost place and offers truly exquisite views of the Atlantic Ocean and loads of beautiful rolling green hills. A visual delight that all ages can marvel and appreciate, make sure not to miss a stop at the Mohegan Bluffs lookout or plan an afternoon at a most welcoming beach area. Full of great opportunities to go sailing, swimming, and sunbathing, New Shoreham and Block Island indeed never offers a dull moment. And with such inviting cultural events like the Fourth of July Parade and unique historic attractions like the Southeast Lighthouse (1875) and the Block Island Historical Society Museum, there is always something charming and fun to waiting to be discovered for the entire family.
Warren
Warren is located on the eastern banks of the same named river, where today just over 11,000 inhabitants reside. Settled by English colonists back in the 1680s, Warren remains a most peaceful and naturally beautiful town where guests can also discover fascinating stories of American history. Spend time at such attractions like the previously mentioned Warren River or the Kickemuit River, where one can even view such wildlife like deer, foxes, and varying bird species. Meanwhile for the historically inclined guest, Warren’s most charming Waterfront Historic District is a wonderful place to feel the sense of stepping back in time. Marvel at an assortment of well preserved landmarks and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, many of which are included on the National Register of Historic Places. Add in a cute selection of local shops and restaurants, and Warren truly gives off a quintessential portrait of scenic and welcoming small town Americana.
Bristol
The seat of the same named county, the town of Bristol was established in the 1680s and today this charming and fascinating historic centre is the home to just under 23,000 residents. A great place to directly discover American history, Bristol hosts several buildings and landmarks listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Mount Hope Farm (1745), the County Jail (1828), the Bristol Ferry Lighthouse (1855), and the inviting Waterfront Historic District, amongst several others. And when not learning about the past, visitors to Bristol will surely never find a shortage of beautiful natural surroundings to admire. From awesome Atlantic Ocean vistas to stunning public park areas like the Blithwold Gardens and Arboretum, there is always a breathtaking view to be had in this Rhode Island community. Add in fun opportunities for sailing, kayaking, swimming, and bike riding, and visiting Bristol will surely be something the entire family will want to repeat.
Narragansett
Narragansett is one of Rhode Island’s most popular summer hot spots, and guests from all across the State descend on the town for great outdoors fun. Indeed whether it is sailing, swimming, or sunbathing, Narragansett’s beautiful beach areas are perfect ways for all ages to enjoy a holiday. Located along a narrow strip of the Pettaquamscutt River, the historic Narragansett is also a great place to see a number of fascinating historic attractions. These include the Point Judith Lighthouse (1857) and the castle gate known as The Towers (1883), amongst others that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Meanwhile an afternoon at the Fishermen’s Memorial State Park is ideal for a calm and relaxing outing, while generally comfortably temperatures year round make Narragansett always in vogue.
Foster
Home to a modest population of just under 4,500 inhabitants, the charming small town of Foster is an ideal place for a scenic and inviting weekend retreat. Formally established in the 17th century, and just some 20 miles from the State capital of Providence, guests can expect to find a pretty natural ambience and alluring historic attractions. Visit the Clayville Historic District and admire such landmarks like the Captain George Dorrance House (1720) and the Mount Vernon Tavern (1761). These and other sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, truly do give one a sense of time travel and to the fledging years of the young United States. Meanwhile do not forget about such natural wonders like Killingly Pond or the very special Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge. Whether one walks or drives across, a very special set of photographic memories will be sure to follow.
Richmond
Richmond is a short 35 mile drive from capital city of Providence, and it is an excellent choice for those in the capital region to enjoy a day trip or two. With a population of just over 8,000 residents, Richmond offers its inhabitants and visitors alike a peaceful natural atmosphere with plenty of American historic attraction. Spend time exploring the historic villages of Tug Hollow, Arcadia, Kenyon, Hillsdale, and Shannock, amongst others that really immerse one in the daily life of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Add in the splendid, forested framing of the area, and a most charming and rustic mood is definitely set. And as with any typical smaller town, a great assortment of local restaurants, businesses, shops, and galleries dot the landscape, making Richmond a truly wholesome place to appreciate small town USA. Indeed whether its strolling though the village historic districts, admiring the scenic woods, or greeting the friendly locals, Richmond is a wonderful Rhode Island experience.
