Day two of my New England fall road trip picked up right where Part 1 left off. After a full first day of exploring, I set out again, this time starting with coffee (as all good days should) and ending with a lantern-lit ghost tour in Mystic. In between, I managed to fit in a boat ride, a vegan feast, a local specialty drink, and a quiet seashell beach that felt like it was waiting just for me.

Here’s how the day unfolded:

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Coffee + A Riverboat Ride in Providence

I kicked things off at The Landing with a latte in hand before boarding a Providence River Boat Company tour. If you’ve never seen Providence from the water, it’s worth the detour. Our captain mixed history, humor, and even heroics (he paused mid-tour to fish a passenger’s hat out of the river like it was all in a day’s work). From the boat, the city’s mix of early-American charm and modern flair felt extra striking, especially under the crisp fall sky.

Lunch at Plant City

Next stop: Plant City, the world’s first plant-based food hall and my new dream lunch spot. I went for the Fried Green Tomato BLT on toasted sourdough, stacked with lettuce, shiitake “bacon,” and green goddess dressing. It was indulgent and satisfying, the kind of sandwich you don’t want to end but also can’t quite finish. Tragic, since I couldn’t pack it to go in the car. If I lived in Providence, this place would be on repeat.

Rhode Island’s Official Drink

No trip to Rhode Island is complete without trying the state drink: coffee milk. Think chocolate milk’s caffeinated cousin, made with coffee syrup instead of cocoa. I grabbed mine in latte form from Dave’s Coffee, and it was an instant obsession. In fact, I loved it so much that I now sometimes make my own coffee syrup at home just to recreate it. Dave’s sells their original coffee syrup if you want the real deal. Highly recommend for anyone needing a cozy yet energizing boost.

A Quiet Afternoon at Rome Point

After lunch, I traded city buzz for coastal calm with a hike at the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve at Rome Point. Just a half-hour drive from Providence, it felt like a world away. The wooded trails opened up to a seashell-covered beach that I somehow had all to myself. It was quiet, grounding, and one of those rare travel moments where you think, “Maybe I shouldn’t tell anyone about this spot.” (But here I am, telling you. Use this information wisely.)

Onward to Mystic

An hour’s drive later, I rolled into Mystic, Connecticut, and checked in at Hyatt Place Mystic. Nothing too fancy to report, but it was comfortable and convenient and a good base for exploring downtown.

Ghosts After Dark

That evening, I joined the Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour. Solo traveler confession: I was the only one not paired up, which felt a little awkward at first. But once the lantern-lit tour began, I was too caught up in stories of haunted inns, waterfront legends, and colonial history to care. The guide set the perfect spooky-meets-charming tone, even letting the group use ghost-hunting tools along the way. Whether or not the spirits showed up, it was an engaging way to experience Mystic after dark.

Final Thoughts

From river views in Providence to ghost stories in Mystic, this leg of my New England road trip packed in history, food, and a good balance of bustling city and quiet escape. If you’re looking for a fall getaway that mixes charm with a few unexpected twists, this route delivers.

Have you ever done a ghost tour while traveling? Did it make you a believer or just a fan of a good story? Drop your answer in the comments, because I might need to know which camp you’re in before I book my next haunted adventure.

And this wasn’t the end of the journey. Stay tuned for Part 3, where the road trip finishes out with more small-town charm and autumn discoveries.