Top Reasons to Go

Mansions: See how the social elite lived during Newport's Gilded Age on a tour of Cornelius Vanderbilt's opulent 70-room "summer cottage" known as The Breakers.

Historic Street: Follow Benefit Street on Providence's East Side for a mile-long walk through history, and see ornate homes built by leading Colonial merchants.

Nature: Block Island is one of the most serene spots on the Eastern Seaboard, especially at Rodman's Hollow, a glacial outwash basin, where winding paths lead to the sea.

Sand: Take your pick of South County's numerous sugar-white beaches, including East Matunuck State Beach in South Kingstown.

Food Enclave: From food trucks to upscale dining, Providence has an exciting culinary scene fueled in large part by young chefs trained at Johnson & Wales University.