Also known as the “Ocean State”, Rhode Island is a key feature of the America’s New England region. While its geographic and demographic size may be size, Rhode Island is definitely big in natural splendor and fascinating history, that make it an ideal place to vacation in. Through an exploration of some of the State’s small towns, one can discover not only awesome geographic beauty but charming snapshots of old America. From the island allure of New Shoreham to the historic sights of Bristol, these and other Rhode Island towns are truly treasures waiting to be experienced firsthand! So when travelling the American northeast, do not forget about Rhode Island and these wonderfully scenic and inviting small towns, that will definitely enrich any holiday for every age in the family.
Flying athletes in with the Special Olympics Airlift
Getting athletes to the games takes more than airplanes. Textron Aviation coordinates the effort while AccuWeather provides forecasting support to make weather-informed decisions.
Rhode Island athletes took home five gold medals, nine silver medals and 11 bronze medals at 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which wrapped up on June 26.
The Rhode Island Special Olympians left for the games in private jets provided by Textron on June 15. A total of 50 members, including 24 athletes and their families, traveled to represent and cheer on Rhode Island.
“Once we went to the hangar on the way out to Minnesota, and there was a big rally, my husband Steve and I were looking at each other saying, ‘This is big. This is huge being invited to the USA games,’” Rena Megrdichian, mother of softball player Garen Megrdichian, said. “I guess we just didn’t realize what an honor this whole process was.”
After preliminary events on June 22 to group athletes accordingly, the medal rounds across multiple sports began the next day.
Rhode Island picked up three gold medals, three silver medals and four bronzes in bowling, swimming, powerlifting and track and field events on June 23. Despite the heavy medal count for the smallest state, one athlete’s finish went viral on social media.
Thomas Poirier, of North Providence, was placed in lane 5 of group 4 in the 400-meter after finishing fifth in his preliminary race with a time of 1:20.54. The race started, and Poirier hustled as hard as he could, but coming into the final 100 meters, he found himself in fourth place. Then, he kicked it into another gear. He passed the runner in third, then second and suddenly he was gaining on the leader he was about 25 meters behind just a few seconds prior. With 25 meters left to go, Poirier passed Noah Lamusga, of Minnesota, and took the lead and the gold medal.
Poirier finished with a time of 1:17.24, three seconds faster than his time in the preliminaries.
“I saw my time in the prelims, and I was like ‘That’s good, but I just need to work harder,’ and so I did,” Poirier said.
The clip of him running the final 100 meters and his post-race interview where he says, “Rhode Island… I’m coming home golden,” currently has over 100,000 likes on Instagram.
“At first I was a little embarrassed, but I slowly and surely got used to it,” Poirier said. “I’m not used to getting fame like this.”
Poirier’s mom, Dora, was able to attend the games with her husband and daughter, Poirier’s twin sister. When they saw Thomas cross the finish line, the only emotions they could convey were shock and tears of joy.
“We couldn’t believe it,” Dora said. “We’re like, ‘Oh my god, he actually might do this.’ I honestly couldn’t believe that he did it. We hoped he would come home with something. I was so happy for him, overjoyed.”
Dora said that the family had no idea that Thomas had gone viral until later that night. They had received a few videos of friends recording the TV when the race first ended, but they kept receiving more videos, and that’s when they realized he had his viral social media moment.
Thomas also competed in the 200-meter run and 4 x 100-meter relay, where he won silver in both with a time of 30.59 and 1:07.83, respectively.
Thomas noted that the quick turnaround to compete in the three events was hard, but he knew he had to power through.
“It was definitely a little hard, but I slowly adapted to it, and I gave it my all,” Thomas said. “In the end, that other guy was just a little faster, but I still gave it my all, and I’m happy with what I came home with.”
Another one of Rhode Island’s five gold medals came from the softball team. The team had lost its first two group stage games 17-8 and 18-3 against Delaware and Connecticut, respectively, on June 22. They were able to salvage one win, a 12-9 victory against Arkansas the next day, before losing to Florida in its final group stage game on June 24.
The team suffered a couple of injuries during the group stage games, one of which was Jamar Abney, who suffered a hand injury in the final group stage game. Abney’s injury was a rallying cry for the rest of the team as they developed a slogan, “Win for Jamar,” that would define the rest of the team’s run, according to Special Olympics Rhode Island President and CEO Edwin Pacheco.
In the first game of the medal round, Rhode Island was paired up against Arkansas once more. The team was down 9-3 at one point but rallied back in extra innings to pull off the 11-10 win and advance to the gold medal game.
