Rhode Island Feature

Mansions: Gain a sense of Newport's Gilded Age mansion with a tour of the singularly immense and ornate 70-room Breakers mansion, built for Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Historic Street: On Providence's East Side, in the shadows of Brown University, ornate Colonial homes built by the leading merchants of the day line Benefit Street.

Nature: Block Island is one of the most serene spots on the Eastern Seaboard, especially at Rodman's Hollow, a glacial outwash basin, where winding paths lead to the sea.

Sand: South County is rife with sugary-white beaches, with Scarborough State Beach offering the best stretch to spread a blanket and admire the ocean.

Food Enclave: Eat lunch and dinner every day at a different restaurant in Providence's Federal Hill neighborhood and you still won't wear out the dining possibilities.