The Revolutionary Heritage Byway passes through historic downtown Bristol, by waterfront parks and harbor viewpoints. As a six-mile National Scenic Byway, it brings together the town’s history and maritime perspectives along one route. In the East Bay area of Bristol County, Colt State Park is another visitor attraction. Its features include lawns, hiking trails, historic stone walls, and a striking coastline.
Coastal Trails on Two Scales
Colt State Park covers 464 acres and has four miles of paved paths. The park’s cycling paths intersect the East Bay Bike Path. This runs 14.5 miles from Bristol to Providence and is suited to cycling, walking, and jogging along the coast. The distances describe different scales: four miles of paved paths within the park and 14.5 miles for the route between Bristol and Providence. This makes it possible to distinguish a network of paths within the park from a longer coastal route.
Estates and Garden Design
Mount Hope Farm is a 127-acre estate on the shore of Mount Hope Bay. Blithewold is a 33-acre summer estate with expansive views of Narragansett Bay. The acreage gives the two estates a different scale; both descriptions refer to landscapes on a bay.
At Blithewold, the 45-room mansion is framed by gardens. The 33-acre gardens are examples of early 20th-century American landscape design. Blithewold thus combines a specific architectural feature with a historical perspective on garden design.
The gardens, paths, and walking trails at Mount Hope Farm are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., except during private events. Check the latest access information before your visit.
History in Buildings and Collections
The Bristol Historical & Preservation Society is housed in a prison building erected in 1828 that is used as a museum and library. The library contains more than 1,800 books and documents of local and regional historical interest. Here, you can encounter local history and the history of the building through two specific points of reference: the collection and the building’s former function.
The America's Cup Hall of Fame honors people who have made outstanding contributions to sailing’s most prestigious competition. The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium houses a natural history museum with interactive exhibits about Rhode Island’s habitats and wildlife. Together, these subjects offer different ways to explore history, sailing, and natural history.
Festivals and Practical Information
Bristol’s Annual Fourth of July Celebration was founded in 1785. If you’d like to include the celebration in your travel plans, check the latest event dates.
At the Bristol ferry office of Prudence & Bay Islands Transport, tickets can be purchased and reservations made 30 minutes before each ferry departure. Check the operator’s latest information before traveling.
Discover more destinations: Bristol, Newport, Providence, Kent, Washington.
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