Taylor Swift’s Wedding Guests Don’t Know Ceremony Location — Yet
Rhode Island
7 Serene Towns in Rhode Island for a Weekend Retreat
Rhode Island is a fascinating state in the US. It is known as one of the first colonies to resist the British rule. It shares a water border with New York, and you will find diverse fresh seafood and a 400-mile coastline of beaches, lakes, and engrossing history in this state.
These seven serene towns are a must-visit if you are planning a weekend retreat to Rhode Island. Prepare to have a full itinerary as you explore parks, gardens, farms, and lighthouses like the ones in Westerly and Jamestown.
Tiverton
Tiverton has always been a fishing and farming community, and this was the town’s major industry until 1900 when Menhaden oil production started. Tiverton has now become a resort town with many tourist activities.
A weekend retreat in this community will have you exploring wildlife sceneries like Sapowet Marsh and Audubon Emilie Ruecker, as well as many scenic restaurants like Boat House Waterfront Dining, Localz Burger & Cocktails, and The Red Dory. Check out exhibits from a wide range of artists at the Four Corners Gallery and Four Corner Art Center, and you might catch an art event on one of the days you are in town. Sakonnet River Bridge has a great fishing spot beneath the bridge. Explore Fort Barton and Ft. Barton Woods by hiking through the woods, then drive to Fogland Beach, where you can go kayaking and windsurfing. Stay at Bally’s Tiverton for the weekend while in town.
Westerly
Get your beach wear and sunscreen ready when visiting Westerly because there are many beaches to explore in this town bordered by the Pawcatuck River. Beaches like Misquamicut State Beach and Atlantic Beach Park.
Westerly used to be known for its granite production, but now the town focuses on textiles and tourist attractions.
Watch events and live theater performances at the cozy Granite Theatre. Take a break at Windjammer Surf Bar, where you will enjoy live music, cocktails, meals, and conversations with locals. Visit Living Sharks, America’s first shark museum, and check out Babcock-Smith House Museum, a prominent historical house once visited by General George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Watch the sun go down at Watch Hill Lighthouse and see the Napatree Point Conservation Area before bringing your adventure to a close. Retire for the night at the Weekapaug Inn beach resort or Ocean House, which offers a free stay on the fourth night.
New Shoreham
New Shoreham is a small town on Block Island named after a village in England, Shoreham, Kent. The town’s many landmarks and beaches make it a great summer vacation destination.
Start your weekend holiday by going beach hopping at Monhegan Bluffs Beach, Block Island State Beach, Scotch Beach, Vaill Beach, Crescent Beach, and Frederick J. Benson Town Beach.
Tour beautiful vegetation and watch wildlife activities at Rodman Hollow and Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. Eat like a royal while enjoying enthralling views at Ballard’s Beach Resort, where you can stay the night. If you are looking for a place to relax, take a walk, or go picnicking, Clayhead Trail is a great route. Book lovers will love the Island Free Library, where you can attend book events with kids. Shop until you drop at Star Department Store Inc., then visit Settlers Rock, a historical landmark and great biking trail.
Hopkinton
Hopkinton is the first town travelers encounter when coming from the north to Rhode Island. This city also encompasses two villages, with the primary villages being Hope Valley and Ashaway District.
The community is filled with nature preserves. Explore these protected areas by hiking through Narragansett Trail Trailhead, Grills Preserve, Ell Pond Preserve Trailhead, and Audubon Long Pond Woods Wildlife Refuge. If you are interested in summer camps for yourself or your kids, Coastal Ninja Warriors & Summer Camp and Yawgoog Scout Reservation host incredible camping opportunities. Bask in the serenity of nature at Long Pond and Ashville Pond. Get fresh farm foods at Festival Farm in Hope Valley and Pelloni Farms. Arcadia Management Area in Hope Valley is the largest recreational area in Rhode Island. Visit the park with friends and family.
Jamestown
Jamestown is a quiet farm community on the west side of Newport. Tourism in Jamestown was a thriving industry in 1903 when the town had about nine resort hotels. The vast waterfront Bay Voyage Hotel is the only standing hotel today.
Jamestown has many old tales to share with visitors. Learn about the town’s interesting history by speaking with locals at Beavertail State Park and Fort Wetherill State Park when you are in these scenic areas. When you visit the Claiborne Pell/Newport Suspension Bridge, see the shack in the area for some fresh lobster. The Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport is a beautiful place to rest and enjoy the mesmerizing ocean view. Explore Dutch Island and its Lighthouse for the great view, boating activities, and seafood. Do not miss out on the Jamestown Arts Center exhibits and a tour of the historical parts of the town, like Windmill Hill Historic District and Conanicut Island Sanctuary nature preserve. If you prefer to spend the night in Newport, check out OceanCliff Hotel.
Scituate
In 1710, the first people to settle in Scituate came from a town with the same name in Massachusetts. They had Indian origin because another name for the town in the native language is “Satuit,” which means “a cold river.” The town used to be a part of Providence, a big city in Rhode Island, but eventually separated from the city in 1731. Scituate also played major roles in the Revolutionary War and World War II by forging cannons and facilitating communications.
Start your retreat by visiting the historic Scituate Reservoir, built to provide water for Providence city. Visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo at Providence, which has over 800 animals and 160 species, with family or friends. Get the best book collections and coffee at The Providence Athenaeum. If you love gardens and flowers, check out the beautiful Scituate Nursery Farm & Greenhouses. To be a part of the Scituate Art Festival, where tasty meals and handmade crafts are sold, visit Scituate in October. Lodge at America’s Best Value Inn or Econo Lodge Cranston in Providence.
Lincoln
Lincoln town was named for the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It has about 17 sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. One of them is the old Whipple-Cullen House and Barn.
Moffett Mill is a historical landmark and one of the surviving buildings in Lincoln. Enjoy your vacation to the fullest by going park and beach hopping to Lincoln Woods State Park and Beach and Blackstone River State Park. Visit museums and historical houses like Captain Wilbur Kelly House Transportation Museum, Eleazer Arnold House, and Hearthside House Museum, where you can learn new things about the town. Do not also forget to take pictures of these beautiful places. Eat at Hartley’s Original Pork Pies. Retire for the night in Courtyard by Marriott Providence or Bally’s Twin River.
Rhode Island is full of eventful towns and cities. From Tiverton to Lincoln, there is no dull moment. If you are not fishing or eating fresh farm foods, you can relax on the beach and watch amazing scenery. Enjoy a serene weekend retreat to the fullest in any of these seven towns.
Rhode Island
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s 1st Choice for Wedding Was Rhode Island: Why They Pivoted to NYC
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce initially had their sights set on a marvelous coastal wedding, multiple sources exclusively tell Us Weekly.
“Taylor and Travis really wanted their wedding in Rhode Island, and June 13 was the date, but security wouldn’t have worked because it could get out of hand with that kind of scale of an event,” an insider says.
Though everything was initially being planned in Rhode Island — where Swift, 36, has a mansion in the lavish Watch Hill neighborhood of Westerly — the insider notes the pop star had booked multiple venues from coast to coast on different dates.
According to the source, “Ocean House [in Westerly] was planned at one point, and then plans changed to New York.”
The insider, meanwhile, tells Us that Swift’s security “had to assess all the venues to see what made sense.”
“Rhode Island wasn’t great because the nature of the access and the perimeters were too difficult to secure,” the source explains. “So the main issue with Rhode Island ended up being security.”
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Getty Images
“Everything was being planned in Rhode Island,” added a source. “And so many people wanted to come that plans had to change because it became bigger.”
Swift and Kelce, 36, are now rumored to be tying the knot at Madison Square Garden in New York City over the July 4 holiday weekend. While the exact location and date of the nuptials have not yet been confirmed, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared to hint at the wedding taking place in the city during a June 15 press conference earlier this month.
“I am fully confident in the work of the NYPD, as well as our state partners, in delivering that safe experience,” he told reporters. “We are the biggest city in the country. We are used to big events, and we are incredibly excited for the [World Cup]. We know it coincides with the Knicks’ [NBA] Finals run. We know it coincides with July 4, America 250, Taylor Swift’s wedding — all happening at the same time — and we are so excited to welcome the world here.”
