Way back in the "good ol' days" .... well, maybe not that good but better than the other option, and this brings back memories:
They (Uncle Sam) sent me to Davisville RI. We bought a Falcon 16 one summer and trailer sailed it a lot out of a little bay called Allen Harbor and cruised around Narragansett Bay. If it were me I'd visit: Warwick and East Greenwich (there is a yacht club there); Allen Harbor (to see what changes there are, it's a small harbor and the satellite view seems to show a lot of mooring balls that weren't there before);
A little further up the road is the small town of Wickford (where we lived) that had a lot of marsh areas and looked really nice. There was a waterfront restaurant where we used their small dock one day and of course all the patrons with the shore side tables get to watch you tie up. Beautiful day with a nice wind. A couple came down and asked if they could rent our boat but who wants to give it up on such a nice day?;
Going south some more is Point Judith where we launched and sailed to Block Island. Missed the tide turn and had to motor (3 hp) out past the breakwater and the current was really ripping so hugged the side along the riprap. Newport is a long way out but maybe on a loop back then go through Fall River. Really liked Wickford but the satellite view shows it is really developed now. The two nicest stops might be (or would have been?) E. Greenwich and Wickford.
Boston had Old Ironsides and the Paul Revere historical area but the latter was disconcerting being near and almost under the freeway.
Our return back home was over the Mackinaw Bridge with the hope of doing some gunk holing on the other side but the mosquitos really plastered the windshield and radiator so we we didn't stop and went to the headwaters of the Mississippi instead. Afterward it was via Interstate-2 then through Yellowstone to the tune of "Goin' to San Francisco with flowers in your hair" and "The Sloop John B".
Get out and see the country then try to return in the fall so you can see the fall foliage.
I grew up in all these places. Thanks to the SeaBees in quonset and my fathers employer.
I learned to snorkel at the "beach" near Wickford and went to Wickford Middle School.
Got me thinking...If you like to snorkle and dont mind getting wet on this trip.
Its going to be super hot. Get to newport, pick up a cheap snorkel kit and uber to 2nd beach near Purgatory Chasm.
This time of year the water is warming up and possibly clearing up. Start on the rocky wall on the beach and traverse the rocky ledge, its only about 8 feet deep. Go as far out as the chasm and head out into the bay. The ledge drops to about 15 20 feet down to sand, expect to see a couple big skittish blues or stripped bass over the sand.
Head back over the ledge and go right into the chasm. Its about 10 feet deep with purple urchins and starfish crawling around. You are likely to see large tautog hanging out, maybe a small school of squid hiding near the entrance. Theres a rocky beach deep inside you can hang out in, although there isnt a comfotable place to stay long.
Come back to shore and get some frozen lemonade from the vendor.
There will be horrible traffic leaving the islands around 4 stay late and soak it all in.
