East Bay
Trip Ideas
- Where to Go
- The Best of Vermont
- Rumblings of Revolution
- New, New England Dining
- Boston’s Artistic Expression
- Vermont Leaf Peeping
- Into the Wild
- Vermont Skiing at Its Best
- Visit Vermont’s Maple Sugar Shacks
- Connecticut for Kids
- Vermont’s Covered Bridges
- A Shore Thing
- Vermont with Kids
- Portland Maine Art Galleries
- Small-Town Flavor
- Connecticut’s Wine Trails
- New Hampshire’s Farmers Markets
- A Weekend of Vermont Art
- Family Matters
- Maine Wilderness Camps
- Vermont Cheddar Houses
- Connecticut Spas
Explore Further
In their rush to get from Providence to Newport, most travelers simply bypass the east side of Narragansett Bay, pausing just to notice the stunning views from the series of bridges between East Providence and Portsmouth. The area, however, is a destination in its own right for anyone who prizes small-town life.
The two port cities of Warren and Bristol are both known for their attractive main streets and summer boating communities. Bristol is also the unofficial headquarters for the America’s Cup Yachting Race, and maintains a museum inspired by the competition.
Getting to the East Bay
Driving from Providence, it’s a quick shot down I-95 and Route 114 to Warren (12 mi., 20 min.) and Bristol (18 mi., 25 min.). The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority (RIPTA, 401/781-9400, www.ripta.com) stops at all of the East Bay towns on its Providence–Newport route (Rte. 60).
Buses from Providence to Warren take approximately 20 minutes, and stop at Main and Joyce streets. Buses from Providence to Bristol take a half hour, stopping at Hope and State streets. Fares are a reasonable $1.75, regardless of distance.
© Michael Blanding and Alexandra Hall from Moon New England, 2nd Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.