This Fall, Visit Bristol, the Most Charming College Town in Rhode Island

Home to Roger Williams University, Bristol turns into a college town when students return to campus. With a resident population of approximately 22,000, that number increases to around 27,000 when school is back in session.

While the summer crowds thin and the excitement of the first semester of the school year descends upon the town, there's something special, something magical about visiting this small Rhode Island town during the fall.

Since its founding in 1956, Roger Williams University has become a major part of the Bristol, Rhode Island, community, providing a safe environment for students. In recent years, Bristol was rated the "#1 Safest College Town in America" by Safewise, a statistic any parent of a college student would appreciate. The University offers extensive academic programs, including 50 majors and 70 minors, and offers guaranteed internships. Encouraging students to engage with the community outside campus is another important facet of the university's education.

With a thriving downtown area centered around Hope Street lined with shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants, its coastal location, and a calendar filled with seasonal events, Bristol is an utterly charming small town to visit once students return to campus for the fall semester. When I worked as an office manager for an environmental organization many years ago in Bristol, autumn was my favorite season to explore the town during my lunch breaks and after work. I'd often find myself at Colt State Park to spend time by the water and marvel at the trees as their green leaves gave way to crimson and gold hues. This time of year replaced summer tourists with the nearby college students I'd see studying out of textbooks during a brisk fall afternoon.

Another spot for fall foliage is at the 127-acre Mount Hope Farm. Set on the edge of Mount Hope Bay, this farm is on the National Register of Historic Places and is free to visit. With a year-round farmers' market every Saturday, farm animals, gardens, and paths, including the kid-friendly StoryWalk, which incorporates book pages along a short trail, there's so much to see and do here. The farm is also a Level One Arboretum, and the variety of trees here is outstanding. Come here in the fall to witness the splendor of the leaves changing colors with the bay as a backdrop.

Did you know you can also spend the night at Mount Hope Farm? Book a room in one of the property's historic inns for a fall getaway: The Governor Bradford House and the North Pasture Guest House.

From the farm's property, you can even view the Mount Hope Bridge, a suspension bridge that connects Bristol to Aquidneck Island over Mount Hope Bay. With fall colors on either side of the bridge, it's a picture-perfect place to be this season.

Have you visited this Rhode Island college town in the fall before? As I've said, Bristol is one of my favorite places to be this time of year. If you're feeling inspired, try planning your own trip to Bristol, Rhode Island, using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner.