Stay Rhode Island Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has an interesting history. Roger Williams founded the colony in 1636. He guaranteed religious and political freedom. Religious refugees from the Massachusetts Bay Colony settled in Rhode Island. It was one of the most liberal colonies. Rhode Island is a New England state bordered by Massachusetts to the north and east, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, and Connecticut to the west. It has the least area of any state; in fact, it's just over half the size of Delaware, the second smallest state. Because of its small size, Rhode Island is known as "Little Rhody." The state is also the second most crowded after New Jersey; it ranks second in people per square mile. About one-sixth of the state's residents live in Providence, Rhode Island's capital and largest city. Rhode Island's landscape includes 36 islands. However, most of the state is part of the mainland of North America. The state is almost divided into two parts by the Narragansett Bay and has over 400 miles of coastline. There are lagoons and salt marshes along the state's Atlantic shore. There are also rolling hills on Block Island.

Rhode Island's capital city of Providence offers a rich cultural and architectural heritage that stretches back to 1636 when it was founded by Roger Williams. In recent years its amazingly diverse treasures have been discovered by more and more visitors. That's no surprise because it has one of the largest and most diverse concentrations of preserved architecture and landmarks in America, a nationally recognized restaurant scene, a vibrant art community, world class museums, top notch theatre, great shopping and much more. It Water Place Park and River Walk, home to the acclaimed WaterFire have come to symbolize the City's rebirth. The Providence Arts & Cultural Trail is so filled with enriching things to do and see that you'll be busy day and night. You'll visit museums and galleries with works by old masters, Impressionists and contemporary artists. See our stages light up with a full calendar of exciting theatre, music and dance. Explore an 18th century Athenaeum where Edgar Allen Poe and Sarah Whitman courted. It's a trail that you never want to end.

Rhode Island has a humid climate, with cold winters and short summers. The average annual temperature is 10°C. At Providence the temperature ranges from an average of –2°C in January to 23°C in July. The record high temperature 40°C, was registered in Providence on 2 August 1975; the record low, –31°C, at Kingston on 11 January 1942. In Providence, the average annual precipitation (1971–2000) was 46.5 inches snowfall averages 37 inches a year. Rhode Island's weather is highly changeable, with storms and hurricanes an occasional threat. On 21 September 1938, a hurricane and tidal wave took a toll of 262 lives; Hurricane Carol, on 31 August 1954, left 19 dead, and property damage was estimated at $90 million. A blizzard on 6–7 February 1978 dropped a record 28.6 inches of snow on the state, as measured at Warwick, and caused 21 storm-attributed deaths.

Newport: One of New England's oldest towns and one of America's first playgrounds for the super-rich, Newport, Rhode Island is a year round destination with wonderful hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfast inns that offers activities for the whole family to enjoy! This seaside town has shopping, great dining and plenty of tourist attractions along cobblestone streets. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Newport comes alive as one of the biggest college party towns in New England.

Providence: Providence, Rhode Island's state capital is a survivor. After its industries left for the South in the 1950s, it sprang back as a cultural center with a thriving arts community. Providence's historic East Side was spared the wrecking ball in the urban renewal drive of the 1960s, leaving entire streets of colonial homes intact. Brown University anchors the East Side, and the commercial streets nearby are peppered with restaurants and shops that cater to the college crowd.

Charlestown: Charlestown Rhode Island is a beautiful little beach town in Rhode Island. Mostly a place where you would own a summer cottage, it also has some beaches which are open to the public. A popular spot for a day trip, one of the biggest attractions is Burlingame Park. Besides a camping area, there is also an area for day use. Route 1 runs right through Charlestown and there are several hotels and restaurants located right on this route.

Rhode Island is a popular place among tourists because of its landscape and pleasant climate. People visit the state because of the scenic beauty of the Narragansett Bay and its offshore islands. If you like boating, fishing, and other water sports, visits Rhode Island. Dine on quahogs, a type of clam, in Warwick, the state's second largest city -- it's located on the Narragansett Bay. When you're vacationing at Narragansett Bay, see the Naval War College. The state's beautiful Newport Mansions, many of which were built as summer homes for some of America's wealthiest families, also attract many tourists.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA), which has its hub in downtown Providence, manages local bus transit for the state, serving 38 out of 39 Rhode Island communities. RIPTA has 58 bus lines, 2 tourist trolley lines known as LINK, and a seasonal ferry to Newport.

Rail: The MBTA commuter rail Providence/Stoughton Line services downtown Providence as well as T. F. Green Airport and connects to Boston. Amtrak's Acela Express has a station in Providence and links the city to other cities on the Northeast Corridor. Kingston station is served by the Northeast Regional, and is the only place where you can stand 2 feet away from the Acela Express, which runs past the station at 150 miles per hour. Free transportation between Providence and Boston is available for military personnel via train. Ferry services link Block Island, Prudence Island, and Hog Island to the Rhode Island mainland.

Aviation: The major airports are T. F. Green Airport in Warwick and Logan International Airport in Boston. A commuter rail brings travelers from T.F. Green Airport to Providence and Boston.

Highways: Interstate 95 runs diagonally across the state connecting major population centers, while the auxiliary interstate 295 provides a bypass around Providence. Narragansett Bay has a number of bridge crossings connecting Aquidneck Island and Conanicut Island to the mainland, most notably the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge and the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge. I-95 is one of the nation's deadliest highways, especially during the summer months. "Between 2004 and 2008, there were 36 fatal accidents on the highway, at a rate of nearly one accident for every mile."