Lived in RI for MANY years (and LOVED it!!!!!) while hubby was in the Navy. We owned a house in Newport (too many tourists), then bought a house in Bristol whose claim to fame is the oldest 4th of July parade in the Nation and also has the state's largest state park (Colt State Park and it is wonderful!!!). There was also a bike path along the edge of the bay from Bristol and working its way towards Providence. LOVED walking it with my baby in the stroller. The color of the sea in the fall is a most gorgeous blue. So MUCH to do and so MANY things in close driving distance. We probably would have retired there except we chose to come back to my husband's little hometown in the Finger Lakes. The only drawback to the state is the high price of homes now.