The village of Wickford is a picturesque example of what much of the Rhode Island coast used to look like, with a low-rise main street and tree-lined residential thoroughfares interrupted by tidal inlets, ponds and marshes, all surrounding a bustling harbor. Wickford also hosts two popular annual festivals: The Wickford Arts Festival, whici attracts international artists and thousands of visitors each July, and the Christmas Festival of Lights, a more local event. Be sure to visit Smith's Castle, a national landmark that is the site of trading posts built in the 1600s by Roger Williams, the founder of Rhode Island. The site was expanded into a large plantation during the 1700s and was fully renovated in 1995. Today, visitors can enjoy exhibits documenting four centuries of history and an 18th-century-style garden.
Wickford is one of a handful of villages that comprise the town of North Kingstown, one of Rhode Island's most scenic seaside communities. It's also historically significant, with homes dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. We recommend stops at the Casey Farm in Saunderstown (built in 1750 and still a working farm) and Smith's Castle (a 1678 plantation). Aviation enthusiasts will want to make time for the Quonset Aviation Museum at Quonset Point. Wickford is 20 mi/32 km south of Providence.
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