Although it takes just 45 minutes to drive from one end of Rhode Island to the other, the smallest State offers more than 640km (400 miles) of coastline, broad sandy beaches, parks, cities and a wealth of historic attractions. It was also the first State to declare independence from Great Britain on 4 May 1776 and the first that passed laws against slavery in 1774. Providence underwent a major facelift in the 1990s that has resulted in the renaissance of Rhode Island’s capital city. The revitalisation project included the rerouting of two rivers and the building of beautifully landscaped pedestrian walkways and Venetian-style footbridges. At the hub of the project is Waterplace Park, a 1.6 hectare (4 acre) urban park that surrounds a tidal basin. The East Side is filled with many fine restored homes, and Brown University includes several 18th-century buildings. The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is one of a kind in the State, with collections containing over 24,000 archaeological and ethnographic specimens, with the focus on Native American and Pacific Island heritage. Other highlights include the RISD Museum, an art museum which houses 80,000 works of art and boasts an interesting Japanese collection; while in the adjacent city of Pawtucket, the Slater Mill Historic Site, the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution, is also open for tours.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation, being approximately 37 miles from east to west and 48 miles from north to south. Within this area over one million people reside. Most of the residents live in or near Providence, the state capital and largest city. Providence lies at the northern reaches of Narragansett Bay. Because this city, like most others around the state, has existed for nearly 350 years it harbors many historical attractions. Providence is also a cultural center of the state. Narragansett Bay is the most outstanding natural feature within Rhode Island. The bay leads 28 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean and Rhode Island Sound.

The large number of public beaches and piers in Rhode Island provide ample water access for fishing, sailing, swimming, boating and whale watching. Inland recreation includes hiking, biking and camping. During the winter months many state parks are open for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.