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    Beavertail State Park

    4.8 (90 reviews)

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    Sunset magnifique
    Jude B.

    Beavertail State Park is a must see sunset stop in Rhode Island! It's truly a gem. Come for the sunsets anytime of the year and it's a wonderful spot to photograph. It's rich in history, being the third oldest lighthouse in the American colonies. Really a must visit in this tiny state.

    Jason B.

    Another RI gem I had never been to until today. Walking trails and many scenic views of the ocean. Site of the first lighthouse, its a nice way to spend an hour or so on a nice day. Plenty of parking and picnic areas. A truly incredible area to enjoy.

    Beavertail Lighthouse
    Danielle D.

    Beavertail State Park is a great place to have a picnic and catch the sunset! There are clean outdoor restrooms available. You'll occasionally come across an outdoor wedding ceremony, fireworks and plenty of people flying kites! This park is on-leash dog friendly!.

    Beavertail Lighthouse, Jamestown
    Bruce K.

    I didn't spend much time in the park. I was here to check out the Beavertail Lighthouse and I would ordinarily create a new business for the lighthouse but the bright sparks at Yelp will just merge it. So let's save them the trouble, eh? The current Beavertail Lighthouse dates back to 1856 and marks the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is 64 feet tall and is on the southernmost point of Conanicut Island. It is only the most recent structure here - others date back to at least 1705 though they were either destroyed by fire or vandalizing British sailors retreating from the end of the Revolutionary War. The building is usually open for tours though not at 6pm when I arrived. It was a super clear evening so I had plenty of opportunity to walk around and enjoy the site and appreciate this beautiful lighthouse. [Review 18651 overall - 71 in Rhode Island - 2173 of 2022.]

    Mel K.

    What a stunning experience ~ an absolute must walk in this area. I have trouble with my feet and this walk around the lighthouse area and even venturing down to the rocks, was well worth it. Pro-tip, the restrooms are five larger white porta-potty's located as you approach the lighthouse area from either parking lot two or three. Our visit was prior to the start of the full season so the museum was closed, but much of the fascinating historical information is available online. A couple of fishermen were certainly enjoying themselves near the water. It made for an additional scenic view. I'm so pleased we stopped here in our travels. We do enjoy the breeze and the sounds of the water crashing on the rocks.

    Kristen S.

    Beavertail is a beautiful place to visit, relax, and explore. There are walking paths and trails and some museums to explore. There's free parking and many people bring chairs and blankets to sit and simply watch the waves crash on the rocks or watch the boats pass by. It's a family friendly place to enjoy and worth the trip.

    Theresa C.

    Beavertail State Park encompasses 153 acres at the southern end of Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. From the air, the island resembles a beaver's tail, hence the name. At this park, you can visit a historic lighthouse, see the remnants of an old fort, explore tide pools and walk along coastal trails. Many people we saw were simply relaxing in the ocean breeze with the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. We visited the park with our dog. It is a dog friendly place. We walked by the remains of Battery Whiting on our way to the lighthouse. I went into the museum while hubby waited outside with the dog. The museum is staffed by volunteers who show the artifacts to visitors. There are storyboards and a short film. The tower is only open for climbing occasionally. It was closed the day I visited.

    Melissa V.

    Absolutely beautiful park!!! We stopped by recently when we were on a day trip and we couldn't believe how gorgeous it was here!!! The place was packed with cars but we were able to find a parking spot pretty easily. Gorgeous views everywhere, lots of grassy areas to park your chairs and blankets to spend a few hours or more relaxing and/or picnicking. We'll definitely return to spend more time here!

    View
    Lisa W.

    Nice place to walk around on a nice day. There's a lot of people fishing near the lighthouse. Big grassy area for your picnic needs. They have bathrooms and plenty of parking. It's a good little walk for people who are out of town and would like to see the eastern part of the US beaches. Different site from the west coast.

    Alexandra S.

