Unique to Newport, Rhode Island

More than just a tongue twister (though it is that too—say it three times fast if you doubt me), the phrase "Unique to Newport" describes a lot of annual events that occur in this centuries-old New England summer resort. Between its rich history, its sailing culture, and its locals, Newport has come up with a calendar completely its own—though you're welcome to join in the festivities if you're there at the right time.

Proud to call itself "the sailing capital of the world," Newport's been a maritime city since the mid-1700s. It was a port city, a pirate hangout, and still is a naval station and a sailors' paradise. Annual events like the Black Ships Festival in July and Newport International Boat Show spotlight different aspects of this town's maritime culture.

Providence Weekend Escapes: Newport, Rhode Island

In the boom years before the Great Depression, New York society families flocked to Newport's windswept cliffs and built mansions of unrivalled opulence. Nicknamed "white elephants" by Henry James, the mansions stand as reminders of the decadent era immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

Photo credit: Rhode Island: Photodisc/Getty

Providence Trip Highlights: WaterFire

Providence, Rhode Island’s WaterFire is a multi-sensory art installation that features over 50 blazing bonfires along the city’s three main waterways. First created in 1994, the exhibit illuminates the Rhode Island state capital May through October and includes a number of other related events and concerts. Enjoy the show from the riverbank (free, but donations welcome) or on the river itself from the comfort of a Venetian-style gondola.

Photo credit: WaterFire at Waterplace Park, Providence (courtesy, Providence Warwick CVB)