“The enthusiasm, the excitement that came from the team was just contagious,” Pacheco said. “You think about all the memorable moments, whether it be the Red Sox or the Patriots, and these come-from-behind wins that people still talk about 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 years later, that game between Rhode Island and Arkansas was one of those moments.”
In the championship, it was another rematch, this time with Connecticut. No miracles or comebacks were needed in this game, though, as Rhode Island won 21-7 to take home the gold.
“I feel like in the gold medal match, I thought we had a lot of energy coming into this game,” said Garen Megrdichian, of Hope. “We had some urgency, and we had some confidence, so I’m really happy that we got the gold medal, and I’m just happy for our guys.”
Garen’s mom Rena attended the games and watched her son and his team’s run to the gold medal. The emotions ran high throughout the week.
“The nail-biting and anxiety that the parents go through watching them go through all this, it really was a nail-biter,” Rena Megrdichia said. “We couldn’t be more proud. We really couldn’t be more proud of what not only Garen accomplished, but this whole team, how they came together, [and] how they supported one another.”
She spoke about the team’s camaraderie despite the struggles and the emotions all the parents felt after they took home the gold.
“They just kept saying, ‘We’re going to win this for Jamar,’ and not only did they FaceTime Jamar right after the game, [but they also] called his mother to say we won this for Jamar. So, the support they all had for each other – we were just in tears. It was just one of those times where they overcame being beaten down and not doing well, and then all of a sudden, they turned it around, and they did very, very well.”
Megrdichian’s mom noted that the teams, despite it being a competition, all became friends with one another.
“They want to play each other again,” Rena Megrdichia said. “That’s how much playing against them meant to them that they would love to get together again and play these teams again. Because it was so fun for them and they really enjoyed it.”
Poirier and Megrdichian both described just getting the call that they had made it to the USA Games as a “dream come true,” and that earning the gold medal just added to an already incredible experience.
Special Olympics Rhode Island invites any Rhode Islander with an intellectual or developmental disability to join the organization and participate in a sport at no cost, according to Pacheco.
Find the full results of the USA Games here.
Local News
The vehicle’s three occupants are believed to still be inside.
A car carrying a family of three went into the Seekonk River in Rhode Island Sunday evening, authorities said.
The vehicle entered the river near the Taft Street boat ramp shortly before 7:30 p.m., Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said in a statement.
A bystander riding a jet ski heard the car dive into the water and attempted to help, while another witness called 911, according to Goncalves.
First responders arrived within three minutes of the emergency call, Goncalves noted.
The vehicle’s three occupants are believed to still be inside, The Boston Globe reported.
Recovery efforts resumed Monday, with Pawtucket police and fire personnel working alongside Rhode Island State Police and other state agencies to remove the vehicle from the river, Goncalves said.
“Conditions are extremely challenging for dive teams due to the strong current and poor underwater visibility,” she added.
A video released by the Globe shows the car being recovered from the water Monday afternoon.
Authorities have not released the identities or conditions of the occupants.
“We ask that you please keep the family and their loved ones in your prayers as our first responders continue recovery efforts,” Goncalves said.
(WJAR) — Rhode Island leaders will announce millions in funding for road improvements in Aquidneck Island on Monday.
Members of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation will announce $19,250,000 in federal funding for the project.
File image of traffic in Aquidneck Island. (WJAR)
It’s meant to improve road and sidewalk conditions on the island.
This will include high-visibility crosswalks to improve pedestrian safety.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (1)
Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman Gabe Amo are expected to attend.
-
Kansas2 minutes ago2 rescued from roof as house fire breaks out in Kansas City
-
Kentucky2 minutes agoKentucky Wildcat News: Milan Momcilovic explains why he chose UK
-
Louisiana14 minutes agoLouisiana is epicenter for red snapper fishing in Gulf of America
-
Maine17 minutes agoMaine could face $50M in penalties from federal food assistance policy changes
-
Maryland22 minutes agoHutzell: The best, worst and just plain weird of Maryland’s weak primary
-
Michigan29 minutes agoMichigan firefighter among 3 killed in Colorado. What we know
-
Massachusetts32 minutes agoWho will take care of our older and disabled people? – The Boston Globe
-
Minnesota37 minutes agoAllie Lauer Of St. Cloud Tech Claims Clay Shooting Championship With A Score Of 99