    This is a beautiful, must-visit location if you are lucky enough to be in Jamestown RI. Beautiful, majestic vistas are all around you with plenty of grassy areas as well as rocky overlooks available to find a private space to commune with nature. We were lucky enough to visit during the fall migration of the Monarch butterflies. This location is one of the layover spots of Monarch butterflies on their annual journey south to Mexico for the winter. While they were illusive to photograph you will have to trust me to say that there were hundreds of gorgeous orange monarch butterflies flittering all around us. Magical. We struck up a conversation with a man there who said that if you come here at dawn or dusk, the sky is unbelievably filled with the Monarchs and that it is truly a sight to behold. We were sorry to miss those two time slots but will be sure to remember for next time. There were also thousands of dragonflies flying about; I am not sure why. I love dragonflies too...they are such lovely and helpful insects as they eat flies and mosquitos. They are valuable friends. Make it a point to come to Beavertail when you're in Jamestown. If the weather is good plan on bringing a picnic lunch. You will need a couple of folding beach chairs if you care to sit on the rocky outcroppings which bring you close to the sound of the surf and the beautiful, seemingly infinite views. Narragansett Bay is a stunner.

    Jason P.

    A must to-do while in the Providence/Warwick/Newport area! About a 20 minute drive from the main highway (138) and there isn't much to see along the way. Nor are there many, if any, signs directing you toward the Museum. But, you will be glad once you see the beautiful park grounds. There are lots of parking spaces, both on the right side of the park (west) where you enter and further around on the other side (east) of the park. There was a moderate crowd there on a Thursday early afternoon, most of which were not visiting the museum/lighthouse, but relaxing in the park. The park contains some lovely coastline with amazing views that people were relaxing and fishing on. There are lots of large rocks along the coastline to relax on making for some great photo ops. There are a few port-a-pottys nearby the parking areas. There are a few large grassy areas before you make your way to the lighthouse and museum itself. You have to walk around to the South side of the park to enter the building. Once we entered the museum portion of the building, we were greeted by a staff member who was more than willing to tell us about the lighthouse and its history. He was very informative and friendly. You can tell he really enjoys sharing the information which was awesome. You make your way through a bunch of museum-style exhibits in each of the rooms. Some of the exhibits were interactive which made it more interesting. The lighthouse itself can only be ascended at limited times during the year....about 2-3 times per month during the peak season. So you may want to visit their website to plan ahead if you are interesting in climbing the tower. There is also a gift shop with the typical gift-shop items: magnets, post cards, books and other small trinkets. Overall we had a great time here... even though we couldn't climb the tower, the museum was great and the views of the park were simply breathtaking...and best of all it is COMPLETELY FREE. As always though, please donate to the museum and support the gift shop if you can. (There is also a requested donation of $5 to climb the tower on available days).

    Beautiful, clean, large park. Plenty of places to explore, lay out, climb rocks and see sights. They have clean bathrooms available also which I especially appreciate.

    Zac H.

    This place has some gorgeous views and walkable trails. The rocky cliffs are amazing and make for some great photo ops. There is plenty of flat space if you want to set up for a picnic or just sit and gaze out over the water. They also have some of the nicest restrooms I've seen at a park. There is also a small lighthouse here. Not sure if you can go inside but it might be worth looking into if you're a lighthouse enthusiast.

    Sunset at beavertail

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    13 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Even on March day, it was beautiful. Interesting to read a out Beavertail Lighthouse history too. Worth the pretty drive down from Jamestown

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    14 years ago

    All I can say is magical... one of the best views in the state! Sweet....

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    must see. it's beautiful and amazing rocks and scenery. good for dogs and anyone so much to explore

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    Page 3 of 3

    Ask the Community - Beavertail State Park

    Review Highlights - Beavertail State Park

    Beavertail Lighthouse is a spectacular lighthouse located right on the southern most tip of Conanicut (Jamestown) Island.

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    National Museum of American Illustration - Rose Garden Loggia with Maxfield Parrish's Florentine Fete on Display

    National Museum of American Illustration

    4.5(17 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    The National Museum of American Illustration is amazing, from the mansion that holds it, the…read moreoutdoor water effects and gardens and the great staff. The art inside is something you may never see again. You must stop if you are in Newport. The hours were confusing to me, so give a call or look at their web site to see when they are open. The art, all of it, on display is wonderful. Each piece is set perfectly, the lighting perfect and the story behind each piece is fascinating. If you are a Rockwell fan at all, you have to go here. You may think you know Rockwell's but I saw illustrations I had no idea existed, from the cute to the serious to the beauty of telling of a time in US history. The John Rogers sculptures are really something to see. This was my first time noticing his work and I just stood there in awe. Enjoy.

