At least in our opinion, there is nothing like summer in Rhode Island. There are beautiful seaside attractions throughout the state, but for centuries, Newport has been the place to be in the summertime. And in line with this reputation, which has been carefully cultivated since the rich and famous used the island as their favorite summer colony, the town is kicking off the first official days of summer with a bang. This weekend, Newport will be the host to several exciting events geared towards a variety of “summertime interests” such as sailing, comedy, and gardening.

Sailors and lovers of the nautical lifestyle will be pleased to learn that it’s currently Bacardi Sailing Week. This is the first time the event has been held in Newport, and each day until the 26th, visitors can flock to Fort Adams State Park to watch sailors from across the world compete in exciting races. The park is beautiful as well, so even just going to see the scenery would be worthwhile.

If you’re going to be in the area but aren’t that into sailing, you may enjoy going to see the Newport Summer Comedy Series at the Newport Yachting Center. The featured performer will be Aziz Ansari, from the hit comedy Parks and Recreation on NBC. His show will start at 7:30 on Friday, the 24th and looks like a good opportunity to start the summer off with a laugh.

Gardeners and lovers of beautiful homes will love America’s premier summer flower show, The Newport Flower Show, which will be open Friday-Sunday. This beloved Newport staple for the past sixteen years will be held in the beautiful gardens of Rosecliff mansion on Bellevue Ave. Even more, proceeds from the event are going to support a good cause, the Newport Preservation Society, the organization that makes mansion tours possible for thousand of Rhode Islanders each year.

Perhaps the most attractive characteristic of Newport is its ability to appeal to a variety of lifestyles and interests, and we can see this in the variety of events that will be there this weekend. So if you have the opportunity to get on the island, check out some of the above opportunities.

Yes, it’s true. In a study conducted by Travel + Leisure Magazine entitled “Americas Favorite Cities,” Providence came out on top in 9 out of 10 categories, when compared to Boston. In fact, when measured against all areas studied throughout new New England, our humble little city reigns supreme. This is very exciting to those of us who live in and around Providence, and love all that the area has to offer.

Travel + Leisure assessed the following categories: Best Time to Visit, Culture, Food/Dining, Hotels, Local Specialties, Nightlife, People, Shopping, Type of Trip, Quality of Life and Visitor Experience. The only category we lost overall was the Culture section, due to fewer classical music venues, historical sites/monuments and museums/galleries.  What this Culture loss doesn’t show, however, is that Providence was rated #2 in the entire country for the Theater/Performance Art sub-category, 2nd only to New York City. With exceptional professional and amateur theater venues and a thriving community of performance artists, this designation may not come as a surprise.

Our Capital City also earned high marks in the other categories. Although Providence beat Boston in the “Best Times to Visit” category for all seasons, we scored #3 overall as a Fall travel destination. Not only does Providence possess the characteristically beautiful New England foliage, but the city also has many unique spots for viewing. Whether looking down at the statehouse from Prospect Park or admiring the colorful view from India Point, there’s no doubt that the season brings spectacular sights to the area.

Even more, Providence beat Boston in every single Food/Dining subcategory and placed #3 overall at a National level. Our high ranking for  Ethnic Food and Neighborhood Joints and Cafes contributed to this score. Anyone who lives in, or has visited the area should have no trouble understanding this one. For its size and population, Providence has a wide variety of dining options, offering virtually any type of food you desire. Meanwhile, the multitude of high quality neighborhood joints and cafes are a constant favorite for anyone who has worked or studied in the area.

The remarkable part of this study is that it confirms the feelings of Providence residents. That is, we believe the city is the best kept secret of the northeast and has long been overshadowed by our neighbor to the North.

Searching through Providence’s Department of Arts, Culture & Tourism’s newsletter, several interesting events are coming up in March.  As always, the city is bustling with activity. Here’s a couple that support good causes.

To start off, how would you like to be treated like the stars?  The Rhode Island International Film Festival is the only officially sanctioned host for an Academy Awards party. It is being held at the VMA on March 7 starting at 6:30pm – complete with the red carpet treatment. The cost is $55 per person, and the proceeds of this “dress to impress” event benefit the RIIFF.

If you are not into the movies, how about live theater? Perishable Theater is having a fundraiser which features internationally-acclaimed mandolinist & bandolimist Marilynn Mair performing choro, samba, bossa nova and some of Marilynn’s original Rio-inspired compositions. This is also on the 7th but starts at 5:00pm and costs $25 per person.

For more detailed information, go to the Providence Arts, Culture and Tourism site.