Exploring America’s Most Patriotic Town: Bristol, Rhode Island

If Bristol has any claim to fame, it’s that it’s home to the oldest continuous 4th of July celebration.

A view of the sunset, overlooking Bristol Harbor, from the outdoor upstairs patio of DeWolf Tavern. Skye Sherman

New Englander or not, chances are you’ve never considered a visit to the tiny town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Located on a (fittingly) lobster claw-shaped peninsula jutting between Narragansett Bay and Mount Hope Bay, Bristol sits around half an hour north of its more popular counterpart, Newport.

Sign welcoming visitors to Bristol. Explore Bristol