    Having been to the Norman Rockwell museum in MA, and looking at the pieces displayed in this…read moremuseum, I must tell you that there are a decent amount of prints and lithographs vs original art work. Rockwell painted much larger paintings, for example the actual four freedom paintings are probably 4 feet by 6 feet. The detail required could never be done in such small canvases. Yes there are plenty of actual paintings and illustrations but not nearly as many as you would think.

    Photos
    National Museum of American Illustration - Rockwell's works on display in the Tiffany Loggia beneath original ceiling murals by James Wall Finn

    Rockwell's works on display in the Tiffany Loggia beneath original ceiling murals by James Wall Finn

    National Museum of American Illustration - Vernon Court's Grand Salon

    Vernon Court's Grand Salon

    National Museum of American Illustration - Visitors observe Rockwell's talent in his Saturday Evening Post cover, 'The Bridge Game'

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    Visitors observe Rockwell's talent in his Saturday Evening Post cover, 'The Bridge Game'

    Jamestown Historical Society

    Jamestown Historical Society

    4.0(1 review)
    3.0 mi

    Step back in…read more time The Jamestown Historical Society and Museum is located in a small but very cool 19th century schoolhouse that displays a variety of old maps, artifacts, photos and memorabilia from the old ferry system. Certainly not a large museum but themes and ideas are changed throughout the summer to keep things interesting. The island of Jamestown is very history conscious and the Historical Society is extremely active in giving lectures, demonstrations and special events. Even though the artifacts, photos and maps are fascinating, the main attraction are the people that work there. Most of them have lived on the island all their lives and have ancestors that farmed the fields and sailed the waters. They are a wealth of information and can answer of will find the answer to any possible question about the history of the island. Full of great stories of the past and humorous personal antidotes. Many people pass through Jamestown on the way to Newport or Boston but unfortunately not many take the time to stop on the island and even fewer take the time to visit the small and unassuming museum. That's too bad because on the island history is still alive and well and the past, present and future are inseparable. Step back in time

    From the owner: Maintain the Museum, the Windmill, the Meetinghouse, and the Conanicut Battery. Preserve the…read moreSociety's collection of documents, photographs, and artifacts.

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    Jamestown Historical Society
    Jamestown Historical Society - Battery

    Battery

    Jamestown Historical Society

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    Newport Art Museum - Exhbit room, 1st floor

    Newport Art Museum

    4.1(23 reviews)
    5.0 mi

    I recently checked out this event at the Newport Art Museum with a few of my girlfriends and we had…read moresuch a fun night. It was the perfect excuse to get dressed up and try something new, with a twist of course... delicious cocktails. The Edgar Allan Poe experience itself was really well done. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their roles. I loved the costumes and the dramatic personalities. It made the whole evening feel immersive without being over the top. I'm actually at the museum about once a month for meetings, so it was fun to see the space used in a completely different way. My only wish is that we had a little more time to wander and take in the current exhibits, because it's such a beautiful setting. My one real downside is parking. With the recent changes, it has become pretty difficult to find a spot that is easy to get in and out of, especially during a New England winter. Definitely something to plan ahead for. Overall, such a unique and memorable night. I would absolutely recommend grabbing your friends and checking this out if it comes back around.

    Beautiful space to view some art. I believe the whole place is a historic mansion rennovated for…read morethe museum. There are actually 2 buildings and both were beautiful with some stunning pieces. Small, but lovely, and still somehow incredibly grand. I didn't get to go into the main/large room because they were installing a new exhibit but there is a good amount to see beyond that one space anyway. The gift shop was small and no one was manning it so I didn't get to buy a souveneir but I enjoyed walking around the history and art that was everywhere. Also worth mentioning, but they had some good pieces by woman artists (c. 1940s) which I feel can be extremely hard to find. For this museum, the women tended to be friends of the original owners or at least ran in the same circles and some were even founding members of the museum's art association. Always so nice to see women's art (and some were my favorite pieces!) That being said, most of the art was very high brow white upper class with an emphasis on orientalism, which I feel simply encourages conversations about the zeitgeist of the early 1900s. I did really enjoy the pieces they had from Edward Mitchell Bannister which were on loan from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society. There was also a members juried exhibit which brought some breath into the traditionalist art space. Well worth the visit!!

