Before moving to Rhode Island, it’s important to know a few things about the state. Rhode Island is located in the New England region of the United States and is known for being the smallest state in terms of both land area and population. The capital city is Providence, which is also the largest city in Rhode Island. Other notable cities include Newport and Warwick.
The climate in Rhode Island is mostly temperate, with cool summers and cold winters. However, the state can experience extreme weather conditions from time to time, so it’s important to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature might throw your way.
One of the most appealing aspects of Rhode Island is its natural beauty. The state is home to several scenic beaches, parks, and other outdoor attractions. If you love spending time outdoors, then you’ll definitely want to consider moving to Rhode Island.
Things to Know Before Moving to Rhode Island
Small Island with big adventures
Despite being a small island, Rhode Island has some of the largest cities and population. The largest, Providence, is the capital and has a population of nearly 181,000 people. Cranston is the next largest city with a population of over 80,000 people. Other sizable cities in Rhode Island include Warwick, East Providence, and Pawtucket. In total, these five cities have a population of over 516,000 people which means that nearly 42% of Rhode Island’s residents live in one of these five cities.
With its large cities comes the amazing nightlife, the vast culture and tons of things to do. So moving here will take you on a new adventure.
There’s This Thing Called An Awful Awful
If you ever happen to find yourself in Newport, the first thing you do should is punch Newport Creamery into the GPS. Home of the Awful iced drink, this frozen treat is a blend of flavoring, milk, and a secret ice milk mix. It’s Awful delicious and Awful addictive. You’ll start craving them in no time.
New York System Isn’t A New York Thing
Rhode Island has their own variation of the hot dog and it’s one of the best in the entire country, oddly it’s called a “New York System wiener” despite it being a Little Rhody thing. They’re usually thin hot dogs made with veal and pork before being topped with celery salt, yellow mustard, chopped onions, and a meat sauce, but never, ever ketchup. If you want to order it with all the toppings, just say you want it “all the way.” One great local place to give it a try is Olneyville New York System restaurant.
Tomatoes Never Go In Clam Chowder
Just like ketchup can’t be put on a hot wiener in Rhode Island, you can’t put tomatoes in clam chowder either. It’s a New York City thing and the people here find it gross.
Coffee Milk Is The Local Drink
The official state drink of Rhode Island, coffee milk is basically a sweet coffee concentrate that’s added into milk. It’s hard to stop at just one glass.
Invest In Some Serious Snow Gear
While the warm summers are absolutely perfect in Rhode Island, the winters are a different story. Sometimes snowstorms can hit that will have your car buried for a week in a matter of minutes. You don’t want to be the person that realizes they’ve got nothing to wear on the first really cold night of the year.
Some License Plates Are As Valuable As A Firstborn
This might sound strange to outsiders, but black plates with low numbers in Rhode Island are so coveted that they’ll even get handed down in wills. They act as a status symbol and sign of prestige and wealth. Seriously, some people could sell their plate for more than they could sell their car.
Accents Here Are All Over The Place
Lots of local influences from nearby metropolises make it hard to pin down the Rhode Island accent. It gets compared to Boston a lot and even Brooklyn. It’s neither. It’s a Rhode Island accent through and through.
Rhode Island Has Their Own Red Sox
Everyone’s heard of the Boston Red Sox, but when it comes to the Pawtucket Red Sox, it’s a little different story. This local minor league team is affiliated with Boston and plays their games at Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium. To keep things from getting too confusing, the locals usually just call them the PawSox instead of their full name.
Don’t Go Hunting For The Town Of Quahog
If an out-of-towner thinks they know anything about Rhode Island, it’s probably because they’ve seen a few “Family Guy” episodes before. A cartoon loaded with slapstick humor, it’s technically set in Rhode Island, but the town the characters are in is completely fictional. That’s right, Peter Griffin’s Quahog doesn’t actually exist.
Hunt For The Food Called A Quahog Instead
The term “quahog” is actually another name for a hard clam. They’re one of the native creatures in this area, and they’re super delicious.
Del’s Is Extremely Addictive In The Best Way Possible
If you want a great way to cool off on a hot Rhode Island day, a Del’s frozen lemonade is always sure to hit the spot. It’s known for having the perfect amount of slushiness, and it’s made from crushed ice, lemons, and sugar, giving it a great natural flavor. Interestingly enough, it was almost the state drink until coffee milk beat it out in 1993.
Never Second Guess An Area Code
Rhode Island has one area code, and it’s 401. If only more states kept things that simple.
Always Be On The Lookout For Potholes
Probably thanks to the huge temperature swings throughout the year, Rhode Island has a pretty difficult time maintaining their roads. It’s completely normal to see people in front of you start swerving and think nothing of it. Rhode Island drivers know they’ll be doing the same thing soon, too.
“Stuffies” Are Stuffed Clams
Another popular dish in Rhode Island, “stuffies” consist of a breadcrumb and clam mixture that’s baked inside a quahog shell. Other ingredients are also often added into the mix, like bacon, onion, and garlic. This is definitely a must-try if you’re moving to Little Rhody. And while we’re on the subject of clams, clam cakes in this state are equally famously delicious.
People Aren’t Used To Road Trips Here
When your state is less than 50 miles long and less than 40 miles wide, drives between places don’t take too long. If you bring your new Rhode Island friends on any long trip, expect to hear “are we there yet?” asked several times before you’re even halfway to the destination.
Don’t Get Too Embarrassed If You Struggle Pronouncing Town Names
The further from the East Coast you’re moving from, the more you’ll struggle with the regional words in the Rhode Island area. You’ll be expected to pronounce words like Narragansett and Quonochontaug on a regular basis. The locals might chuckle as you bumble through the first few attempts, but they’ll always be willing to help you get it right.
Rhode Island Is One Of The Most Underrated States Around
Rhode Island might be tiny, but it’s got a huge personality. From its awesome coastline to its unbeatable seafood to the down-to-earth residents that are a breath of fresh air on the hectic East Coast, it’s pretty hard to find anything to complain about around here. One thing for sure, if you move to Rhode Island, you’ll fall in love with the area before you’ve made it through your first week there.
