Is Rhode Island an USA State? I Took a Train from Boston to Find Out
I didn’t expect much when I boarded the morning train out of Boston.
Just a free Saturday, my 20L extend backpack, and a quiet desire to be near the water.
But Rhode Island had other plans.
9:00 AM – Cliffwalk and Conversations with the Sea
Newport’s Cliff Walk was the first surprise.
A 3.5-mile stretch of jagged coast that felt like someone had painted it with oil and wind. Waves slammed the rocks like percussion.
I laced up my shoes, tightened my hoodie, and walked.
The views were cinematic — enough to make you pause mid-step.
Somewhere between marble mansions and the sound of the Atlantic, I forgot what time it was. That’s the kind of silence I like.
12:30 PM – Pasta, Strawberries, and a Buzz of Italian
I headed into the Federal Hill area — Providence’s own Little Italy.
Lunch was loud in the best way: fresh focaccia stuffed with whipped ricotta and strawberries, carbonara so rich I didn’t speak for ten minutes, and espresso that made me want to buy a Vespa.
The woman behind the counter said I looked “peaceful.” I think I was.
3:00 PM – Kayaking Clear Water and Soft Light
Later, I found a kayak launch spot near the Providence River. The water was clearer than I expected — shallow enough to see shells on the bottom, bright enough for everything to feel new.
I didn’t paddle fast. I just drifted, letting the city buzz slide away with the current.
Somewhere under a bridge, a street musician played violin. The wind changed direction. It felt like a movie.
6:30 PM – Train Back to Boston, With a Little More Quiet
Back on the train, window open just a little, the sunset kept up with us like it knew the way home.
Someone once told me: “Rhode Island isn’t a state — it’s a state of mind.”
That made more sense on the ride back than it ever had before.
Looking for a backpack that keeps up with you?