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    Newport Art Museum
    Newport Art Museum - Exhibit room (2nd floor)

    Exhibit room (2nd floor)

    Newport Art Museum

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    The Preservation Society of Newport County - outside lights at The Breakers

    The Preservation Society of Newport County

    4.6(369 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit organization based in Newport, Rhode…read moreIsland and its top priority is the preservation and conservation of its historic houses and their collections. This work includes restoration of roofs and windows, conservation of fragile textiles, cleaning and restoration of valuable paintings and much more. At any given time, dozens of projects are underway. A visit to the Newport Mansions is a donation to The Preservation Society of Newport County. During the holiday season, The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms welcome visitors with spectacular holiday displays so it was a great opportunity to visit. In addition to the house holiday display, there is an outdoor holiday display called Sparkling Lights at The Breakers from November 22 to December 29, 2024 on select evenings. Admission is only at 4 pm, 4:30 pm, 5 pm, 5:30 pm and 6 pm. Gates close at 6:30 pm and the house and grounds close at 8 pm. Timed admissions tickets can be purchased online at https://www.newportmansions.org/. Tickets include access to the lavishly decorated rooms inside the house during the same visit. About a week prior, I bought 2 tickets for December 20, 2024 at 6:00PM ($40.00 each) and I was really looking forward to it. However, there was a winter advisory and it was snowing on the day of. Driving conditions were unsafe. I was worried I was going to lose my money since the website indicated tickets may not be resold, non-transferrable, non-refundable, and cannot be used for a different date. I tried calling the Preservation Society of Newport County, but there were just prompts and I couldn't talk to a live person. I sent a direct message to @newport.mansions through Instagram and they responded promptly that I could receive a refund by emailing info@newportmansions.org. Gary Ruff, Associate Communications Manager, responded and instructed me with what information he needed to provide the refund. I was so appreciative. Thankfully, the snow cleared and temperature warmed up a bit so I bought 2 tickets for December 29, 2024 at 4:00PM ($40.00 each). All the decorated Christmas trees, the 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree, poinsettias, garlands, wreaths and fresh floral in the interior of The Breakers were beautiful and then walking through the lights and illuminated displays of the outdoor 13-acre landscape was just a cherry on the top. The Preservation Society of Newport County also partnered with Stoneacre Brasserie to offer holiday treats and adult beverages. Thank you to The Preservation Society of Newport County for everything you are doing to protect, preserve, and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes.

    The family (wife, 10 y/o son, 2 y/o daughter) were visiting Newport and looking fo some activities…read moreto do. I noticed that the Newport mansions were on every to-do list, with the Breakers being the top choice of many. I looked at their website as well as other reviews and saw that this may not be the best place for younger ones. I saw that no strollers were allowed and I didn't think a tour of an old mansion is something my 10 y/o would be interested in. So I decided to take a solo trip on a nice Friday morning while the rest of the family slept in late at the hotel. The Breakers opens at 10 AM. The visitors parking lot is on the corner of Ochre Point Avenue and Victoria Avenue. There are other lots nearby but read the signs as they are for other buildings...The parking lot had adequate space when I arrived at 10:15 or so, but by the time I was leaving at about 11:45 is was pretty packed with visitors having to park in the rear overflow lot. Once you reach the front gate of the Breakers mansion, there are COVID restriction and general rule signs. As you proceed you can go to the left to buy tickets, use the bathroom or enter their cafe. Tickets are about $26 for adults and $8 for children 6-17 years old. The cafe has a bunch of premade food items, drinks, snacks, premade sandwiches... and few seats with tables. There are some more seats and table just outside of the cafe. Before you enter the mansion, there are signs showing you how to use their self tour audio app. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS...AND BRING HEADPHONES. You download the Newport Mansions app from the App Store onto your Apple or Google device, select the mansion you are visiting and begin the tour. The audio tour was excellent and follows you through the tour route of the mansion. I enjoyed listening to all the interesting facts about each room via bluetooth earbuds while my hands were free to take photos with my camera. You only thing you will need to do is to advance (click the play button) the tour to the next room before entering. There are some interesting facts about the mansion as a whole and each individual room. You can also stay around longer in each area for additional facts, essentially lengthening the tour. Without the audio tour, you will have to fread the printed information sheet. You go through the main floor, upper floor and back down into the service area where the kitchen is. You then exit through the gift shop. The gift shop has lots of interesting items, which includes typical magnets, mugs and prints, but they also have some luxury items like platters and wine stoppers as well as a small jewelry section. You finally exit out onto the side of the mansion and are able to walk back around outside to the front where you entered. Before sure to walk through the opened gate to the right of the mansion which takes you through a small garden to the back. Here you can see the Cliff Walk path and the ocean. Overall, I had a great time...It was a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. The entire tour took just over an hour without listening to the extra information about each room. (During the tour, there are a few instances where you have to ascend/descend steps - I did NOT see any elevators - so you may want to call ahead to check if you cannot climb steps) Again, I highly recommend downloading the app and listening to the audio tour via headphones. It allows your eyes to focus on the beauty of the mansion instead of reading. Lastly, the mansion is right off of the Cliff Walk path...so be sure to make the short ride (or walk) north to Narragansett Avenue and visit the Forty Steps.

