Charlestown (Rhode Island)

• TF Green International Airport located in Warwick (Rhode Island). About half an hour from Charlestown. Parking for TF Green starts at $11.

• From I-95 N take exit 92 for Route 2 towards Route 49 / North Stonington. Merge onto CT-78 East. Take a left at Route 1 and follow into Charlestown.
• From I-95 S take Exit 9 (on the left) in Rhode Island onto Route 4. Follow Route 4 into Route 1, and follow for about 17 miles.

• Breachway Bait and Tackle, 166 Charlestown Beach Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-6407. Sells fishing bait, propane, and canoes/kayaks (which it also rents). A good destination for tourists venturing out onto the ponds or ocean. 
• Quonnie Bait and Tackle, 5223 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401-637-7184. A small shop that specializes in building, repairing, and selling fishing rods; also has live and frozen bait and other fishing supplies plus all licenses. No rentals but may be looking into bringing in kayaks. 

• Charlestown Mini Super, 4071 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-6600. A small-town version of a grocery store. Doesn’t stock as many items as bigger supermarkets, so you may need to leave town to get all of your groceries. 
• Peaches Fruit and Produce, 47 Charlestown Beach Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-5949. Kind of like a farmer’s market inside of someone’s garage, this shop has fresh fruit and vegetables, baked goods, and cooled drinks. It’s family owned, so it has a friendly atmosphere and is a great place to find freshly grown food. 

• Charlestown Wine and Spirits, 4625 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-6626. Specializes in many varieties of wine, beer, and mixings for assorted drinks at moderate prices. It’s the only liquor store in Charlestown. Wine tastings are held every Friday night. 
• Freewheeler, 14 Charlestown Beach Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-3851. A little tourist shop, it carries items like t-shirts, beachwear, toys, and other beach specialty items. An ideal location to find souvenirs during the summer. 
• Galapago Boutique, 5193 Old Post Rd, toll-free: +1-800-419-6642. Galapagos Boutique is a hip, upscale women's boutique offering the hotest fashions. Galapagos caters to clients looking for personal service to create an individual fashion statement. You will find top design labels in clothing, shoes, jewelry & accessories, as well as up-and-coming designers new to the fashion scene. 
• The Fantastic Umbrella Factory, 4820 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-6616. This "factory" is not actually a factory, but is a serene environment that features a wonderful garden and a number of small shops in converted barns with affordable items, a café, and a number of domesticated animals on the grounds that can be fed with feed purchased from one of the stores for $0.35. It has been open since 1968. The shops feature a variety of local wares including toys to crafts. This is a terrific little local spot, not very well known, but a fabulous and interesting piece of the local culture. 

• Charlestown Famous Pizza, 3986 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-0020. A definite hangout for local residents, they have some of the best pizza around. A worthwhile stop to quench any hunger pains. 
• Kingston Pizza, 4159 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-7300. A pizza chain found all around Rhode Island, you can eat in or order out their relatively cheap items. Besides pizza, they have a wide selection of appetizers, calzones, and salads. A favorite on nearby college campuses. 
• Jitters Cafe, 4 Charlestown Beach Rd. A quaint shop that serves a wide array of delectable treats and other traditional coffeehouse fare. Another option for the caffeine-deprived—they also serve coffee and other drinks. 

• Monahan's by the Cove, 5402 Post Rd (on Route 1 in Charlestown between Ninigret Park and Burlingame Campground), ☏ +1 401-409-1023. Monahan's is a family-oriented and family-run restaurant in the prime beach area of Rhode Island. Enjoy grilled favorites like burgers, hot dogs, and steak sandwiches, and seafood classics including clamcakes and delicious clear "Rhode Island" clam chowder. Beautiful picnic area outside and cozy dining area inside with air conditioning. Take-out is available. Open seasonally from the first weekend in May through Labor Day. 
• The Corner Deli. Deli sandwiches are their specialty, but everything is refreshing and excellent especially on a hot summer day. 
• The Hungry Haven, 5000 South County Trail, ☏ +1 401 364-3609. Open daily 6:30AM-2:30PM and for dinner on Fridays, 4PM-9PM A budget-friendly choice for breakfast or lunch, it’s a crowded local favorite. 
• Sly Fox Den Too Charlestown, 4349 South Country Trl, ☏ +1 401-642-7350. This small breakfast and lunch place is a popular local spot. The food is the attraction to this place. It has reasonable prices, and a cozy atmosphere. 

