Tours in Rhode Island

Boating in Boston drops anchor at seven area locations—including local lakes, ponds, and Boston Harbor—helping visitors to undertake watery adventures with a fleet of more than 200 canoes, kayaks, sailboats, pedal boats, and paddleboards. Whether navigating the gentle eddies of Stoneham's Spot Pond or searching for the feral water-polo team rumored to inhabit Wakefield's Lake Quannapowitt, visitors can hit the water untrained or gain new proficiency with solo or group lessons. The crew of instructors also instills a love of boating in the littlest buccaneers with youth summer camps that teach basic skills and safety.

Ann and Michael Martini have long shared a love and familiarity with Rhode Island's culinary landscape. Ann left her post at Rhode Island Monthly to work with chefs, restaurants, and food events, and Michael, a professional chef, has let his knives fly at upscale Rhode Island eateries for more than 25 years. Together, they bring outsiders into New England's culinary gems to sample signature dishes, tour kitchens, meet chefs, and get lucky guests’ tongues autographed. Ann coordinates each tour, then sends Michael off with up to a dozen people to receive insider access to restaurants, gourmet shops, and other palate-pleasing stops. For two hours, groups cover about 2 miles of ground at a leisurely pace. There are treats to sample at each stop—although, according to the Sun Chronicle, "What's almost as good as the food is the fact that the chefs welcome tour guests into their kitchens, which in many cases have sous chefs and other personnel beginning to prepare for dinner service."

When the Newport Historical Society and the Newport Restoration Foundation joined forces, the result was Newport History Tours. Founded to celebrate the region’s rich and vibrant history, Newport History Tours designed more than a dozen tours that explore the city’s landmarks, historic sites, and more than 300 pre-Revolutionary War–era buildings. The tours touch on just about every aspect of the city’s past, with themes that range from the colonial era and Golden Age to prohibition smuggling, historical criminals, and lantern-lit holiday strolls.

Motorcoaches shuttle groups of skiers and riders to day, midweek, or weekend ski trips organized by New England Action Sports. In addition to scheduling transportation and lodging both local and international group excursions, the staff also provides ski-equipment rentals as well as tune-ups for clients who wish to bring their own skiing gear.

From their perches on smooth-gliding segways, guests take in scenic harbor views and historic venues as they cruise Rhode Island's most populous city with Providence Segway Tours. Notable sites—including the Rhode Island State House, Federal Hill, and the Downcity art district—color the routes as guests glide through the capital in 30 or 60 minutes.

Travel Leaders RI's professional agents help day-trippers explore exciting destinations for business and pleasure. The bus trip includes a full day in New York City, with plenty of time to explore the Big Apple and the Feast of San Gennaro itself, where an expected one million people celebrate Italian-American culture, the splendor of good walking shoes, and the patron saint of Naples. The 55-passenger air-conditioned bus, which plies passengers with a restroom and reclining seats, rolls out of the Cranston at 6:00 a.m. for a nonstop 3.5-hour journey to New York City and its non-hot-dog-related spoils.