Ever driven past a 58-foot termite and thought "that's totally normal"? Welcome to Rhode Island, where roadside oddities pack more personality per square mile than anywhere else in America. From giant woodland trolls to dining inside actual hobbit holes, the Ocean State proves you don't need endless highways to cultivate delightfully bizarre attractions.
The giants you can't miss (literally)
Let's start with the attractions that require zero planning because they're impossible to miss. These free, always-visible landmarks have become Rhode Island icons for good reason.
The Big Blue Bug: Rhode Island's unofficial mascot
Nothing says "Welcome to Providence" quite like Nibbles Woodaway, the massive termite perched atop Big Blue Bug Solutions at 161 O'Connell Street. This 4,000-pound fiberglass beast stretches 58 feet long and stands 9 feet tall, making it 928 times larger than an actual termite. Built in 1980 for just $20,000, the bug was originally supposed to be purple (fun fact: that's what termites look like under a microscope), but sun exposure turned it blue, and locals started calling it the Big Blue Bug.
The company eventually embraced their accidental branding, changing their name from New England Pest Control to Big Blue Bug Solutions in 2012. With an estimated 35,000 people driving past daily on I-95, Nibbles has achieved genuine celebrity status, appearing in "Dumb and Dumber" and earning a shout-out on Oprah. Every December, the bug transforms into a holiday beacon with 5,000 twinkling lights and a glowing Rudolph nose.
Want the perfect photo? While you can pull over on O'Connell Street for ground-level shots, the best views come from I-95 itself. The bug is bolted directly to the building's I-beams, and company officials joke that "the whole roof would have to blow off" before Nibbles would budge. It's free, visible 24/7, and honestly, if you're anywhere near Providence and don't at least wave at the bug, did you even visit Rhode Island?
Hidden trolls in the woods
While the Big Blue Bug watches over highways, Thomas Dambo's giant trolls hide in Ninigret Park's forests in Charlestown. Created in spring 2024 by the Danish recycling artist, Erik Rock and Greta Granite stand 16 feet tall, constructed entirely from recycled wood, shells, and found materials. These aren't your scary under-the-bridge trolls… they're more like gentle forest guardians who happened to shop at a beachcomber's garage sale.
Finding them becomes part of the adventure:
- Erik Rock sits near Little Ninigret Pond
- He wears a birdhouse necklace (very fashionable)
- Easy walk from the parking area
- Greta Granite requires more effort
- Follow yellow footprints through forest trails
- Half-mile hike to find her
- She's decorated with shells and driftwood jewelry
Fair warning: the trails get muddy and poison ivy lurks everywhere, so wear appropriate shoes. The park at 5 Park Lane stays open dawn to dusk with free parking near the playground. Travel writers describe these installations as "wonderfully weird guardians of the woods," and they've significantly boosted South County tourism. Two more trolls are scheduled for fall 2025, expanding Rhode Island's troll trail to five giants.
A scorpion that means business
Standing guard at Exeter Scrap Metal (405 Nooseneck Hill Road), a massive scrap scorpion warns potential metal thieves to think twice. Owner Kevin Gilligan and his team welded this bright green and yellow arachnid from old propane tanks and engine parts in the early 2010s. It's classic American roadside folk art… using whatever's lying around to create something that makes people hit the brakes.
The scorpion exemplifies Rhode Island's DIY spirit perfectly. While not as large as the Big Blue Bug, its clever construction from automotive castoffs makes it a favorite among roadside attraction enthusiasts. You can safely pull over for photos, especially on weekends when the scrap yard closes. Free to view 24/7, it takes just minutes to see but somehow sticks in your memory forever.
Museums that embrace the strange
Some of Rhode Island's best attractions require a bit more planning but reward visitors with experiences you literally can't find anywhere else.
The museum that doesn't want to be found
The Musée Patamécanique in Bristol operates like a secret society that happens to give tours. Founded in 2006 by artist Neil Salley, this "hybrid of automaton theater and cabinet of curiosities" keeps its exact address secret until you book an appointment through their intentionally cryptic website. Is this pretentious? Maybe. Is it also kind of amazing? Absolutely.
Your 100-minute sunset experience begins when you receive wireless headphones and a map at a downtown location. Then you embark on a six-block audio journey through Bristol, eventually arriving at exhibits that defy explanation. Picture a 24-inch hologram of an ear playing violin, olfactory clocks that smell like different times of day, and machines that supposedly record bee dreams. The Boston Globe called it "an intellectual hall of mirrors," which feels about right.
Since reopening in 2014, roughly 1,000 visitors have experienced this deliberate questioning of museums, art, and reality itself. The tour includes strobe lights, strange odors, sudden noises, and confined spaces… basically everything your parents warned you about. Photography is strictly prohibited, which only adds to the mystique. Pro tip: use the restroom at Rogers Free Library beforehand because there aren't any on-site. Admission fees remain undisclosed because of course they do.
Where wireless history comes alive
For something more grounded in reality (but equally fascinating), visit the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich. Located at 1300 Frenchtown Road, this place houses the 1907 Massie coastal wireless station… the oldest surviving, originally equipped wireless station anywhere. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers calls it "the Plymouth Rock of radio, TV, cellphone, and Internet."
