Rhode Island is small, only 48 miles long – roughly the size of Yosemite National Park in California. Its size, however, does not diminish its unique New England cultural heritage. The Ocean State has much to offer to its visitors, from legendary clam cakes at Iggy’s Doughboys to exhibits of innovative product designs at the eclectic art museum of the renowned Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

Transportation/Accommodation

The best way to explore the true beauty of Rhode Island is by car. Although Amtrak provides daily train service to Providence from Manhattan, Rhode Island is blessed with almost 400 miles of beautiful coastlines (including the coastlines of its 35 islands) that are best seen by car. Narragansett Bay, in particular (it means “land above the river” in Algonquian Indian), is famous for its beautiful New England beaches. The Bay is surrounded by meticulously crafted mansions that speak of the grandiose days of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

There is a large and varied selection of accommodations in Rhode Island. (http://www.homeaway.com/Vacation-rentals/Rhode-Island-vacation-rentals.htm). If staying close to the beach is your idea of a dream vacation, a summer rental would be your best bet since many of them come with exclusive access to the private beaches scattered along the Coastal Drive (From Narragansett Bay to U.S. 1 and 1A). That being said, there are plenty of public beaches open to non-RI residents.

If you prefer to have someone else clean your room each day, there are plenty of hotel options, both traditional and boutique, to choose from. After reading many rave reviews, my friend and I decided to stay at the Nylo Hotel at Warwick (http://www.nylohotels.com/), part of the growing Atlanta-based boutique hotel chain. The Nylo Hotel has broken its way into the ultra chic boutique hotel scene with an edge – its hotel rooms are moderately priced and combine cutting edge design and whimsy.

My single room at the Nylo was on the small side when compared to other conventional hotel chains, but fairly decent by Manhattan standards, and the space was aesthetically detailed and creatively used. There is a lounge/restaurant on site with a nice outdoor deck dining area overlooking the Pawtuxet River. One of the hotel amenities I most appreciated was the complimentary 24-hour gym, complete with steam room – a comfort to cost-conscious travelers. Rooms at this location range from $89 to $159 per night, and many vacation packages are being offered on the hotel website.

Gourmet Local Dining

I had never heard of clam cakes until my first visit to Iggy’s Doughboys, a tiny seafood joint that is a summer destination for locals and tourists alike (http://www.iggysdoughboys.com/).

Iggy’s is famous for its clam chowder and clam cakes. The clam cakes, also known as fritters outside of Rhode Island, are best tasted by dipping them into the famous New England clam chowder.

After devouring my clam cakes, I moved on to Iggy’s Lobster Roll and fried clam strip; both were unbelievably fresh and rich in flavor. My first New England meal was finished perfectly with Del’s Lemonade (http://www.dels.com/). You usually can find a Del’s Lemonade pull cart anywhere in Rhode Island during the summer time. Just look out for a high school kid under a bright yellow/green umbrella.

Things to Do

The city center of Providence has been gentrified dramatically in the last decade. While once known for its infamous bureaucratic corruption, today’s Providence is like any other up-and-coming city across the United States- filled with new riverfront condominiums and revived entertainment districts.

I was surprised to discover how many liberal arts colleges and universities are situated in Providence. While the city is home to Johnson & Wales University and Providence College, perhaps its best-known colleges are those of Ivy-League Brown University and RISD. Since Brown and RISD are adjacent to each other, this vibrant and young “College Hill” section of Providence is worth a visit and easily explored on foot. The RISD Museum is an art museum with a sensible collection of artworks from different periods, but most interesting is its eclectic collection of designer products ranging from a Christian Dior cocktail dress to Marcel Breuer’s tubular steel chair. The museum also celebrates its homegrown talent with displays of design products from its own past/current school faculty and students (http://www.risdmuseum.org/).

Close to College Hill is another quaint neighborhood to visit, Federal Hill (http://www.providencefederalhill.com/). Federal Hill is the Little Italy of Providence, home of the city’s early Italian American settlement and now of a more diverse population. There are a handful of wonderful restaurants and bars here.

When you are finished exploring Providence, hop in the car for a drive to beautiful Newport, R.I. Newport is another traditional New England beach community with a variety of shops, restaurants, and yacht club. Newport also houses some of the most luxurious oceanfront mansions once owned by America’s old-moneyed families. Many of these mansions, such as the Breakers and Rosecliff (seen in the movie The Great Gatsby), were built during the Gilded Age of America. For Kennedy fans, there is Hammersmith Farm on Ocean Drive, where John and Jackie Kennedy were married (http://www.newportmansions.org/). While in Newport, it would also be  fun to visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame before the upcoming 2009 U.S. Open (http://www.tennisfame.com).

Whether you are a design junkie, foodie, or outdoor aficionado, a weekend trip to Rhode Island will definitely mesmerize you with its abundant charms. As for me, I left Rhode Island with a relaxed soul; something hard to find and appreciate in a busy urban lifestyle.