1.) RISD & Brown - the East Side is one of the coolest, artsy-est places on earth.

2.) The beaches are some of the most beautiful (those rich-types who settled in Newport for the summer could have gone anywhere).

3.) Love of the outdoors and the environment - Save the Bay, RI Audubon, the wildlife refuges, the bike paths, all the local farms - there's just so much to get out and do!