Rhode Island Summer Bucket List

Follow the coastal wine 
trail for an afternoon of 
drinky bliss.
Let the quest for local wine lead you to Rhode Island’s top vineyards.

• Newport Vineyards. As the largest grower of wine grapes in New England, Newport Vineyards produces more than 30,000 cases 
of local wine every year. The grapes are grown with sustainable farming practices on a sprawling plot of historically preserved farmland. newportvineyards.com
• Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard. The cool air that blows into 
Sakonnet from the water, combined with the soil’s mineral base, produce grapes with a long ripening season, later harvest, low sugar and high acidity, making for fresh wines with deep flavors. 
sakonnetwine.com
• Greenvale Vineyards. Try local varieties of vidal blanc, cayuga, chardonnay, cabernet franc, pinot gris, merlot, malbec and albarino that are hand-harvested on this eighth-generation farm. 
greenvale.com
• Langworthy Farm Winery. This boutique winery is only a half-mile from the ocean and offers a charming tasting deck that overlooks the vineyard. The rustic farm is also home to a renovated bed and breakfast with four rooms and two suites. langworthyfarm.com

Courtesy of Watch Hill Inn.

Lounge like the rich and famous in a Watch Hill Inn beach cabana.
Wrap up your hair in a silk scarf, pop on oversized shades and channel some Victorian seaside grandeur as you saunter out of this five-star hotel’s lobby to your private beach cabana. Lounge on the beach, sip complimentary drinks with your pinky up, snack on fresh fruit like a Roman god and talk about Taylor Swift’s next big bash (you’re so invited). Return to your room at the hotel in the evening, sun-drenched and happy. watchhillinn.com

Land a hole in one at Adventureland Plinko.
It isn’t even the free game gamble (that’s hole thirteen). This mini golf challenge in Narragansett, modeled after the famed “Price is Right” game, is just for bragging rights. Ace it in a single try, then tell everyone. adventurelandri.com

Score off-the-boat lobsters at Galilee.
At this small but mighty port, more than sixteen million pounds of fish and shellfish are unloaded each year. Head to the docks on a summer afternoon and find local fishermen peddling lobsters caught fresh from Rhode Island Sound. You can also check out dockside markets like Narragansett Bay Lobsters or Champlin’s.

Order a lemon Del’s with the pretzel rod.
This quirky combo is a Rhode Island summer staple that gives sweet and tangy frozen lemonade the perfect hit of salty crunch. We can’t prove our theory that a Del’s with the pretzel tastes better after a day at the beach, but we can promise that it makes a must-have treat all season long. Just say no to the straw, or we’ll make fun of you. dels.com

Chase waterfalls.
The great Salty Brine gets all the love, but these rushing waters offer pretty vistas sans sand.

• Butterfly Dam, Lincoln. Pack a picnic and plan for an eighteenth-century-style afternoon at this roadside gem on scenic Great Road. Carve out some time for the farmstand at Butterfly Farm and a stroll at nearby Chase Farm, too.
• Stepstone Falls, West Greenwich. Head to this secret spot in Arcadia Management Area right after a summer rain to make the most of the series of cascades.
• Slater Mill, Pawtucket. The water here powered the birth of the Industrial Revolution. Pop over to the historic mill site and check out the heritage garden.
• Horseshoe Falls, Charlestown. You’ll wonder how fish navigate this massive U-shaped dam but, have no fear: they make their way via an intricate fish ladder constructed in 2011.