One of the Coolest Cities You've Never Been To: Middletown, Rhode Island
Wide-open spaces await in the country's smallest state
Go where you’ve never gone before and find Middletown, Rhode Island, a city of vineyards, beaches and farmland.
Rhode Island is known as the smallest state in the union, but you may be surprised by the amount of wide-open spaces found within its borders. Specifically, Middletown, with its quiet back roads and rambling farmlands, is home to vineyards, beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and greenways. To see Mother Nature stretch as far as the eye can see when you visit Rhode Island, set your GPS for these top things to do in Middletown, RI.
Enjoy the view at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
At Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, gaze beyond the shoreline on sandy beaches or wander along trails to spot New England Cottontails. Photo credit: discovernewport.org
On a peninsula close to Newport’s Second Beach and Third Beach, Sachuest Point offers more than 243 acres of salt marshes, grassland and rocky coastline. More than three miles of trails lead to overlooks, observation decks and access points to the most serene shoreline in Rhode Island. On top of that, this area is a stopover for migratory birds—so birdwatchers should be on the lookout.
Toast to Rhode Island at Newport Vineyards
Stroll the acres of the Newport Vineyards, an award-winning, family-run farmland. Photo credit: newportvineyards.com
You’ll find Newport Vineyards wines served in the region’s best restaurants, but you can sample all varieties at the Middletown winery, which offers tastings and twice-daily tours. Enjoy a meal at the Vineyard Café and the Brix Restaurant, and try to catch one of the area’s events, which include concerts and an outdoor Saturday farmer’s market.
Walk with wildlife on Sakonnet Greenway Trail
Open to walkers and horseback riders, the 10-mile Sakonnet Greenway Trail loops and winds through Middletown and neighboring Portsmouth. The longest trail on Aquidneck Island, the greenway runs through land protected by the Aquidneck Land Trust. It skirts the edge of the Newport National Golf Course and fields of vines at Newport Vineyards, making it a great place to begin exploring.
Flock to Norman Bird Sanctuary
Admire fantastic landscapes and a variety of wildlife within the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Photo credit: normanbirdsanctuary.org
Seven miles of hiking trails lead through 325 acres of woodland, gardens, marshes, beaches and the famous Hanging Rock at this Middletown wildlife refuge. The remarkably diverse landscape attracts more than 250 species of birds and animals, and trail fees ($7 adults, $3 kids ages 3–12) support bird walks and other educational programs.
Taste the fruits of your labor at Sweet Berry Farm
Pick more than 10 different types of apples during the fall season at Sweet Berry Farm.
This 100-acre farm is open April through December—offering pick-your-own strawberries and blueberries in the summer and apple harvesting in the fall. The farm also serves up a steady stream of homemade ice cream, fresh pies and a good ol’ slice of country goodness—all just a few minutes from downtown Newport. Don’t miss the Tuesday night concert and dinner series during the summer, which features special meals, like an apple-brined stuffed pork chop and homemade meatloaf, prepared by chef Scott Amaral.
Journey back in time with Boyd’s Grist Mill
This restored windmill, the only one of its kind in the country, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo credit: Lois Mass at middletownhistoricalsociety.com
Located in Middletown’s Paradise Valley Park, Boyd’s Grist Mill is a rare eight-vane windmill, built in 1810. The mill supplied local farmers and families with grain for more than 135 years. The park, at the corner of Prospect and Paradise avenues, is also home to the late 19th-century one-room Paradise Schoolhouse, and a half-mile of scenic walking paths.
Look but don’t leap at Purgatory Chasm
Legend has it that lovers once tested their devotion by jumping across this natural gap in the cliffs, but today you can peer 50 feet down into the sea from the safety of a short bridge. Walk—carefully—to the cliff’s edge for unobstructed views of Sachuest Bay and Second Beach.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Middletown.
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