    Photos
    The Preservation Society of Newport County - 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree

    15-foot-tall poinsettia tree

    The Preservation Society of Newport County - Sparkling Lights at The Breakers

    Sparkling Lights at The Breakers

    The Preservation Society of Newport County - Menu of holiday treats and adult beverages

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    Menu of holiday treats and adult beverages

    Jamestown Philomenian Library - Lots of shades areas

    Jamestown Philomenian Library

    5.0(3 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    My boyfriend and I are on a quest to visit every library in Rhode Island, and even after years and…read moreyears of living in the surrounding area and performing with a theatre company in town, I have actually never been to the Jamestown Philomenian Library up until yesterday! And what a mistake it was to stay away for so long! This library is smaller than some of the other ones we have visited around the state, but does not lack in charm or comfort at all. Step inside, and you'll find an ample selection of literature, lots of DVDs, and tons of community meeting space, from private conference rooms to a larger room that's used for everything from guest speakers to movie screenings (they're free! We'll be back for one soon!) There are also lots of cozy chairs to sit in and read, which is a perfect refuge for a cold island night. I could have stayed here all day! Pro tip! If you have the Ocean State Library Card, you can take out books from any of the libraries in the network, not just the one you got the card from. I learned this way too late after getting mine, and I'm glad the kind librarian here set the record straight! I ended up leaving with a stack of novels, and the greatest foodie movie of all time, Chef, on DVD. Hey, I'm a Yelper at heart, what can I say?

    What exactly is a…read more Philomenian? The library on the island of Jamestown is officially called the Jamestown Philomenian Library. Everyone knows what a library is but what the hell is a Philomenian? Don't bother looking it up in a dictionary because you won't find it. That's because the word doesn't mean anything. Philomenian is a word that doesn't really exist. It seems in times past people in eccentric places like islands use to enjoy making up words to describe their organizations to distinguish themselves from other equally bizarre organizations. They wanted to sound unique and you can't get any more unique than making up your own words. In the early 1800's a group of fellows on Jamestown wanted to start a debating club. So I suppose they had a debate and decided to called themselves the Jamestown Philomenian Debating Society. A few decades later they decided the island needed a library so they each donated one dollar and started what was called the Jamestown Philomenian Library. The fact that philomenian wasn't a word didn't seem to bother anyone. At first the library was just some books kept in people's houses. Very casual and unorganized. Finally in 1971 a building was built to house the books and in 1993 it was enlarged and modernized but still kept the name Jamestown Philomenian Library. Once again no one seem to mind the library has a word in it's name that doesn't really exist. The library today is actually quite large and modern considering the small amount of people it serves. However it never lost it's friendly, idiosyncratic and eccentric island charm. It not only serves as storage for tomes but also contains the Sydney Wright Museum with some cool artifacts and several meeting rooms that have various art exhibitions, story times for kids and some very cool concerts with local talent. A friendly place not just for books, but it also serves the purpose for interacting and socializing with neighbors. Certainly not the largest or technologically advance library in the state but then that's part of the charm. The fact that the library has a word in it's name that doesn't really exist suits it quite well.

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    Jamestown Philomenian Library
    Jamestown Philomenian Library
    Jamestown Philomenian Library

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    Beavertail State Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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