For Memorial Day weekend, I embarked on a roadtrip to Rhode Island. My itinerary included stops in the northern town of Pawtucket, the capital city of Providence and an oceanside jaunt down to the ritzy town of Newport.

Day one..My drive from the Boston area to Pawtucket, Rhode Island was a pleasant one down route 95. There are no particular sightseeing gems in this town to note. However, it is home to the only vegan bakery in the state: Wildflour Bakery (Wildflour Bakery). I was immediately impressed with the vision before my eyes! The bakery space contains cases of raw vegan sandwiches, fresh juices, whole cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods. The shelves contained more baked goods such as cookies and pizza twists. The counter even housed a jar of vegan doggie treats!

It was extremely difficult to make a decision for my purchase, as everything looked yummy! I selected several items to bring home and a few to nibble on while I was there. My choices included the cheesy pizza twist, a red velvet cupcake, black forest cupcake, granola scone, and a green smoothie. The smoothie consisted of green veggies, banana, orange juice, ginger, blueberries, and a few other ingredients. I could taste both the nutrition and the deliciousness of the veggies and fruits. Very enjoyable! The cupcakes had just the right amount of sweetness and moistness. The granola scone was chewy and earthy, yet quite tasty. The pizza twist was cheesy and tasty! I completely enjoyed everything I tried!

After my bakery visit, I drove down to Rhode Island’s capital..the city of Providence. My first stop was the state house. This was one of the fanciest state house buildings I have ever seen anywhere!

I then proceeded to Roger Williams Park. The vast grounds include a botanical garden, ponds, wildlife, amusement park, and more. I witnessed a family of adult and baby geese following each other around the pond and crossing the road.

The downtown area has a historic district with old, beautiful mansions. It reminds me of Seattle with its cobblestone, hilly streets. I made a stop at the John Brown House. This was the first mansion built in the city for the statesman and merchant. Tours are offered during the day.

In the evening, I attended the Waterfire celebration. This event takes place every May until the end of summer. Containers of flames are placed all along the river. Reflective music is played while visitors peacefully glance at the flames along the waterfront. Street vendors sell food, crafts, and other items.

Dinner time had arrived and I was hungry after all of the sightseeing! Providence has a restaurant called As220 Restaurant (As220) which is a wonderful space in downtown Providence dedicated to the arts. It consists of art galleries, a music club, and a diner. It reminds one of a diner out of the 1950s. I opted for a chocolate coconut bar for dessert, black bean cakes for an appetizer, a vegetable curry with rice for dinner, and an herbal tea for my beverage. The comfort food was delicious!

The next morning, I headed over to Louis Restaurant (Louis Restaurant ) near downtown Providence. While Providence does not have any vegan restaurants, it does have several vegan-friendly restaurants. Louis has a few vegan options on its menu including a tofu scramble. I selected a short stack of vegan blueberry pancakes topped with fresh fruit. They were moist and fluffy with an incredibly delicious taste! I highly recommend them! The cafe is known for the best vegan breakfast items in the area.

Newport, Rhode Island was next on my itinerary! This coastal town is a very popular tourist site during the summer months. Both wealthy, elite visitors and the rest of us enjoy vacationing in this oceanside spot. The region also boasts of many exquisite mansions from the guilded age. I visited two mansions for the $25 admission price. The Elms and Rosecliff (Newport Mansions)mansions were home to famous and quite wealthy residents of bygone eras in the 1800 and 1900s. The elaborate gardens and grounds add to the splendor of these residences. Rosecliff has been the site for many films, including The Great Gatsby. Those tycoons who made millions in the shipping and railroad industry(such as the Vanderbilts and Astors) were some of the original owners of these extravagant summer homes for the New York elite. The socialite spouses would hold elegant balls where guests would arrive in costumed attire for an evening of dancing and socializing. Yachting was popular for the men. I then visited The Breakers mansion for photos.

For a late lunch, I ate at Salvation Cafe. While Newport does not even boast of any vegetarian restaurants, the newer cafe has an ever-growing menu. The chef is happy to make adjustments to the menu to cater to vegans. I ate veggie tempura with coconut rice and tofu.

Finally, I could not leave this area without paying a visit to the Cliff Walk(Cliff Walk) by Salve Regina college. The two pathways provided a breathtaking walk along the ocean.

After the awe-striking, jaw-dropping views inside and outside of the mansions, I headed to downtown Newport. I strolled along the oceanfront and made stops at several gift shops. Many boats were docked there and offer cruises to visitors. I enjoyed my stroll and my time in Newport!

On my way home to Massachusetts, I stopped back in Providence again for a dinner break. The restaurant “United BBQ (United BBQ“) served vegan versions of BBQ dishes. I dined on a vegan bbq seitan sandwich covered in a bbq sauce with a side of hearty homemade potato chips. I enjoyed everything! Vegans can rejoice in finding and eating interesting, tasty BBQ food!

My roadtrip to Rhode Island was filled with great history, culture, nature, and vegan dining! I enjoyed the weekend immensely and highly recommend little Rhodie as a summer getaway!