• The Cove, 3963 Old Post Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-9222. A classy seafood restaurant, it has been a favorite of visitors for years because of the great food and drinks. Also has live music. 
• The Nordic Lodge, 178 East Pasquiset Trail. Thursdays and Fridays 5-9PM, Saturdays 4-9PM, and Sundays 2-7PM. A well known “all-you-can-eat” buffet, the Nordic Lodge features some of the best buffet dining in all of New England. With food for all types of eaters, the Lodge truly impresses with the lobster included in the buffet and its massive selection. Adults $85, children 2-5 $15, children 6-9 $30, children 10-12 $45. 

• Burlingame State Park, Sactuary Rd, ☏ +1 401 322-3083. Burlingame is a great place to stay if your looking for a great camping experience. On a 2,100-acre plot of land, the site features 755 camping sites of ranging accommodations, as well as an excellent camping store and even an arcade. Burlingame is on Watchaug pond, and also has many swimming and boating facilities, with lifeguards on duty from 9AM-5PM in season. Campground amenities include: children's activities, grill, picnic area, restroom, telephone, waterfront, attractions of interest to children, park, public beach, firewood, pets allowed, boat ramp, canoeing, freshwater fishing, kayaking, playground, freshwater swimming, wildlife viewing. No alcohol is allowed. $14 for residents, $20 for non-residents. 
• Ninigret State Beach, East Beach Rd, ☏ +1 401 322-0450. A truly wonderful place to pitch camp, Ninigret offers a limited number of campgrounds in the dunes behind the beach. Note that you have to have an RV capable of four-wheel drive to get out to the camping areas. Non-resident fee is $20 a night. $20 a night. 
• Charlestown State Breachway, Route 1A, ☏ +1 401 322-1208. A kind of “counterpart” to Ninigret’s camping areas, the Breachway offers some excellent saltwater fishing. It is required to have an RV to camp. The Breachway also offers a boat launch, and some of the best bird watching in the area. Non-resident fee is $20 a night. $20 a night. 

• Brenda's Bed and Breakfast, 654 Alton Carolina Rd, ☏ +1 401 364-3608. 

• Emergency Operations Center Phone: +1 401 364-1212
• Fire Phone: +1 401 364-7711
• Police 4901 Old Post Rd Phone: +1 401 364-1214

If you are not sure of these numbers, calling 911 will always work in this town and in its surrounding neighborhoods.

• Pack water—there are plenty of shops in town, but if you’re going to be vacationing on the beach or in the parks for a day or two, you need to make sure you don’t get dehydrated.
• Follow the buddy system—as a tourist beach community, you should be pretty safe walking around by yourself at night, but it’s best to keep a phone with you and go with friends just in case.
• Be careful of ticks-check yourself and family regularly. If you are unfamiliar with ticks, this website can give you some more information. http://www.tickencounter.org/%5Bdead+link%5D

• Block Island is a small island about a dozen miles off the mainland. Take a ferry there for the day to see the National Wildlife Refuge, take a tour, swim in the ocean, or just wander through the shops.
• The University of Rhode Island is 20 minutes away (follow Route 1 east then connect to 108 north). Sporting events, home shows, and concerts occur often at the Ryan Center and elsewhere on campus, so be sure to check out the school’s website to find out how to get tickets. http://www.uri.edu/.
• Mystic is a 30-minute ride, Route 1 South to 95 South. aquarium, historic sightings, and shopping.

• Newport is a famous city on another island nearby. To get there, you’ll need to follow Route 138 over the bridge; there is a toll both ways, so bring some change. The main road is tourist-centered, so find a place to park and just walk your way up the strip. There are plenty of budget-friendly motels around, but also some hotels and timeshares; get a room and wake up next to the beach.
• Providence, the state capital, is a fun place to visit for shopping and entertainment. You can drive or take the RIPTA bus.