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Flag the small-town of Bristol for your itinerary. Just 15 miles from bustling Newport, the coastal town is on the map for the parade of all Fourth of July parades. It’s been a tradition here since 1785, and Bristol is home to the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the country. And there are other compelling reasons to visit.

From the windswept coastlines of Rhode Island and the tranquil Berkshires to the woodsy and mountainous landscapes of Utah, these quirky yet tasteful properties allow you to step into a world very different from your own.

One of Rhode Island’s most picturesque towns, Bristol is still largely unknown to many travelers. They’re missing its fine cuisine, fascinating history and architecture, and the many different waterfront activities offered along its miles of coastline.

While the big cities duke it out to determine which place has the splashiest celebration for July 4, this Rhode Island town has gone the longest. The town of about 22,000 people started celebrating the nation’s independence in 1785 with a parade, and it’s become the longest-continuing Independence Day celebration in the United States.

Many small American towns may boast that they bleed Red, White and Blue, but the little coastal town of Bristol RI really does.  At least on its main street, where the center line isn’t white or double yellow, but striped in the colors of the American Flag.

But a scant 30 minutes to the north, on a peninsula flanked by the Narragansett Bay, the comparatively chiller town of Bristol ticks all the same boxes, even if the chance of a Swift encounter is a flat zero. 

Providence and Newport swim in attention from Rhode Island visitors, but there’s plenty to see beyond the city and the sea in the Ocean State. Here are five destinations, from quiet New England harbor villages to bustling towns repowered with breweries and entertainment venues that deserve more than a wave when charting your personal Rhode map.

I’m a Floridian through and through, but something about Bristol, Rhode Island, feels like a second home to me. It’s probably the warm welcome from locals like Brian Travers, proprietor of the Bradford-Dimond-Norris House bed and breakfast, where we stay every time, or the quintessential New England Americana of the place—especially at the beginning of July.

Visitors can explore a historic saltwater farm and oceanfront wildlife refuge, tour the Herreshoff Marine Museum/America’s Cup Hall of Fame, enjoy Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum (called one of New England's top five public gardens by Yankee Magazine), or stroll the pedestrian-friendly downtown area.