| Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the union | | | | Continue the scenic drive north until it meets Route |
| but when it comes to scenic drives it has one of the | | | | 138 and then head east on Route 138 over |
| best. With over 400 miles of coastline and 20 | | | | Jamestown Bridge to Conanicut Island, and then over |
| percent of America's National Historic Landmarks, | | | | the magnificent Newport Bridge into the city of |
| Rhode Island packs plenty of distractions in this fall | | | | Newport - once the home of the America's Cup |
| foliage coastal drive. | | | | races, and still one of the sailing capitals of the world. |
| The trip is a one-way 61-mile scenic drive on Route | | | | Newport is on the southern tip of Aquidneck Island, |
| 1A along Block Island Sound until turning North to | | | | and the final leg of this fall foliage scenic drive. It is |
| follow the western shore of Narragansett Bay. You'll | | | | one of my favorite cities in New England - anytime |
| eventually hook-up with Route 138 east and shoot | | | | of the year - but especially during autumn. There's |
| over to historic Newport and the scenic 10-mile | | | | plenty to see and do, as you'll discover... |
| Ocean Drive. | | | | After the Newport Bridge follow the signs to the |
| Along the way are plenty of detours for lighthouses, | | | | Transportation Center. Stay on the main road as it |
| wildlife refuge trails, beach walking, and quiet village | | | | winds through the harbor area, and which offers |
| rambles in autumn splendor. And if you've got an | | | | views of the alleys and passageways leading to |
| extra day, dock yourself at Point Judith and take the | | | | million dollar yachts berthed at the docks. Eventually |
| ferry across to Block Island and rent a bicycle to tour | | | | the road becomes Memorial Boulevard until it meets |
| around and enjoy the stunning fall scenery. | | | | Bellevue Avenue on the right. |
| But back to the drive, and let's get going... | | | | Bellevue Avenue is home to many of the famous |
| Start your scenic drive by heading south on U.S. | | | | Newport Mansions and when time allows worth a visit |
| Highway 1A from Westerly. Look for the sign to | | | | to a few on a return trip. For now admire the |
| Watch Hill Road, which takes you out to Watch Hill, a | | | | "summer cottages" as they were once called, from |
| marvelously preserved Victorian seaside town. | | | | your driving view and work your way towards |
| Attractions in Watch Hill include The Flying Horse | | | | Ocean Drive. |
| Carousel, the oldest continuously operating | | | | Ocean Drive is a 10-mile route that starts on Bellevue |
| merry-go-round carousel in the U.S., and the Watch | | | | Avenue and follows Ocean Avenue around a rocky |
| Hill Lighthouse, a granite and brick-lined 19th Century | | | | peninsular with fishing coves, swimming beaches, and |
| masterpiece. The Lighthouse has no parking so you'll | | | | public parks. |
| park in town and stroll out the 15-minutes it takes to | | | | The Ocean Avenue part of the drive is probably the |
| get there - but it's worth it! | | | | most scenic with magnificent houses on rocky necks |
| Continue the scenic drive by retracing the road back | | | | amidst the omnipresent Atlantic Ocean. A rest stop |
| to US 1A and then heading east. Route 1A merges | | | | at the halfway point on Ocean Drive is Brenton State |
| with Route 1 as you drive towards Charlestown and | | | | Park, and is popular for picnics and flying kites - it has |
| the Point Judith Area. This part of the drive has | | | | tables and B-B-Q pits if you can remember to bring |
| numerous beaches, long sand spits, inlets, coves, and | | | | your own charcoal. |
| turnoffs for salt ponds and wildlife refuges protected | | | | As you head out of the park you're heading back to |
| by the natural beach barriers on Block Island Sound. | | | | Newport Harbor, and you'll pass the Castle Hill |
| Follow Route 1 until it intersects with Route 108 | | | | Lighthouse, Hammersmith Farm - where former |
| south and head down to Point Judith and the Junction | | | | Jackie Kennedy spent childhood years - and Fort |
| of Route 1A. Drive the short distance to Point Judith | | | | Adams Park. |
| Lighthouse, which was built in 1857. Here you'll also | | | | The Fort Adams State Park is on Harrison Avenue |
| get another great view of Block Island and its cliffs | | | | and another wonderful destination of its own another |
| on the horizon. The island is just a short ferry ride | | | | day. Turn left at the next intersection, and left again |
| from Point Judith and a popular daily excursion for | | | | onto Halidon Avenue. Continue right onto Wellington |
| many during the fall foliage season. | | | | Avenue and you'll pass by King Park on your left, |
| Take Route 1A North to Narragansett Pier and on to | | | | which is at the southern end of Newport Harbor, and |
| farms and countryside surrounding the | | | | leads you back into the city center where the tour |
| Pettaquamscutt River. This area of stonewalls and | | | | ends. |
| forests once housed many Rhode Island plantations | | | | There's a lot of diversity packed into this fall foliage |
| that gave the state its formal name of Rhode Island | | | | scenic drive and it's in one of my favorite areas of |
| and Providence Plantations. In the fall foliage season | | | | New England, and after you've take the ride yourself |
| the forests are ablaze with autumn and add a | | | | I suspect it could be one of yours. |
| satisfying splash of color to this coastline tour. | | | | |