Additionally, a permit was filed with NYC in June, the mayor’s spokesperson Dora Pekec confirmed to Us after The New York Times reported on a permit to close the streets surrounding MSG from July 2 to midday July 4 for an event on July 3.
City sources also confirmed to Us that the Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO), which issues the permits, is in touch with the NYPD regarding a possible influx of street and pedestrian traffic.
Though Swift and Kelce’s Rhode Island wedding plans fell through, the “I Knew It, I Knew You” singer’s Watch Hill mansion had an uptick in action last week when security was spotted swarming the area. A group of unidentified women were reportedly seen on the balcony wearing matching robes — three in black and one in white — sparking speculation about a bachelorette party.
A woman who appeared to be Swift’s childhood friend Abigail Anderson Berard was also seen on the property with her 2-year-old son.
Meanwhile, Travis celebrated what was perceived as his bachelor party in Los Angeles and San Diego. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end and his brother, Jason Kelce, as well as Travis’ teammate Patrick Mahomes and others, were spotted at a Chris Lake concert, a Dave Chappelle comedy show, a night out at the members-only Bird Street Club and more.
Swift and Kelce began dating in the summer of 2023 and got engaged in August 2025.
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Journal Staff
Rhode Island Energy is currently installing advanced smart meters for all electricity customers. Clean energy and environmental advocates have championed advanced metering for decades because the systems enable incentives for conservation, solar integration and energy storage. The primary vehicle for realizing these benefits is Time-Varying Rates (TVR).
Unlike legacy meters, advanced meters track when electricity is used, not just how much is used. TVR encourages customers to shift heavy usage, like running a clothes dryer or charging an electric vehicle, to off-peak overnight hours when wholesale power is cheap and cleaner. This flattens the grid’s peak demand, brings down wholesale energy costs for everyone and reduces our reliance on polluting “peaker” power plants.
The Rhode Island Public Utility Commission (PUC) is charged with balancing the interests of utility customers with value to utility shareholders. It sets the formulas by which the utility is compensated.
The primary means the utility is compensated is based on a Return on Equity invested (ROE) that is predetermined by the PUC and currently set at 9.275%. Rhode Island Energy’s capital investments are funded through roughly 51% equity (shareholder capital) and 49% debt. For every $100 million the utility spends on infrastructure, about $51 million is financed via equity, allowing shareholders to collect an annual pre-tax profit of 9.275% on that portion, or roughly $4.73 million. The more the utility spends, the more their shareholders earn.
At a cost of over $188 million for the new meters, Rhode Island Energy shareholders will collect nearly $9 million a year in profit for 20 years from the equity portion of that investment alone, while also saving money on labor by eliminating the need for truck based drive-by meter readers.
But advanced metering was supposed to benefit ratepayers as well as the utility. Though the meter expenditures were approved by the PUC in 2023 and the meters installations are expected to be completed by the end of this year, it is expected to take until at least 18 months after the meter rollout is completed to implement the billing system infrastructure needed to enable Time-Varying Rates.
The upgrades that deliver more profit to the utility bottom line was fast tracked, while the investment needed to implement the primary benefits to ratepayers is being slow walked. Why weren’t the software upgrades and hardware deployment run in parallel?
Right now, the PUC is weighing a huge general rate case (Docket No. 25-45-GE). Rhode Island Energy has proposed aggressively hiking its profit margin, seeking to raise its ROE from 9.275% to 10.75% and expand its equity share from 51% to 57%.
In their 2022 advanced metering filing, Rhode Island Energy suggested the new infrastructure would yield $729 million in benefits over 20 years. So far, the utility is seeing plenty of that benefit on its bottom line, while ratepayers have mostly seen higher costs. The PUC should reject the utility’s requested rate increases, preserve the current rate structure, and insist that Time-Varying Rates be fully operational before any further rate changes are considered.
Fred Unger is a retired energy project developer and clean energy advocate based in Providence.
With wildfires becoming more frequent in Rhode Island, the state’s stockpile of specialty hoses to battle these blazes is being stretched thin.
Target 12 investigator Tim White got a firsthand look at the condition of the critical firefighting tools in Rhode Island and learned what’s being done to repair or replace them.
Watch the Target 12 exclusive Tuesday at 5 p.m. on WPRI 12.
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