Here's some tips for living in RI (and around GSO in particular)... Contact a C&M rep. for more info!

Local Towns (see also Places to Live)
Around here towns lie within towns...it can get confusing... Southern Rhode Island is collectively known as South County. This includes areas south of Warwick, including URI and GSO. Here's a list of the towns around GSO:

Within 15 minutes from the Bay campus
1. Narragansett (official location of GSO, includes Narragansett Pier, Bonnet Shores (possible walk or bike to campus), Pt. Judith-Scarborough Beach, Galilee, Great Island, Harbor Island)
2. Saunderstown (just north of Narragansett)
3. South Kingstown (includes Wakefield, Peacedale, Kingston)
4. North Kingstown: (includes Wickford, Quonset)
5. Jamestown (just east of GSO, the island between Narragansett and Newport)

About 15-20 minutes from the Bay campus
North/Northwest: Warwick, West Warwick, East Greenwich
East: Newport ($2, $1 with token, toll each way across bridge), Middletown
South/Southwest: Matunuck, East Matunuck/Jerusalem-Snug Harbor, Charlestown

Greater than 20 minutes from the Bay campus
North/Northwest: Providence area (i.e. Providence, E Providence, N Providence, Smithfield, Pawtucket), Cranston, Johnston, Bristol, Attleboro area (Massachusetts)
Southwest: Westerly

Banks/Groceries etc.
Groceries
Stop & Shop -- Narragansett: Salt Pond Shopping Center: Rt. 108
     East Greenwich/N. Kingstown: Frenchtown Rd
     Warwick: Rt. 117A (Warwick Ave.), just south of Sandy Lane
Shaws -- Wakefield: Wakefield Mall, Old Tower Hill Rd.
     Warwick: Rt. 2 (Bald Hill Rd.)
Dave's Market -- Wickford: Rt. 1 (Tower Hill Rd.)
     East Greenwich/N. Kingstown: Frenchtown Rd
     Warwick: Rt. 117
Rojacks -- Wakefield: Main St.
*There are many small markets in the area, but these are larger supermarkets.

Everyday Goods
Walmart -- Wickford Junction: Rt. 102 (near Rt. 4 junction)
Ames -- Narragansett: Salt Pond Shopping Center: Rt. 108
     East Greenwich/N. Kingstown: Frenchtown Rd. (next to Dave's)
Big K-mart -- Warwick: Rt. 2 (Bald Hill Rd.)
Ann & Hope -- Warwick: Rt. 1 (Post Rd.)
Staples -- Wickford Junction (next to Wal-Mart)
     Wakefield Mall (next to Shaws)

Malls
Warwick Mall: Warwick, Rt. 2 (Bald Hill Rd.), exit 2 off I-295
Rhode Island Mall: Warwick, Rt. 113 & Rt. 2 (very close to Warwick Mall)
Wakefield Mall (very small): Wakefield, Old Tower Hill Rd.
Emerald Square Mall: S. Attleboro, Ma., Rt. 1A (Newport Ave.), off I-295
Providence Place Mall (Downtown Providence)

Banks
Local banks with Free Checking accounts include Washington Trust Co. and Newport Federal Savings. Fleet Boston, Citizens, and Sovereign are also available.

Miscellaneous
Laundromats: prevalent everywhere
Garbage and Recycling:
do it yourself: Kingston, Rose Hill Rd. (off Rt. 138)
pick-up: Narragansett Rubbish Removal: 783-3177

Restaurants
There are a lot of good restaurants in South County, Newport, and Providence. The best way to find them is to ask the grad students. If you seek restaurant chains (e.g. TGI Friday's, Olive Garden, etc.) Warwick (Rt. 2, Bald Hill Rd.) is the best place to go.

Hotels/Motels (Check visitor's guides as well)

Places close to GSO include:

Holiday Inn, South County 3009 Tower Hill Rd. (Route 1), S. Kingstown (401) 780-1051 or (800) 465-4329
Hamilton Village Inn, 642 Boston Neck Road (Route 1A), Just south of Wickford (401) 295-0700

NARRAGANSETT: South of GSO

Anchor Motel; 825 Ocean Rd. (401) 792-8550
Lighthouse Inn; 307 Great Island Rd. (401) 789-9341 or (800) 336-6662
Scarborough Beach Motel; 901 Ocean Rd. (401) 783-2063
Blueberry Cove Inn (B&B); 75 Kingstown Rd. (401) 792-9865 or (800) 478-1426
Ocean Rose Inn, 113 Ocean Rd (401) 783-4704 www.oceanroseinn.com
The Atlantic House, 85 Ocean Rd (401) 783-6400
The Village Inn, 1 Beach St. (401) 783-6767

For a list of RI Bed and Breakfasts you can call: 1-800-853-7479

Finding a Place to Live

Academic year rentals are the easiest to find in South County due to a heavy summer tourist season. It takes more time and patience to find a year-round rental, but it can be done. Some students seek roommates, while others prefer living alone. Keep in mind that there may be students seeking roommates for the next academic year or longer. Many people looking for roommates advertise on campus. Most rentals are houses, rooms in houses, or small apartment buildings. Large complexes are uncommon in South County. Here are a few suggestions of where to start looking for both academic and year-round rentals (most students live in the towns listed "within 15 min from the Bay Campus").

Narragansett Times (*this is probably the most helpful for finding rentals in this area*)
-only comes out on Wednesdays and Fridays

South County Independent (small, free newspaper)

Providence Journal (most helpful for areas north of South County)
-the Sunday edition is the most useful
-or check projo.com

Signs around campus (including URI main campus)

Realtors (marginally helpful)

Admissions Advisor, Meredith Clark at GSO (401-874-6246)
mclark@gso.uri.edu

Ocean State On-line (oso.com) sometimes has listings.

Things to Do

Movie Theaters
Showcase Cinemas, Warwick: Rt. 2 (Bald Hill Rd.)
Narragansett Theater, Narragansett: Rt. 1A, near Pier Market
Campus Cinema, Wakefield: Columbia St.
Cable Car Cinema, Providence: S. Main St. (cafe and cinema)
Newport Cinemas: Opera House Cinema and Jane Pickens

Performing Arts
Providence Center for Performing Arts, Providence: Weybosset St. (401-421-2787)
Trinity Repertory Co., Providence: Washington St. (401-351-4242)
Theatre by the Sea, Matunuck: Cards Pond Rd. (401-782-8587)

Local Professional Sports
Pawtucket Red Sox (Pawsox -- AAA)
Providence Bruins (hockey)

Beaches*
Narragansett Town Beach
Scarborough State Beach
and more...
*State beaches have a parking fee, but no entrance fee. Town beaches require both. Fees are usually waived after Labor Day.

Casinos (they're legal here)
Foxwoods (CT), Newport Grand Jai'alai, Mohegan Sun (CT)

Nearby Attractions
Jamestown -- Beavertail State Park, Ft. Wetherall
Wickford -- Shopping, Quonset Air Museum, Fiddlesticks (miniature golf)
Narragansett -- Pier and Towers, South County Museum
Providence -- Waterfire (summer only), Fleet Skating Center, Dining, Bars, Nightclubs, Shopping, Brown University/RISD area

Day Trips
Block Island: Take ferry from Galilee
Newport: Cliff walk, Mansions, Shops and dining, Vineyard, Tennis Hall of Fame
Mystic, Connecticut (30-45 minutes, off I-95): Aquarium and Seaport Museum