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Are you brainstorming winter in Rhode Island vacation ideas? The Ocean State is a great spot for winter trips, with things to do both inside and out, in big cities and small towns, inland and on the coast; winter in Rhode Island is a great vacation destination!
PS if you’re looking for things to do in Rhode Island this weekend or what to do in Rhode Island today, be sure to check out this RI events calendar to stay up to date on what’s happening during your vacation!
Winter in Rhode Island Vacation Ideas
Unwind in a RI Winter Paradise
Are you looking to slow down and take it easy during your winter vacation in Rhode Island? You’ve got some great options! Narragansett is a fun beach town that is often crowded in the warmer months but come winter, you’ll find all the great sights are much easier to get to with fewer crowds! Check out The Break boutique hotel for a gorgeous hotel experience with an onsite restaurant and full spa to come unwind in after a fun day spent out exploring Narragansett.
Click Here to Check Prices & Book The Break!
Another fantastic option for a perfectly paced, wind-down getaway spot is Ocean House in charming Westerly. This elegant and luxurious seaside resort is in high demand year-round, but planning an off-season trip to Ocean House means you’ll be visiting the full-service spa, eating at the onsite gourmet restaurants, and enjoying the spectacular ocean views from stunning guest suites for a slightly more budget-friendly rate than you would during the summer!\
Click Here to Check Prices & Book Ocean House!
Enjoy Ocean State Christmas Charm
Christmas in Rhode Island means cute little festivals, gorgeous Christmas decoration displays, and little villages dressed to the nines for the holidays! Check out Wickford Village in Kingstown, where this charming little village turns into a scene that has been described as “positively Dickensian.” Between the Festival of Lights and Christmas at the Castle, Wickford Village is like a town right out of a Hallmark Christmas movie!
Another spectacular Christmas destination in Rhode Island is Newport; specifically, the Newport Mansions. These gorgeous Gilded Age mansions are a treat any time of year, but during the Christmas season, they host some of the merriest Christmas celebrations in New England! These lavishly decorated beauties are an absolute must-visit if you happen to be in town during the holidays.
Have a Rhode Island Snow Day
Cancel all your not-so-fun plans and prepare to play in the snow, instead! Exeter’s Yawgoo Valley is Rhode Island’s only ski resort, offering skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing with 100% snowmaking coverage, so snow is never a problem, only a great time! Fun Fact: Exeter is also home to Tilted Barn Brewery, one of the best breweries in New England, so be sure to swing by and scope out some of their fantastic craft beers after you’ve had fun at Yawgoo.
With several ice skating rinks across the state, all you have to do is bundle up, lace up your favorite skates (or rentals!), and hit the ice for a little wholesome winter fun. There’s also snow tubing, too. You’ll also find outdoor ice skating in Newport, Westerly, and Providence; Providence has ice bumper cars, too!
Check Out RI Winter Happenings
Winter in Rhode Island means it’s time for a few notable annual winter events! There’s the Newport Winter Festival, one of the largest winter festivals in New England, spanning over a week in February. Past events have included signature cocktails at an ice bar, a Chili Cook-Off, magicians, comedians, musicians, beach polo, and so much more.
There’s also Providence’s Waterfire art installation’s annual winter lighting event. Waterfire is an art installation like no other, where fires are lit in braziers that are in the actual rivers downtown, giving an illusion of floating fire in the water. Plus, Providence is a very cool city with lots of great things to do and places to eat; be sure to check out the fantastic craft brewing scene during your RI winter vacation, too!
Take a Romantic RI Winter Escape
When it comes to romantic winter getaways, Rhode Island has so many incredible choices! Newport has great options for romantic places to stay, like The Castle Hill Inn with a full-service boutique spa and gourmet restaurant on-site and striking lighthouse views. Plus, Newport is full of amazing things to do (and eat!) and so many cool places to stay, you really can’t go wrong with a Newport getaway!
Click Here to Check Prices & Book Castle Hill Inn!
If you’d like a little less hustle and bustle in your romantic getaway, consider a stay at the lovely Bristol Harbor Inn, a historic inn in Bristol that delivers big on coastal charm! In addition to the onsite spa and restaurant, Bristol Harbor Inn also offers fantastic views of Narragansett Bay and Bristol Harbor for you and your love to enjoy together. Bristol is a cute little town where there are all kinds of small-town things to do and see in this hidden gem of New England, making it a fantastic romantic getaway choice for the couple looking for a little small-town charm.
Click Here to Check Prices & Book Bristol Harbor Inn!
Snuggle Up in a Cozy Rhode Island Winter Cottage
Winter in Rhode Island provides the absolute perfect setting for a stay in a comfy, cozy cabin or cottage… especially one with a fireplace! Check out this quaint cottage rental on VRBO, for example. This one-bedroom cottage sleeps 4 with the pull-out sofa and is the perfect example of winter coziness with its sweet location on a Christmas tree farm and its fully functional fireplace!
If you’re willing to pay a little more per night, you can stay at a place like this cozy cottage in Jamestown that sleeps six. The outdoor hot tub is open year-round, the fire pit has a canopy that can be used to help ward off chilly breezes, and the living room has a fantastic little pellet stove to ensure you’re toasty warm all winter long! Jamestown is a cute town with plenty of small-town charm, too.
There are lots of fantastic ways to enjoy winter in Rhode Island; wherever your RI winter getaway takes you, it’s sure to be a great time!
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