Founded in 1964, the museum spreads across five buildings filled with communications history. You'll find everything from an 1881 Professor Dolbear radio receiver to the first commercial transistor, plus Rhode Island-made steam engines including the only surviving George H. Corliss engine that still runs under steam. During the annual Yankee Steam-Up in October, they fire up these mechanical beasts, while July's Radio Tune-Up attracts ham radio enthusiasts from across the country.
Open Saturdays from May through October (9 AM to 3 PM) or by appointment, admission costs just $5 for adults and $2 for children. For the price of a fancy coffee, you get to see the actual birthplace of modern communication technology. Not bad for a Saturday morning.
Sharks without the water
The Living Sharks Museum occupies the third floor of a downtown Westerly building at 47 High Street, offering America's first shark history museum. Founded in 2018 by researcher Keith Cowley, this free museum aims to educate visitors beyond Hollywood's fear factor. The collection includes prehistoric shark teeth from over 40 species, extensive "Jaws" memorabilia, conservation technology displays, and even WWII-era shark liver oil bottles (yes, that was a thing).
History Channel's Jordan Hembrough called it "a virtual goldmine of shark history and nostalgia," and Rhode Island Monthly gave it their Editor's Choice Award in 2021. With a 150-title library and scientific exhibits showcasing sharks' ecological importance, it's surprisingly comprehensive for a third-floor passion project. Open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM (or by appointment), it's accessible by stairs or elevator with street parking available. Admission? Completely free, making it perfect for a rainy day adventure.
Dining experiences that commit to the theme
Sometimes you want more than just good food… you want an experience that makes your Instagram followers question your sanity.
Trailer park chic in the city
Ogie's Trailer Park at 1155 Westminster Street brings 1950s trailer park kitsch to Providence's urban landscape. This dog-friendly restaurant and bar goes all-in on Americana with colorful retro booths, vintage memorabilia, AstroTurf, and an outdoor area featuring classic picnic tables and vintage mobile home facades. The kitchen, designed as "Granny Boo's Kitchen Window" inside a mid-century trailer, serves exactly what you'd expect: glorious comfort food.
Menu highlights worth the inevitable food coma:
- Dorito-dusted Southern Rhody Fried Chicken Sandwich
- "Totchos" (tater tots loaded like nachos)
- The Dorito Burrito at weekend brunch
- 66 different "Ameri-Cans" of beer
- Specialty cocktails including "The Dude"
TripAdvisor ranks it #65 of 439 Providence restaurants, which honestly seems low considering the entertainment value alone. Open Monday through Thursday 4 PM to 1 AM, Friday 3 PM to 2 AM, and weekends from noon until late. Prices range from $11 hot dogs to $14 burgers, with ample parking and full wheelchair accessibility.
Dining in Middle-earth (seriously)
For those craving a more exclusive experience, the Hobbit Houses at The Preserve Sporting Club in Richmond offer Rhode Island's most unusual dining adventure. These three structures, built into hillsides with grass roofs and round wooden doors, provide private multi-course dinners that would make Bilbo jealous. Originally root cellars, they feature stone floors, working fireplaces, and tree trunks incorporated into the architecture, all under official license from The Saul Zaentz Company.
Your evening includes:
- Multi-course grilled cuisine prepared in Le Creuset
- Maker's Mark bourbon pairings
- Private server for your group
- S'mores by a private firepit
- Two hours of Middle-earth immersion
Reservations (required weeks in advance) cost $640 to $1,452 for groups of 4 to 8 people. Yes, that's pricey, but Forbes did call The Preserve "The Finest Sporting Club in America." The hillside construction means they're not wheelchair accessible, but for proposals, anniversaries, or just treating your inner hobbit, it's an unforgettable splurge.
Monuments to mystery and meaning
Rhode Island's historical attractions often come with more questions than answers, which honestly makes them more interesting.
The tower nobody can explain
Newport's mysterious stone tower in Touro Park has been confusing historians since colonial times. This 28-foot structure with eight cylindrical columns looks like it wandered over from medieval Europe and decided to stay. Mainstream archaeology insists Governor Benedict Arnold built it as a windmill in the 1670s, supported by carbon dating (1635-1698) and archaeological evidence. The Newport Historical Society says they're "99.9 percent sure" about this.
But where's the fun in certainty? Alternative theories include:
- Vikings built it as a 12th-century baptistery
- Knights Templar construction
- Portuguese explorers left it behind
- Chinese sailors from Zheng He's fleet
- English Elizabethans playing architect
University of Rhode Island professor William Penhallow added fuel to the mystery fire in the 1990s when he discovered the tower's astronomical alignments, including summer solstice sunset illumination through specific windows. Coincidence? Ancient knowledge? Really good luck? Visit the tower free anytime at the top of Mill Street, or check out the Newport Tower Museum at 152 Mill Street by appointment if you want to dive deeper into the theories.
