cocktail lounge hidden behind a store on Olneyville Square.
Bristol
16 miles SE of Providence; 15 miles N of Newport
About halfway between Providence and Newport, Bristol is perhaps the best-kept secret in Rhode Island. First settled in 1680, this beautiful waterfront town sits on a peninsula straddling the Narragansett and Mount Hope Bays. It makes for a soothing excursion from the urbanity of Providence and the concentration of sights and activity that is Newport.
Bristol is best known as home to the nation’s oldest 4th of July parade, which has run annually here since 1785. The parade, which now draws up to 200,000 spectators, is the highlight of the year for what some residents call “America’s Most Patriotic Town.” The main boulevard, Hope Street, replaces the double yellow line in favor of a red, white, and blue band marking the 1.8-mile parade route.
Bristol’s past also includes the notoriety of being the former home to the DeWolfs, the largest slave trading family in U.S. history. During much of the 1700s and the first decade of the 1800s, Rhode Island was the business epicenter of the “Triangle Trade,” the trade of rum from New England, molasses from the West Indies, and enslaved peoples from Africa.
Today, though, Bristol is known for its historic homes and quaint downtown. In the past 15 years, it has undergone a gentrification from industrial town to tourist haven, with shops, a few fine dining spots, and cafes comprising a landscape of what used to be abandoned mills and fading industry.
Note that in the off season, November through April, most museums and small inns close.
Essentials
Arriving
From Providence, it’s fastest to take I-195 to Route 136, but the more scenic route is to take I-195 to exit 7 and follow Route 114S toward Barrington. Follow Route 114 all the way into Bristol; on the way, you’ll pass marinas and historic buildings and traverse scenic bridges.
Visitor Information
Tourism information (www.explorebristolri.com;
Exploring Bristol
The city’s quiet charm is in its well-preserved historic district, which runs along Hope Street and down side roads to Thames Street (pronounced “TH-aymz”), which borders the Bristol Harbor. Start here and stroll past homes dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. Former industrial sites at the harbor have been gentrified into high-end condos in converted mill buildings. There is 1- and 2-hour parking available along most streets, and a municipal parking lot on Thames.
Bristol was named one of the Distinctive Destinations in the U.S. by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which called it a “quintessential New England waterfront town” with an “unwavering commitment” to preservation. Also cited by the Trust are town attractions Blithewold Mansion, Coggeswell Farm Museum, Herreshoff Marine Museum and America’s Cup Hall of Fame, and Colt State Park, all listed below.
Blithewold Mansion, Gardens, and Arboretum
101 Ferry Rd. (Rte. 114). www.blithewold.org.
Coggeshall Farm Museum
Off Poppasquash Rd. (turn off Rte./Hope St. and follow signs). www.coggeshallfarm.org.
Herreshoff Marine Museum and America’s Cup Hall of Fame
1 Burnside St. (off Hope St./Rte. 114). www.herreshoff.org.
Outdoor Activities
Once the estate of Samuel Colt, of the same family as the famous firearms manufacturer, Colt State Park (www.riparks.com;
The East Bay Bike Path (www.dot.ri.gov/community/bikeri/eastbay.php) is a 14.5-mile paved trail running between Bristol and Providence, built atop a converted train track. After passing through Colt State Park, it spends much of the trip skimming Narragansett Bay. The trail is used by runners, skaters, and walkers as well as bikers. Access to the path is free.
Shopping in Bristol
The most interesting shopping in Bristol is in the historic downtown area. The highest concentration of shops is along Hope Street (Route 114), with more on Thames Street and the short side streets between them. Jesse/James Antiques, 44 State St. (www.jessejamesantiques.wordpress.com;
