| Nicknamed “The Ocean State” for its close ties to the Atlantic Ocean, no one is more than a 30 minute drive from the water’s edge. Other fun facts are that Rhode Island is America’s smallest state by size, has the largest concentration of Italians and Italian-Americans, was the first to declare its independence from Britain, and the last to ratify the constitution. Narragansett Bay contains many of the states natural islands, of which there are 30 total. Aquidneck and Block Island are two of the more popular. Rhode Islanders have some unique beverages and foods to their credit, like coffee milk, the state’s official beverage, which is milk mixed with coffee syrup. Another is a version of lemonade using a mixture of ice slush, fresh lemons, and sugar. Other culinary eccentricities include wieners (small hot dogs covered in a meat sauce, chopped onions, mustard, and celery salt), grinders (a special type of submarine sandwich), Chouriço and peppers (sausage and peppers), and dynamites (sloppy-joes with peppers and onions on torpedo rolls). A “stuffie” is a large clam mixed with spicy minced sausage stuffing, baked in a clam shell shell. Shellfish, chowders, clam cakes, and other seafoods are also popular in the state. Once visitors get their fill of the state’s delicious cuisine, they often head to one of the many casinos, take a stroll along the beach in summer months, or go for a relaxing boat ride among the islands. The Ocean State, Atlantic Ocean, smallest state, Narragansett Bay, Italinas, Italian-Americans, Revolutionary War, Aquidneck, Block Island, grinders, dynamites, stuffies |
