Snapshot Travel Guide: Warwick, Rhode Island

Snapshot Travel Guide:
Warwick, Rhode Island

While Newport, Narragansett, Jamestown, and Charlestown get all the love in Rhode Island, one coastal area remains underutilized: Warwick.

Quahogs, hard-shell clams that bury themselves along estuaries all over the Atlantic coast, are practically Rhode Island’s state mascot. Though the industry has shrunk in recent decades, the mollusks are still popular all over the state, in dishes like stuffies (stuffed clams), clams casino, and clam chowder; photo by Robin Catalano.

by Robin Catalano

July 27, 2021

If you lived in New England in the 1970s, you probably remember Rhode Island’s catchy “biggest little state in the union” tourist campaign. These days, the country’s smallest state prefers to capitalize on its stiff-jawed sailing roots, dubbing itself the “ocean state.” It’s a smart gambit. Of the state’s roughly 1,200 square miles, 40 of those are coastline—leaving plenty of room for walking, boating, kayaking and paddleboarding, fishing, birdwatching, and swimming.

While Newport, Narragansett, Jamestown, and Charlestown get all the love, one coastal area remains underutilized: Warwick. I get it: the downtown of Rhode Island’s second-largest city—which features squat industrial complexes and the perma-smell of motor oil—isn’t much to look at. But venture past its commercial areas, and you’ll be treated to some unique coastal sights and experiences.

Oakland Beach

Photo of a nearly cloudless sky overhanging a sandy beach.

Clouds Hill Mansion

Photo of a large stone mansion on a sunny day with trees and a cloudless sky in the background.

Rocky Point State Park

Photo of a cloudless sky overhanging a paved walking trail between a sandy beach and a multi-use grassy area on with sits an A-shaped arch imported from the the 1964/1965 World's Fair.

Noon gift shop

Close-up photo of items for sale at a gift shop called Noon, including pumpkin, cinnamon leaf, nutmeg glass jar candles, whale-shaped porcelain salt and pepper shakers, stainless steel drinking straws, and a rolled up beach towel.

Conimicut Point Beach

Closeup photo of a horseshoe crab shell in the sun on a sandy beach

Noon gift shop

Harbor Lights Marina

Photo of an Asian style trellis or gazebo on a grassy hill overlooking a harbor and marina at sunset.

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Robin Catalano

Robin Catalano believes in the power of storytelling to connect communities and cultures. She’s applied her creative approach to writing for magazines, books, blogs, websites, and a wide variety of marketing projects, and has published more than 75 articles and 1,000+ blog posts. As an editor, she has worked on more than 350 books for publishers including Penguin Random House, Workman, and Simon & Schuster. She has also served as a book coach for independent authors, helping them take their ideas from concept to print. An avid traveler and travel writer, Robin lives, reads, and writes voraciously in upstate NY.