8 of the Most Overlooked Towns in Rhode Island

Rhode Island, the Ocean State, is the smallest in the US. This little slice of New England heaven covers about 1,545 square miles, but it is picturesque! Often reminiscent of Europe, particularly England, where the first settlers came and named them after their hometowns, Tiverton and Wickford are a real blend of European architecture with New England vibes in the air.

Little Compton is “the coolest town you’ve never heard of,” and Jamestown covers a whole island with so many attractions, like Mackerel Cove Beach, a beautiful cove, and Fort Wetherill State Park. Warren boasts a diverse cultural makeup and is one of the country's oldest working waterfronts. Find the most overlooked towns in Rhode Island for your next getaway.

Cumberland

This northeasternmost town in Providence County is often overlooked despite its sizable area near the Massachusetts border. With a history dating back to the settlement in 1635, Cumberland peaks out of a whole lot of inland Rhode Island's natural beauty of woods and parks. Visitors can explore the towpaths and around on a bike via beautiful trails, including Diamond Hill Park for mountain biking, Mercy Woods, and pretty views over two reservoirs. Dotted with small shops and cafes like Marylou's Coffee, for dinner, try the most popular Davenport's Family Restaurant or Cumberland House of Pizza, or vie for a delicious bite at Ollie's Diner.

Cumberland wouldn't be the same without its truly thought-out conveniences along the Blackstone River through the heart, which is what locals love most about living here—the opportunity for riverside strolls in the morning, over lunch, or a family afternoon at the Blackstone River State Park. Beat the summer heat at the unmissable Ice Cream Machine Co., while it is just 15 minutes northwest to World War II Memorial Park in Woonsocket, which features a splash pad with a beach area for an afternoon. Visitors can linger until an evening performance at the highly reputable Stadium Theatre, or, back in town, Diamond Hill Vineyards is a statewide destination.

East Greenwich

Home to 14,573, East Greenwich, virtually in the middle of the state, is a hub of culture and brilliant architecture, including the beautiful Varnum House Museum in a Georgian-style mansion. As a charming Main Street town, there's something for every taste of a quick getaway, like a girl's shopping trip to ZuZu’s Petal, named after the youngest daughter in It’s a Wonderful Life, to go with a piece of vintage jewelry from the Harbour Galleries. Beat the heat with an iced vanilla latte at MainStreet Coffee and Toscana Lounge while strolling, shopping, and sightseeing on a sunny summer day, and check out YJ Contemporary Fine Art, the largest Contemporary gallery in the state, while the guys banter in a courtyard at LinesSider Brewing Company.

The Armory of the Kentish Guard is a hit with history fans, while the medieval-style red brick Varnum Memorial Armory dates back to the early 1900s. Friends can recoup in the evening at the historic venue of the Greenwich Odeum, a state-wide destination for a comedy show, a live concert, or a film in a beautifully restored building circa 1926. Minutes from downtown, Goddard Memorial State Park features trails and a beautiful, quiet beachfront to while away a few afternoons, while Finns Harbourside offers a beautiful ocean view over dinner at sunset. Before departing, The Green Door is a must for handmade carvings and statues, as well as eclectic and elegant gifts for your home, while the kids will be happy with cookie dough cupcakes from Silver Spoon Bakery.

Jamestown

The island town of Jamestown is a little overlooked gem with a whole lot of coastal charm. Under an hour from bustling Providence, visitors enjoy easy access via Hwy. 138 from East Greenwich or Portsmouth on the west across the beautiful Claiborne Pell/Newport Bridge, which overlooks the charming Plum Beach Light. Home to Beavertail State Park and the historic Beavertail Lighthouse at the tip from 1856, visitors can hike, rent a kayak or canoe, and explore the salt marshes and the town from different views, like Clingstone, a historical residence on its own scrap of land.

Back on the mainland, an afternoon at Sunset Beach or the nearby Parker Farm, a wooded spot for hiking, to the Park Dock Waterfront Public Access Point or a stroll through the hilltop Fort Getty Park at sunset. For entertainment, there's the popular Jamestown Arts Center, JB's on the Water, shopping, and local museums, and don't miss the fascinating Windmill Hill Historic District, with a three-story windmill on Windmill Hill. Mackerel Cove Beach, a beautiful cove, and Fort Wetherill State Park are state-wide destinations, with the latter being a former military camp adapted for hiking, boating, and picnics overlooking the ocean atop rugged granite cliffs.

Little Compton

Little Compton, the perfect small town for an introduction to the Ocean State, retains the feel of Rhode Island decades ago in a sandwich between the Sakonnet River to the west and the town of Westport to the east. Simmons Mill Management Area is a utopian slice, while the endless South Shore Beach looks straight from a dream and feels like the answer to your getaway prayers. Established in 1747 as a rural farming community and never over-commercialized, its historic charm is sprinkled along the streets, a doused overtop Compton Common Historic District, where Greek Revival and Victorian buildings jostle with churches and historic homes for a feel of a few hundred years ago.

From nature preserves to public beaches, Little Compton's is Rhode Island's best secret summer vacation of bucolic, small-town charm, earning itself the title of “The Coolest Towns You’ve Never Heard of.” Home to about 3,400, the uncrowded feel magnifies the natural beauty all around that will have you in awe, starting with the sudden sweeping views of the Atlantic shimmering under the sun upon approach to the town. The anticipation is never let down, with each corner being photogenic, bringing a cry of joy at each new landmark and feature, where even lodging, like Stone House Inn, is on the National Register of Historic Places, right by Lloyd's Beach.

