Most people don't realize that for a number of years, Rhode Island, the island portion, was occupied by the British. They never made it across to the mainland in part thanks to Tiverton. Not only was Tiverton a refuge for fleeing colonists, it was the site of a revolutionary era fortification.
You can still visit the Ft
Most people don't realize that for a number of years, Rhode Island, the island portion, was occupied by the British. They never made it across to the mainland in part thanks to Tiverton. Not only was Tiverton a refuge for fleeing colonists, it was the site of a revolutionary era fortification.
You can still visit the Ft. Barton Revolutionary War Redoubt and Woods to see the original earthen mounds of the Revolutionary War fortification that kept the British from crossing the Sakonnet River and entering the mainland. In recent years, Tiverton, R.I., has grown into a summer resort area and is now also considered a suburb of busy Fall River, Massachusetts next door.
What to Expect in Tiverton
Tiverton is located on the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay, an area that is actually disconnected from the rest of the state of Rhode Island. The town takes up about 30 square miles and its northern border is the state line with Massachusetts near State Avenue, set in 1862. Tiverton is only a half an hour from Newport, a half an hour from Providence and an hour from Boston. Major roads such as Route 24, Interstate 95 and Interstate 195 are within easy reach.
Tiverton is light on the apartment complex style of living. You are more likely to find rental apartments in small buildings or homes. There are also a fair number of townhouses for rent and duplexes for rent. There are generally a steady stream of vacancies, so looking for an apt for rent in Tiverton will not require too much planning ahead. Most of the rentals will be located close to the border with Massachusetts and along Rhode Island Route 177, which bisects the town.
While there are several great options for apartments for rent in this adorable Rhode Island city, finding distinct neighborhoods is pretty much nonexistent. But when you live in something this cute, who needs neighborhoods anyway?
Living in Tiverton
Rhode Island is known as the ocean state and Tiverton fits right in. There are many beaches within easy driving distance but if you want to stay local, Tiverton has two town beaches. Fogland Beach has lifeguards and a beautiful view of the Sakonnet River and the Portsmouth shoreline on the other side. Grinnell's Beach is known as an excellent windsurfing area. It also has lifeguards as well as restroom facilities.
The Tiverton Board of Recreation and Beaches is in charge of public beaches and of activities for residents in the town. There are soccer, softball and basketball leagues, and of course, little league.
If you want to get outside and explore the town, there are plenty of opportunities. You could start with Bulgarmarsh Recreation Area and its quarter mile track. On a larger scale, there is the five-plus miles of trails at Weetamoo Woods.
When you are ready to eat out, the Boat House Waterfront Dining on Schooner Drive is an upscale choice for waterfront dining. A little more casual is the Four Corners Grille located on Main Road, right down the street from the favorite ice cream shop of locals, Gray's Ice Cream.
For a night out, there is a sports pub in town, the Atlantic Sports Pub on Shove Street. But why not head a half an hour out of town on the great drive to Newport? In summer, the bars and patios of this seaside town are the place to see and be seen.