I absolutely love making these lists for small states. Everything is so compressed into a small space that I can visit a higher concentration of places. It makes it so easy to get a great scope of the state as a whole. This time I’m focusing on the smallest US state, Rhode Island!
What was surprising to me while looking up things to do in Rhode Island was the number of haunted places! I could make this entire list up of what reads as great places to look for ghosts. The other surprising thing? There was vampire panic in the 1800s and let me tell you, I was not expecting vampires in Rhode Island.
Spookies
That brings me to the first place on my list – Exeter, RI. Home to Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Exeter is a hot spot for vampire lore. Alleged vampire Mercy Brown was a resident in Exeter and is buried at Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Exeter is also home to the Ladd School, which was the center of human rights violations and malpractice suits. It is reportedly very haunted.
The story of Mercy Brown is quite intriguing, and any ghost worth its salt should have a good backstory. Another fascinating story I came upon was that of the Foster Witch, Dolly Ellen Cole. According to lore (history?), she cursed the town of Foster for burning her daughter alive in her house. That means the entire town is haunted, just like Exeter.
Speaking of curses, there is one place that seems very unique and super spooky. That would be the curse of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of West Warwick. Not only is it supposedly cursed, but it was cursed by Protestants in the area when it was built. According to lore, the woman who broke ground to build the church would be destined to be buried underneath it. Granted, she died pretty soon afterward along with her two children and she is buried on the church grounds. She is said to haunt the church as a nice ghost, which is also interesting as a result of a curse. I’m excited to check it out and see if I think the place is even haunted.
Of course, all of those stories pale in comparison the the ghost story itself – The Conjuring. That’s right, the infamous “conjuring house” is located in Rhode Island. Old Brook Farm is the inspiration for the franchise and it is notoriously haunted. Considered one of the most haunted places in the US, it seems to be a place that would turn skeptics into believers. I will absolutely report back my findings.
Rhode Island Cuisine
Hauntings and vampires aside, Rhode Island is also known for its cuisine. Clams, to be exact, and let me assure you I will not be partaking. That being said, there are quite a few local dishes that it seems everyone should try when they visit the state (other than clams). Pizza strips and Del’s lemonade top the list. I wouldn’t imagine that regular ole lemonade would top the list of things to try in a whole state, so it must be good. Pizza strips are apparently a popular local dish that seem pretty basic (strips of pizza dough with pizza sauce on top) but some times the most basic dishes are the best.
Rhode Island is also the home of Johnny Cakes (not to be confused with the YouTube celebrity) and coffee milk. I’m quite excited to try both! Coffee milk is really just milk with a splash of coffee but that sounds much better than coffee with a splash of milk. Johnny Cakes are essentially pancakes, but made with cornmeal. I can’t say that these would be good together, but I do feel like I want to pair them.
Sightseeing
Rhode Island only has four national sites – Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Roger Williams National Memorial, Touro Synagogue National Historic Site, and Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail. For a state that is only 48 miles long at its longest point, I can’t imagine it will be hard to hit all of these places. The Blackstone River Valley looks full of history, so that is number one on my list. The Touro Synagogue is a close second. Its high ranking on the list of architectural buildings from the 18th century and is a very important Jewish historical landmark.
Newport is a city with a lot of draw. With lots of charm and lots of things to do here, I decided just to list a few that I thought sounded the most interesting. Cliff Walk looks absolutely stunning – like something out of a movie! You can see both the ocean and the elaborate mansions of the area while on this walk. Ocean Drive is a similar idea, except instead of a 3.5 mile walk, its a 10 mile drive along the coastline. Brenton Point State Park is where you’ll end up. It, too, has gorgeous views. It even boasts an abandoned Gilded Age mansion!
Providence Island is a hidden gem that can be reached from Bristol via ferry. Its a different pace from the mainland and the touristy towns. This island is mostly protected land with some historical features and absolutely no shops or restaurants! There’s the Farnham Farm and a one room schoolhouse as well as the Sandy Point Lighthouse, making the whole island feel simply idyllic.
The largest city in Rhode Island, Providence promises to have plenty to do and see. Normally, I wouldn’t add a university to the list, but Brown University sounds like a must-see. I’ve never toured an Ivy League campus but more importantly – one from the 18th century! Blithewold Mansion has 33 acres of gardens as well as an arboretum so you really get an all-in-one kind of visit. You can see the gorgeous interiors of the area mansions as well as enjoy plants, plants, and more plants.
Providence also seems to boast something that I haven’t come across as a destination: thrifting. I’m always wary of a place that specializes in antique or vintage clothing (usually overpriced and way outside my budget) but you bet I’ll be visiting The Vault Collective. They specialize in clothing from the late 19th century into the 1990’s, so even if I can’t afford to purchase anything, it will be a treat for the eyes.
There is so much more to talk about and see in Rhode Island, and I’m stoked to be able to visit! Tell me what I’m missing and what I absolutely need to see while I’m there!
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