When art makes a statement
Providence's Gun Totem transforms instruments of violence into public art that actually means something. This 12-foot-tall, 3,500-pound obelisk at Memorial Park on South Main Street incorporates 1,000 disabled handguns from Pittsburgh's innovative "Guns for Goods" buyback program. Artist Boris Bally created the monument in 2001, fossilizing weapons beneath concrete with sections chipped away to reveal what he calls the "deadly interior."
The guns came from a program that collected over 11,000 weapons by offering gift cards instead of cash, proving that sometimes positive change comes from thinking differently. Bally intended the sculpture as "a monolithic, metallic warning and 'mojo' to ward off evil and violence." Standing across from the Federal Courthouse, the oxidized weapons serve as a powerful reminder that transformation is possible. Free to view 24/7 with street parking available.
Gardens where weird meets wonderful
Even Rhode Island's gardens and cemeteries embrace the unusual, offering experiences that blur the line between beautiful and bizarre.
Paying respects to cosmic horror
Horror literature fans make pilgrimages to Swan Point Cemetery at 585 Blackstone Boulevard in Providence to visit H.P. Lovecraft's grave. The master of cosmic horror rests in the Phillips family plot, marked since 1977 by a fan-funded headstone inscribed simply "I AM PROVIDENCE." Visitors leave coins, pen drawings, and occasional Cthulhu figurines, with larger gatherings near his August 20 birthday and March 15 death anniversary.
The 200-acre cemetery, designed by landscape architect H.W.S. Cleveland in 1886, offers more than just literary history. Open 8 AM to 7 PM in summer (5 PM closing in winter) with free admission and parking, it's actually quite peaceful… assuming you don't think too hard about non-Euclidean geometry or things that lurk beyond human comprehension. Photography is officially prohibited but enforcement varies. The cemetery's interactive online map helps you navigate to Lovecraft's grave at the intersection of Pond Avenue and Avenue B.
Animals that never need feeding
The Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth showcases America's oldest and most northern topiary garden across seven acres at 380 Cory's Lane. Started in 1872 and primarily developed by superintendent Joseph Carreiro between 1905 and 1945, the garden features over 80 sculpted plants that somehow transform privet, yew, and boxwood into a whimsical menagerie.
The collection includes teddy bears, camels, giraffes, and even a unicorn, all frozen in evergreen perfection. Beyond the animals, you'll find 35 formal flowerbeds, vegetable gardens, a rose arbor, and a 170-year-old copper beech tree. Jackie Bouvier held her coming-out party here in 1947, with Mamie Eisenhower among later notable visitors. Currently featuring special LEGO nature sculptures because why not combine two forms of obsessive precision?
Open May through September (10 AM to 5 PM), admission costs $25 for adults and $10 for children 6 to 12. The narrow historic pathways unfortunately prevent wheelchair access, but for everyone else, it's worth navigating to see this National Historic Landmark maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County.
Planning your weird Rhode Island adventure
Rhode Island's compact size means you can hit multiple attractions in a single day without feeling rushed. Here's how to make the most of your quirky road trip.
Sample route ideas that actually work:
- Southern loop: Morning trolls in Charlestown, lunch at Ogie's, afternoon Big Blue Bug and Gun Totem visits, sunset at Lovecraft's grave
- Northern adventure: Scrap Metal Scorpion in Exeter, Wireless Museum exploration, Newport Tower mysteries
- Museum day: Living Sharks in Westerly, Musée Patamécanique sunset tour (if you can crack their booking code)
Budget breakdown for the practically minded:
- Free attractions: Big Blue Bug, Trolls, Scorpion, Gun Totem, Newport Tower, Lovecraft's grave, Sharks Museum
- Under $10: Wireless Museum ($5)
- Moderate: Green Animals ($25)
- Splurge worthy: Hobbit Houses ($640+ per group)
Summer offers ideal conditions for most attractions, though the Big Blue Bug's Christmas lights create December magic worth braving cold weather. The Musée Patamécanique's sunset tours provide year-round intrigue, while Green Animals blooms best from late spring through early fall. Book Hobbit House dinners weeks ahead, and remember that several museums operate limited hours or by appointment only.
The magic of small state weirdness
Rhode Island proves you don't need vast spaces to cultivate roadside eccentricity. These attractions reflect the state's character perfectly: creative, historical, slightly subversive, and completely unafraid to embrace the unusual. From corporate termites to recycled trolls, mysterious towers to topiary unicorns, each stop tells a story beyond its peculiar appearance.
The best roadside attractions make you think while making you smile. They transform weapons into art, turn pest control into public landmarks, and hide woodland giants where only the curious will find them. In Rhode Island, where colonial history meets contemporary creativity, even the strangest sights connect to deeper narratives about identity, transformation, and the enduring human need to create something extraordinary from the ordinary.
So pack your sense of adventure, charge your phone for photos, and prepare for the unexpected. Whether you're hunting trolls in the woods, contemplating mysterious towers, or raising a toast in a hobbit hole, Rhode Island's wonderfully weird attractions promise memories that last long after you've returned to the normal-sized world. Just don't blame us when you find yourself casually mentioning that time you had dinner in Middle-earth or explaining why a giant termite is your new favorite landmark.
