Rhode Island vacation packages are available in all price categories and cover the gamut of the state's many beautiful and fascinating attractions. You can find cheap vacations to Rhode Island even if you're considering the best luxury hotels and the most exclusive resorts. However, you will find that most travel deals to Rhode Island primarily concentrate on a couple regions and things to do. Nonetheless, even if your Rhode Island vacation packages do concentrate on one of these areas, you'll find plenty of other things to do and see in the surrounding area.

This is the smallest state in land area in the United States at only 1,545 square miles. However, it boasts more than 400 miles of coastline blessed with beautiful beaches and scores of lovely islands in Narragansett Bay, in addition to the premier vacation destination of Block Island, which is located only twelve miles off the coast of Misquamicut. The state is also the yachting capital of the country, with its center in the historic town of Newport. Thus, you will find that a majority of travel deals to Rhode Island will have something to do with the ocean.

Rhode Island vacation packages set on or alongside the ocean include getaways at beach resorts, deep sea fishing charters, and scenic cruises. In Newport, you can even book packages that include helping to crew some of the famous America's Cup racing yachts. There are culinary packages that discover fine dining and famous New England seafood, as well as tours of the state's wineries and historic coastal lighthouses. Also remember that, wherever your vacation takes you in the state, you will be near venues for golfing.

Some of the best cheap vacations to Rhode Island will also occur in the very popular and beautiful Blackstone River Valley, one of the few attractions in the state not associated with the ocean. This region, administered by the National Park Service, follows the Blackstone River from Providence to the town of Worcester in Massachusetts. It is a National Heritage Corridor, a non-traditional national park that encompasses entire towns and cities, a living landscape containing thousands of natural, cultural, and historic gems. It's considered the "Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution," the movement that transformed the country from farm to factory.

The center of this region is Slater Mill in Pawtucket, the first water-powered textile mill in the country. The entire region is full of history, with museums dotting its entire course. Travel deals to Rhode Island in this region take advantage of charming bed and breakfast inns, numerous camping areas and miles of hiking and cycling trails, the best freshwater sport fishing in the state, and even white water kayaking.

Because of the ocean and outdoor nature of its attractions, summer is absolute peak season. You will find that getting deals on the best cheap vacations to Rhode Island is possible during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. Individual attractions and hotel properties offer numerous attractively-priced Rhode Island vacation packages at this time of year. Those resorts and properties that are open throughout the year will also have winter packages, taking advantage of the events around the holiday seasons. While packages including tours of the famous mansions of Newport are most popular in the summer, the best deals can be found in the off seasons, and these properties are particularly beautiful with a blanket of fresh snow. These mansions, and the other beautiful estates and gardens of Newport, also comprise one of the most popular venues for destination weddings in the Northeast. Wedding packages take advantage of luxurious spas, professional wedding planners, and you can even host a wedding party of up to 400 guests on luxury yachts.

Rhode Island Vacations

In spite of the fact that this is the smallest state (at only 1,545 total square miles of land area) in the United States, Rhode Island vacations have a great deal to offer for all tastes, interests, and budgets. The types of available Rhode Island getaways are as diverse as the many attractions and things to do you will find across the state.

While the state's land area is tiny, it has more than 400 miles of coastline as well as numerous lakes, ponds, and rivers. This means that water plays an important part in Rhode Island vacations and their planning. This is the boating and yachting capital of the country, so both freshwater and saltwater fishing are extremely popular. Rhode Island getaways that involve this sport occur everywhere. There are deep sea fishing charters available as well as peaceful floats and solitary fly fishing along the lovely Blackstone River. You can cast your line off the private docks of your vacation rentals, from the shores of numerous beaches, and from small boats in peaceful ponds.

Destination weddings are extremely popular in the state, especially in and around the mansions of Newport. Even romantic getaways in Rhode Island or weddings can happen on the water, with boats, schooners, and yachts available to cater for wedding parties of as few as two people to more than 400 guests. Rhode Island family vacations are possible on chartered ships (both crewed and bareboat charters) where even the children can learn how to hoist a sail and navigate by the stars. If you like, you can learn the ropes on one of the famous and historic boats from the America's Cup races.

