10 Best Things to Do in Rhode Island This Summer 2025

Whether you’re craving coastal views, culture, or culinary surprises, Rhode Island delivers in a big way this summer. From sipping bubbly at Castle Hill Inn to watching world-class polo matches in Newport and diving into the food scene at Providence’s new Track 15, these can’t-miss experiences prove that the Ocean State is small but seriously mighty. Explore our top picks for the best things to do in Rhode Island this summer—including beach strolls, pinball palaces, and a sunset toast or two.

10 Best Things to Do in Rhode Island This Summer

1. Drink in a Sunset at Castle Hill Inn – Raise a glass to golden hour from Newport’s most iconic lawn.

If there’s a more glorious slope of lawn in New England than the one at Newport’s Castle Hill Inn, it’s probably not open to everyone—but Castle Hill’s is. Claim an Adirondack chair (first come, first served), and order bubbly or a glass of crisp white wine. You have everything you need to chef’s kiss the sun goodnight.

2. Have a Sand Blast in Charlestown – Atlantis Rising returns with epic art—and a new summer vibe.

South County’s fun-for-all Atlantis Rising International Sand Sculpture Competition returns after a one-year hiatus, and it’s relocating to a new venue and moving up from October to May. Yay! Head to Ninigret Park in Charlestown May 30–June 1 to marvel at massive, intricately carved sand creations. Live music, food, photo ops, and locally made goods add to the festive energy—and keep an eye out for the two ginormous troll sculptures tucked into the 227-acre park last year by Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo.

3. Eat Your Way Through Track 15 in Providence – Union Station’s next act? A sizzling new food hall.

Providence’s new Track 15 food hall transforms historic Union Station into an exciting dining hub with indoor-outdoor seating for you and about 400 friends you haven’t met yet. Savor diverse fare from seven all-star vendors: Dolores (Mexican); Dune Brothers (seafood); Giusto PVD (Italian); Little Chaska (Indian); Mother Pizzeria (pizza); There, There (burgers); and Tolia (Turkish).

4. Get in the Game at the Tennis Hall of Fame – Newport’s hallowed tennis grounds debut a bold new look.

Newport has deep tennis roots, and that’s just one aspect of the game that will be getting extra love when the International Tennis Hall of Fame reopens in May following a multimillion-dollar transformation. Be among the first fans to engage with an augmented-reality sculpture in the Celebration Gallery, which toasts the sport across generations. The new Hall of Famers’ Gallery features a cast racquet representing each legendary inductee. Even the Roger Federer hologram is serving up some new surprises.

5. Obsess Over Every Bite at Pizza Marvin – One of New England’s best pizzas is right here in Providence.

Chef Robert Andreozzi of Providence’s Pizza Marvin made a Caprese with bluefin tuna, tomato gelée, stracciatella, and pepperoni vinaigrette for the annual A Taste of New England event that was unreal. A year later, I still think about it—obsessively. No surprise: This year Andreozzi has been named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Best Chef–Northeast for the second time. If you’re a pizza-loving foodie, you know what you must do.

6. Wing It to Blithewold’s Bamboo Bird Exhibit – Bristol’s giant sculptures fly away soon—don’t miss your shot.

Big Beautiful Bamboo Birds … you don’t have to be able to say it 10 times fast to appreciate how remarkable these six towering bird sculptures by artists The Myth Makers are. They landed last summer at Blithewold in Bristol, and they’re flying away after August 11 this year, so wing your way to this multifaceted waterfront estate, where the largest giant sequoia on the East Coast will also make you look remarkably small in photos.

7. Step Right Up for Newport Polo – International matches, dapper tailgates, and divot stomping await.

“Stomping divots” isn’t the name of a punk band—it’s an amusing thing you’ll get to do when you attend a Newport Polo match. You’re encouraged to bring your own picnic food and wine, and at $25 for lawn seats (children 15 and under are admitted free), you can’t beat the value for the upscale vibes. Each match has a theme: It’s an excuse to dress your summer-chic best to cheer on the ponies and players. Yet for all the frivolity, the June–September schedule features serious international competition. USA’s rematch with Scotland on June 21 is bound to be a highlight of this biggest-ever season. Expect bagpipes.

8. Play All Day at Electromagnetic Pinball Museum – $10 unlocks unlimited retro fun in Pawtucket.

Unlimited pinball, Skee-Ball, and arcade games … no quarters, no tokens. That’s what $10 buys at Pawtucket’s Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration, where you can play your way through time and space as you wander a collection of 100-plus games that date from the ’40s to today. Curious about their history? Or how they work? The team here will indulge your desire to geek out. If your eyes are glued to the flippers of a rare game, though, they get that, too.

9. Twirl Your Fork at Ida’s in Middletown – 5,000 pounds of fresh pasta can’t be wrong.

Federal Hill in Providence is known for its Italian eateries, but over in Middletown, the Puerini family quietly made and served more than 5,000 pounds of fresh pasta last year at their unassuming little Ida’s Restaurant. That’s the weight of a smallish adult elephant! If you’re in the Newport area, try this local favorite for espresso martinis, mac and cheese with homemade cavatelli, and lasagna stacked so high it leans like that tower in Pisa.

10. Reach the Beach in Little Compton – Stone House Inn leads you to the edge of the Ocean State.

With 16 cool suites, Stone House Inn in Little Compton feels like such a secret hideaway. Especially when you wander across the back lawn, turn left, and follow the road and the siren call of waves crashing against rock outcroppings. In minutes, you’ll be at Rhode Island’s very edge, sharing the brown-sugar sands of Tappens Beach with precious few souls.

Kim Knox Beckius

Kim Knox Beckius is Yankee Magazine's Travel & Branded Content Editor. A longtime freelance writer/photographer and Yankee contributing editor based in Connecticut, she has explored every corner of the region while writing six books on travel in the Northeast and contributing updates to New England guidebooks published by Fodor's, Frommer's, and Michelin. For more than 20 years, Kim served as New England Travel Expert for TripSavvy (formerly About.com). She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and is frequently called on by the media to discuss New England travel and events. She is likely the only person who has hugged both Art Garfunkel and a baby moose.

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