I Love Rhode Island—But These 3 Places Are a Hard ‘No’ for Me

Growing up in the Ocean State, I have explored nearly every corner, which isn't that hard to do, considering it's the smallest state in the country. Now, as an adult with social media at our fingertips, I've noticed that some places take on a much different look and feel than they do IRL. With filters, a whimsical song overlayed on a Reel or TikTok video, and/or editing, some places can be a bit misrepresented. That being said, you may agree with me on the following areas, or you may not. You may have some least favorite places of your own around the state that I find absolutely beautiful—we all have opinions, and, for what it's worth, these are mine. Here are a few tourist places in Rhode Island that are a hard pass for me:

1. Scarborough Beach - Narragansett

If you come to the beach seeking sugar white sand and plenty of room to put down a blanket, think again. Unless you visit here during the off-season or arrive extremely early, you'll likely encounter both traffic and crowds—and good luck finding a parking spot. Furthermore, many beachgoers enjoy bringing their boomboxes or speakers to blast their personal music. Then there's the more-than-occasional sound of a loud foghorn in the distance, as well as construction noise from a wind farm being built in the area. If you want a relaxing beach experience, Narragansett's Scarborough Beach isn't it. And that's not just my opinion, but also the opinions of many other Rhode Island locals.

2. Goat Island - Newport

I absolutely love Newport with its charming, walkable streets, Gilded Age mansions, and scenic drive; it's undoubtedly one of the top Rhode Island destinations. Part of Newport, Goat Island seems to lack the charm that the rest of the city is known for. While the water views from here are spectacular, the small island has limited green space and is dominated by parking lots, residences, and the Newport Harbor Island Resort, which occupies most of the real estate. If I'm going to spend time in Newport, I'd rather take a walk down Thames Street or the Cliff Walk or tour The Breakers Mansion for the hundredth time.

3. Thayer Street - Providence

Once upon a time (in high school, to be exact), I spent an unhealthy amount of time on Thayer Street. It was where my friends and I would go after school to walk around, grab a coffee or a bite to eat at an eclectic eatery, browse for books at the Brown Bookstore, and, maybe, see an indie movie at the Avon Cinema. After college, I even worked at a store on Thayer for a while. Now that I am older, I realize it's not the right place for me, with hordes of high school and college students who frequent this bustling area. Instead, I'll just hold onto the fond memories I made here in my youth.

What overhyped destination in Rhode Island are a hard pass for you? Send your picks—we would love to hear from you!

Create your own Rhode Island travel memories using Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.