The historic village of Kingston is home to the University of Rhode Island (URI)—the main entrance to the university is on Kingston's main street. On the campus is the Watson House, a colonial farmhouse with 18th- and 19th-century furniture, household items and tools on display. URI men's basketball is one of the state's hottest sports tickets.
The old Washington County Jail is now a local history museum, and just west on Route 138 is the International Scholar Athlete Hall of Fame and historic Kingston Station. The South County Bike Path begins at the parking lot of the railroad station.
A drive east on Route 138 will bring you to the intersection with Route 1 at Tower Hill. For a great view, as well as a taste of local folklore, climb the Observation Tower at Hannah Robinson Park. During the 18th century, Hannah Robinson, the daughter of a prominent local citizen, had a forbidden love affair with her French tutor, who later deserted her. She is said to have wept over her lost love at the rock (sometimes called Sad Rock, Crying Rock or the Meditation Rock) where she and her lover had met in happier days. Located near the rock is a 100-ft/30-m-high wooden tower that offers impressive views of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic. Kingston is 30 mi/48 km south of Providence.
To request access to the full version of this destination guide, please provide your email address below. Your email address will only be used for verification purposes and will not be used for marketing purposes.