Ask harbormaster MarkKnapp about Wickford, and he'll tell you this Rhode Island town is really special.  "The No.1 sailing destination for cruisers in Narragansett Bay," he says.

Knapp says Wickford welcome transients at he downtown public dock and offers four of its moorings free to visitors.  "That's quie a commitment he says, "since we have a 10 to 12-year waiting list for moorings."

With a reservation, you'll have a slip or mooring in one of the harbor's two coves.  Without, you'll likely have to anchor outside the breakwater, since hundreds of yaachts crowd the harbor in-season.  Form the achorage, moorings or marinas, you can dinghy downtown and tie up at the public dock.  Shops, restaurants and pcket parks along five blocks of Brown and Main Streets are just steps away.