Narragansett

Narragansett is home to some 14,500 lucky locals living steps from a breathtaking shoreline, where sunbathing, swimming, and water sports are part of the lifestyle. Overlooked in favor of its neighbors like Newport and the popular Cape Cod, Narragansett is never crowded to share the local joys, like ocean-gazing, the manicured streets, and hiking trails, which stay pristinely quiet through the beautiful John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge. Once a thriving resort for prominent families from New York and Boston, the feel of "high society" is still in the air, as are their “cottages,” more like oceanfront mansions, evoking real estate envy. Feel part of the "in crowd" at one of the grand Victorian hotels along Ocean Road on a relaxing, self-pampered vacation full of lounging along the beach.

With paddleboarders and surfers in the water, it is too tempting not to hit the waves, while the historic Point Judith Lighthouse is open to the public for panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Galilee, a picturesque community, exudes the salt-of-the-earth vibes with local fishermen at work on your next dinner, as well as fresh seafood shacks at the waterfront. Whether you're a surfer looking for the best of the East Coast breaks or a relentless bather, there's a beach for every taste, and make them arguably some of the nicest in New England. The sprawling State Beach is always a hit, while the local surfers and sun-worshipers gravitate towards the central sand crescent of Narragansett Town Beach, and families enjoy the calm bayside surf.

Tiverton

Home to some 8,200 people, Tiverton's small-town appeal and outdoor attractions at the border with Massachusetts may as well run for the unglorified title of the most underrated town in New England. Finding this salt of the earth in the summer on the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay across the Sakonnet River feels like discovering a gem for the best vacation in the Ocean State. From Sandy Beach to the popular Bally's Tiverton and the winding trails through a stunning landscape of wildflowers in Weetamoo Woods and oak-holly forests, Tiverton and the surrounding area feel like a time warp, which makes for a simple yet authentic getaway experience.

With its winding stone walls and quaint stores that house quite modern amenities and goodies for yourself, your home, and your friends back home, it is too addicting not to turn a leisure stroll into browsing art galleries, antique hoarding, or hunting for some other sumptuous delicacies at Tiverton Four Corners. With so much water surrounding the historic town, the outdoors are justifiably lush for activities and recreation, like some of the state's most beautiful hiking at the Audubon Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge. Choose the Boat House Cottage if you can't get enough of the sea views, while Escobar’s Farmhouse Inn epitomizes the quaint farmtown charm that Tiverton never outgrew.

Warren

Warren, another town snug up against Massachusetts within the surrounding bays, boasts a diverse cultural makeup, including a deep Native American heritage. This town of just over 11,100 was the original site of the great Wampanoag village of Sowams. Right downtown, visitors will find one of the country's oldest working waterfronts, open for public access, as well as many places to try ethnic cuisine, from seafood to international flavors, like the Wharf, right by the popular Blount Clam Shack & Market. Warren's robust art scene and entertainment for each taste include historic sites that have been fortified and repurposed to preserve architectural integrity. Reborn as craftsman workshops, offices, and retail markets, four of its old industrial buildings still tell the story of the historic town.

Warren's historic district is great to wander and admire well-preserved colonial architecture along cobblestone streets with charming homes and quaint shops before a picnic at the nearby Colt State Park with hiking trails including scenic overlooks over Narragansett Bay. Don't miss the chance to catch an evening show at the neighborhood performance art venues like the Galactic Theater. Replete with charming bed-and-breakfasts, nothing feels better than kicking up your feet after paddling Warren Bike Path than at one of the historic inns that complete the peaceful haven feel of Warren on a relaxing seaside escapade.

Wickford

Another RI gem christened after a town in England, Wickford, was established in 1709 on the western side of Narragansett Bay. Unjustly overlooked, this teeny seaside village, the seat of Rhode Island’s North Kingstown town, is a perfect blend of European charm and New England vibes. Affording beautiful views all around, one of the East Seaboard's most well-protected natural harbors is a dream for boating adventurers. Hosting a welcoming base for travelers with a dose of New England charm along tree-lined streets, Wickford is home to one of the nation’s largest collections of meticulously preserved Colonial and Federal buildings, including churches and unique small-town businesses.

Visitors can wander endlessly in the sea breeze through Wickford Village, with stunning water views peeking in between family-owned shops, boutiques, and home décor stores. After poking through the treasure trove of 17th- and 18th-century homes, art galleries, and a few finds from antique stores, settle down over some excellent seafood and drinks at Wickford on the Water. Don't miss the historic Poplar Point Lighthouse, the beautiful Wickford Cove, and Wickford Harbor at sunset. Wickford Town Dock is another epic spot for scenery, right by the town's most popular, Gardner's Wharf Seafood, to stock up for a short drive back and delight friends at home with an inspired dinner.

From frozen-in-time rural villages like Cumberland, dating back to the 1600s, to East Greenwich's brilliant architectural landscape and heavenly beaches in Narragansett, these eight underrated towns embody the essence of New England.

Nestled along the Atlantic coast, the small towns epitomize the diminutive state from an array of sides. Each is different, but all as one, offering solitude, serenity, and breathtaking scenery. There is a whole lot of natural beauty to take in that the Ocean State is known for the world over.