In this cosy town on Conanicut Island find one of America’s oldest lighthouses, historic farms and a pretty stretch of Narragansett Bay coastline.
Jamestown is a township stretched across a narrow finger of land in the heart of tranquil Narragansett Bay. Extending 9 miles (14.5 kilometres) from top to bottom and just a mile (1.6 kilometres) wide, Conanicut Island packs plenty of interesting attractions into its narrow shores. Spend some time exploring the island to find a town with charming houses, historic estates, sheltered marinas and tree-fringed beaches.
At the southernmost tip of Conanicut Island you’ll find one of the country’s oldest lighthouses at the Beavertail State Park. Check out the lighthouse’s museum and climb to the top to see unparalleled views of the point where Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet. You can also walk or cycle the network of trails in this park or check out a small aquarium.
Experience more of Jamestown’s spacious tranquility at Fort Wetherill State ParkOpens in a new window and hike, fish or picnic on the park’s stunning granite bluffs. Fort Getty Recreational Area has some peaceful campsites, while Mackerel Cove Beach has excellent swimming spots.
Learn about Jamestown’s pastoral heritage at Watson Farm, an 18th-century farmstead that is open to visitors, and stop by the historic Jamestown WindmillOpens in a new window. Other artifacts from Jamestown’s early days can be seen at the Jamestown Fire Museum. Nearby, the Jamestown Library has a great playground for children of all ages.
Take a ride on the scenic Jamestown-Newport Ferry and get fantastic views of the boats coming and going from nearby Newport Harbour. Make sightseeing stops at Rose Island or Fort Adams to take heritage tours or go for a swim at the beach. Ask the locals what’s biting and join them at casting a line into the surf that breaks on the island’s southern tip
Reach the coastal township via the major route that passes through the southern section of Rhode Island or catch the ferry from Newport.
Make Jamestown a stopover on your travels between Newport and southern Rhode Island.
