Celebrate National Rhode Island Day with These Fun Facts

Rhode Island happens to be the smallest state in the US. However, that doesn’t mean this state isn’t packed with things to do and incredible sights! You can easily spend a week in Rhode Island for a family vacation. Or visit on a day trip while on a family vacation in Massachusetts or Connecticut. Since National Rhode Island Day is here, I thought I should share a few fun facts about this fabulous state.

Celebrate National Rhode Island Day with These Fun Facts

1. Rhode Island is only 1,214 square miles in size. That makes it the smallest of all 50 states. However, this state isn’t the least populated of all the states. There are 8 other states that have fewer people than Rhode Island.
2. The official nickname of Rhode Island is The Ocean State. Its official name though is State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
3. The official drink of Rhode Island is coffee milk. To make this drink, you simply add coffee syrup to a glass of milk.
4. The first US Open Golf Tournament was held in Newport on October 4, 1895.
5. Back in 1904, a judge in Newport placed a person in jail for speeding. The sentence was 5 days. It was the first person to do jail time for speeding, despite the fact the driver had only been going 15 miles per hour.
6. On September 12, 1953, John F Kennedy married Jackie Bouvier at St. Mary’s Church in Newport. This church is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
7. One of the oldest institutions of higher education in the US is Brown University. This university is located in Providence.
8. There are currently more pizzerias per person in Rhode Island than there are in any other state. With approximately 35 pizzerias per 100,000 people, you will never have difficulty finding a slice while on a family vacation in Rhode Island.
9. The state of Rhode Island has an island of the same name within the state. The island is also called Aquidneck Island. Maybe to avoid confusion?? The island is 44 square miles in size. There are two towns and one city on the island.
10. The state pet is the Big Blue Bug. You can find the Big Blue Bug on the side of the highway in Providence. The bug’s name is Nibbles Woodaway. He is a 58-foot-long termite who weighs 2 tons. If you happen to take a family vacation there during the holidays, you will see Nibbles all decked out in holiday cheer.
11. There is a coffee shop, mainly Dunkin Donuts, on almost every street corner.
12. Hasbro Toys Headquarters can be found in Pawtucket.
13. Rhode Island never approved the 18th Amendment, which was Prohibition.
14. It is illegal to throw pickle juice at a trolley in Rhode Island.
15. A law on the books in Rhode Island makes it illegal for companies to make some employees work on Sundays. The fine is only $10, and it only applies to unnecessary work that was completed.
16. It is actually illegal to bite off another person’s leg in Rhode Island.
17. It is illegal to smoke a pipe after sunset in Newport, Rhode Island.

These are some of the fun facts I discovered about this state for National Rhode Island Day. One of my favorite ways to see Rhode Island during a family vacation is by taking a cruise to Canada. This may seem strange, but a couple of the cruise lines stop right in Newport, Rhode Island. There are a few different excursions you can do while in Newport. A popular excursion is taking a tour of all the mansions located within the Newport area. Two of the most popular mansions are the Breakers and the Marble House. They were both owned by the Vanderbilts.

So, are you ready to book a family vacation and explore this state for National Rhode Island Day?

If you said yes, I would like to invite you to schedule a planning session with me by clicking here. When you click on this link, you will be taken directly to my digital calendar to schedule a time that is convenient for you.

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