Other romantic getaways in Rhode Island and Rhode Island family vacations occur on the beaches of South County. This is the entire stretch of the state's ocean coastline from the western edge of Narragansett Bay to Westerly and Misquamicut near the border with Connecticut. These are also available on little Block Island, only twelve miles off the coast. The only way to get to the resorts located here is by ferry or on a short commuter flight from Westerly.

There are numerous places to stay on the island that cater to families with children. Look for some of the house rentals where you can save money on dining costs and where your children can be themselves, or discover some of the larger hotels that have guest cottages. Many of these hotels also cater to weddings and are perfect for romantic getaways in Rhode Island when you want to be alone and pampered by cozy fireplaces and with luxurious treatments from spas.

Both spas and golfing venues also offer Rhode Island getaways so you can spend your days on the links and indulge yourself in massages afterward. Some golf courses and golf clubs also have fishing spots and hiking and equestrian trails, providing Rhode Island family vacations where all members of the family will have something to occupy their time. Or treat the family to camping at one of the many public and private campgrounds. If you're camping in the Blackstone River Valley, the children can additionally get their history lessons at some of the many museums chronicling the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.

Rhode Island vacations can combine many of these things to do. Take your vacation cruises, followed by golf. Discover history at charming nineteenth-century bed and breakfast inns, or take scenic drives to visit the state's wineries.

Rhode Island Vacation Rentals

The majority of vacation rentals in Rhode Island are beach homes, cottages, and condominiums in the resorts along the coast. Primarily, these are Rhode Island cottages on Block Island, the islands in Narragansett Bay, and in the area around Newport. However, you will find them all along the state's coastline, as well as in the interior near other attractions.

Some Rhode Island vacation rentals, especially in the Newport and Jamestown area, can be quite grand. Some people might even call them "mini" mansions. Bear in mind the history of the area that is so close to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Here the magnates of industry and commerce—the Auchincloss, Vanderbuilt, and Astor families, among others—built grand summer homes as vacation retreats at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries during what is called the Gilded Age. While these Rhode Island cottages are open to the public for tours and not available for rent, many somewhat less grand homes can be on your list as Rhode Island vacation rentals and will sleep as many as twenty people. While the rents can run into the thousands of dollars per week, they can be quite cost effective for families and groups as substitutes for luxury hotels.

There are also many modest vacation rentals in Rhode Island available in little ocean side communities like Misquamicut, Jerusalem, and Sakonnet. You'll also find them in the metropolitan areas of the larger cities set on Narragansett Bay, such as Warwick and Providence. Mostly, these are privately-owned homes listed by local real estate companies. However, some are little Rhode Island cottages that are part of larger resorts, hotel complexes, and charming bed and breakfast inns. In these kinds of accommodations, you still have your own private "home" complete with kitchen to help you save money on dining expenses and private beach. But you will additionally have the benefit of a central hotel with amenities like a restaurant, tennis courts, swimming pool, and gift shops. You may also have the use of the golfing facilities at nearby country clubs, fishing and boating services, and hiking and horseback riding trails.

While the vast majority of vacation rentals in Rhode Island will be found along the coastline, you will find some in the interior, in forested areas near state parks, reservoirs, and small lakes. These Rhode Island vacation rentals are located primarily in the northern part of the state. Lincoln Hill State Park just north of Providence and Diamond Hill State Park near Pawtucket have rental availability. And, in the far northwest corner of the state are two State Management Areas (Black Hut and Buck Hill) that are largely undeveloped wilderness areas excellent for hiking, hunting, and fishing. Here you can find rustic vacation cabin rentals.

Since saltwater fishing in the ocean is such a popular sport in the state, you will find that you can even find Rhode Island vacation rentals that literally are on the water. These are boats that come with a full crew or are bare-boat charters. You'll find you can obtain these at the marinas of Newport, Block Island, and all along the coast.