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Rhode Island’s small size belies its ample opportunities for recreation and cultural pursuits. Whether seeking a leisurely sail on Narragansett Bay, taking in the collections of a museum, or going for a hike, the Ocean State offers diversions for anyone to enjoy.

Numerous museums showcase the culture and history of Rhode Island. Fine art lovers will enjoy the Newport Art Museum in Newport, which collects, preserves, exhibits and interprets contemporary and historic works particularly by Newport and New England artists, and offers educational opportunities. The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum in Providence showcases an incredible collection of over 80,000 works of art from ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman pieces, to French Impressionist works, to 18th and 19th century American decorative art, as well as contemporary works in various media; the collection is displayed in 45 galleries on three floors. The National Museum of American Illustration (NMAI) in Newport houses works from the "Golden Age of American Illustration", which capture American civilization in drawings and paintings from books, advertisements, art prints, and periodicals; examples include works of Norman Rockwell and Maxfield Parrish. Natural history lovers will appreciate the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Providence, which features over 250,000 objects ranging from natural history collections of preserved plants and animals, earth science specimens, and cultural collections from North America; it is the state’s only natural history museum and is home to the state’s only planetarium. At the Newport Historical Society and Museum of Newport History, visitors can learn about the region’s history, dating from the 17th century onward, and featuring decorative arts, historical photographs, and audio-visual programs that recount the rich history of Newport and its people.

Rhode Island is home to a thriving performing arts community. Orchestral music lovers will enjoy the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School, based in Providence, performing for over 60 seasons and comprised of more than 70 professional musicians. Opera aficionados can revel in performances by Opera Providence, which provides accessible opera to the community and also features a free outdoor concert series. Ballet can be enjoyed via Festival Ballet Providence, Rhode Island’s ballet theatre, and the State Ballet of Rhode Island. Fans of the stage can enjoy theatre at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Theatre by the Sea in Matunuck, the Firehouse Theater in Newport, and the Providence Black Repertory Company, to name a few.

With its long and storied history, Rhode Island offers a wealth of historic sites to peruse. The Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence commemorates Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island and Providence, and a refugee from Massachusetts who symbolized religious freedom. The Slater Mill Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark Site in Pawtucket. The mill is a living history museum where visitors can witness the way of life for New England villagers, inventors, artisans, and entrepreneurs at the start of the American Industrial Revolution; the museum features the Slater Mill and vintage textile machinery, a replica of the Wilkinson Mill, and the Sylvanus Brown House, where weaving, spinning, cooking, and quilting comprised daily life. At Touro Synagogue National Historic Site in Newport, visitors can witness the Touro Synagogue, dedicated in 1762, and representing religious freedom for Sephardim who fled the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal to found the congregation in 1658. Fort Adams in Newport is the largest coastal fortification in the U.S.; here, visitors can explore soldiers’ housing, the tunnel system, bastions, and casements of this fort, which operated from 1824 to 1950. At Astors’ Beechwood Mansion in Newport, visitors can experience this historic mansion through actors who represent aristocrats and servants, hearkening to the mansion’s historic position as a foundation of American society. In addition to these and other historic sites, Rhode Island also offers numerous Heritage Trails, such as the Block Island Heritage Trail, the Newport County Gilded Age Heritage Trail, and the Newport County Colonial Landmark Trail, to name a few.

For outdoor recreation lovers, Rhode Island packs in numerous opportunities within its small size. Wildlife viewers will revel in the state’s five National Wildlife Refuges: Sachuset Point National Wildlife Refuge, Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge, the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, and the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. Water activity lovers have much to be thankful in Rhode Island. The nickname Ocean State is given due to the state’s most prominent geographical feature: the Atlantic Ocean, and more specifically Narragansett Bay, bisects the state and therefore carves 400 miles (644 kilometers) of shoreline. As a result, Rhode Island is a paradise for sailing, fishing, swimming at over 100 beaches, surfing, skin diving, kayaking, cruising, lighthouse touring, seal watching, and whale watching.

For family friendly activities away from the ocean, Rhode Island offers the Roger Williams park Zoo in Providence, which features over 1,000 animals from around the world, including polar bears, snow leopards, moon bears, giraffes, and elephants, in naturalistic settings; and the Providence Children’s Museum, a hands-on experience for children aged 1 to 11 and their families, and featuring such interactive exhibits as Waterways, the Children’s Garden, Teeth, and more.

While Rhode Island does not host major league sports teams, it is home to a number of minor league teams. Baseball fans can cheer the Pawtucket Red Sox, and hockey fans can revel in the Providence Bruins.

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