Scenic Foliage Drives →
Rhode Island Foliage Driving Tour
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- Wayne Worcester
Rhode Island's Only Covered Bridge
Rhode Island's only covered bridge is in Foster. Although it is one of the nation's newest and smallest (36 feet long) covered bridges, it has a dramatic history. In the late fall of 1992, Swamp Meadow Covered Bridge, a latticed-truss, one-lane bridge, was built over Hemlock Brook, much to the delight of locals who took seriously the fact that Rhode Island was the only New England state without a covered bridge. On a September night one year later, teenage vandals doused the bridge with gasoline and, with the flick of a lighter, destroyed it. The townspeople were so distraught that they weren't sure they wanted to rebuild, but calls, money, and offers of support came from all over Rhode Island. A few months later, volunteers began the process that ultimately led to rebuilding. Dedicated in November 1994, the new bridge resembles an authentic 19th-century covered bridge. To visit: From Route 6, go south on Route 94; turn right on Central Pike.
Where to Stay and Eat in East Bay
Bradford-Dimond-Norris House, 888-329-6338, 401-253-6338. 474 Hope St., Bristol. This c. 1792 building, one of Bristol's best-known landmarks, is called the Wedding Cake House. Open year-round. Four rooms.
Candlewick Inn, 401-247-2425. 775 Main St., Warren. A charming turn-of-the-last-century Sears-kit home. Open year-round. Four rooms.
Quito's Restaurant, 401-253-4500. 411 Thames St., Bristol. Don't be misled by the plastic chairs and paper plates -- the seafood here is so fresh that you can watch it being unloaded from Quito's boat right on Bristol Harbor. Quito's is also a wholesale fish market. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
Redlefsen's Rotisserie and Grill, 401-254-1188. 444 Thames St., Bristol. This restaurant is highly recommended by locals and visitors alike, who enjoy the European bistro atmosphere. Its Wiener schnitzel has been called the best in New England. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
The Rockwell House Inn, 800-815-0040, 401-253-0040. 610 Hope St., Bristol. This c. 1809 Federal Victorian is located in the heart of Bristol. The innkeepers provide bathrobes and hair dryers, serve sherry, and offer a gourmet morning meal. You'll find the largest and oldest tulip poplar tree in the state right in the backyard here. Open year-round. Four rooms.
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