RHODE ISLAND TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Rhode Island! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Rhode Island.
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Rhode Island is tiny, but that doesn't mean it doesn't offer much to the traveler. Top attractions in the state include the lovely city and grand mansions of Newport, the quaint island of Block Island, and the
Atlantic Ocean beaches of southern Rhode Island.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN RHODE ISLAND
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Rhode Island? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Rhode Island, in no particular order:
✮ Relax on quaint and scenic Block Island for a few nights
✮ Cycle the 14.5-mile East Bay Bike Path, one of New England's best paved rail trails
✮ Walk the famous 3.5-mile Cliff Walk in Newport and then head to the area surrounding Thames Street for many shops, restaurants, and bars
✮ Take a guided tour of one (or several) of Newport's historic mega-mansions
✮ Attend a WaterFire bonfire event in downtown Providence
✮ Drive Ocean Drive, Rhode Island's most famous and best scenic drive
✮ Hit the beach at Narragansett Town Beach
✮ Eat all-you-can-eat seafood at the Nordic in Charlestown
✮ Join a sailing tour in Newport
✮ Attend either the Newport Folk Festival or the Newport Jazz Festival, or both
If I could select only one place to visit in Rhode Island, I would choose Block Island. It's one of the most quaint islands in the U.S., and it has 17 miles of beaches. It is a quieter alternative to the Massachusetts islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. There are 17 miles of beaches there, and several attractive (but also very expensive) inns and B&Bs. Cycling is a great way to explore the island, although all cycling is on-street and while vehicle traffic is low, you have to pay attention. The Mohegan Bluffs are the top nature sight to see on the island. You will want to plan your trip to this island months in advance.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN RHODE ISLAND
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Rhode Island. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Rhode Island bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northern Rhode Island
✮ Blackstone River Bikeway - one of the best cycling paths in the state; extends into Massachusetts (not continuous)
✮ Lincoln Woods State Park
Providence area (including Bristol, Pawtucket, and Warwick)
✮ Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, Bristol - tour one of the finest estates in New England; good views of Narragansett Bay
✮ Brown University, Providence - tour an Ivy-league campus that is an "architectural tour de force"; located in a very walkable area of the city
✮ Colt State Park, Bristol - the "gem" of the Rhode Island state park system; shorelines and great paved walking and biking paths
✮ Crescent Park Looff Carousel, East Providence - one of the finest hand-carved historic carousels anywhere
✮ Donut shops in/near Providence - for who knows what reason, the Providence area has attracted a slew of excellent donut shops
✮ East Bay Bike Path - one of the best paved rail trails in New England; 14.5 miles long; one of the famous Del's Lemonade shops is on the trail
✮ Fourth of July Parade (event), Bristol - supposedly the oldest Fourth of July parade in the U.S.
✮ Gun Totem, Providence - 12-foot tall sculpture made of more than 1,000 reclaimed (and disabled) guns
✮ Italian restaurants and shops in Federal Hill, Providence - several highly-rated Italian restaurants and shops in a historic district
✮ La Gondola, Providence - authentic Venetian gondola rides in the canals of Providence
✮ McCoy Stadium, Pawtucket - famous minor league baseball park
✮ Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), Providence - beautiful theater that hosts Broadway shows, plays, and music concerts
✮ Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, Providence - impressive art museum in the heart of Providence
✮ Roger Williams Park, Providence - includes a botanical garden, natural history museum, zoo, & green space; don't miss "Food Truck Fridays"
✮ Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence - the best zoo in New England; don't miss the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular event in October
✮ WaterFire, Providence - famous river bonfire events with music and performers; events occur on specific dates from spring through fall
Newport and surrounding area (including Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth)
✮ Beavertail State Park, Jamestown - includes one of the finest lighthouses in New England; offers some of the best views in Rhode Island
✮ Boat tours in Newport - various guide companies in Newport offer excellent and very popular sailing, schooner, fishing, etc. boat tours
✮ Boyd's Wind Grist Mill, Middletown - probably New England's largest historic windmill
✮ Breakers, The, Newport - tour Newport's largest mansion and one of the biggest in the U.S. (70 rooms!)
✮ Brenton Point State Park, Newport - great views of where Narragansett Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean
✮ Cliff Walk, Newport - this 3.5 mile coastal path is Rhode Island's best walking trail; views of rocky shorelines and gigantic mansions
✮ Elms, The, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ Fort Adams State Park, Newport - historic fort and panoramic views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay; summer music festivals
✮ Green Animals Topiary Garden, Portsmouth - supposedly the oldest topiary garden in the U.S.; several bushes have been carved into animals
✮ International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport - the premier tennis museum in the U.S.; you can play on their courts
✮ Marble House, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ National Museum of American Illustration, Newport - one of the finest illustration museums in the U.S.
✮ Newport Folk Festival - famous 3-day folk music festival held at Fort Adams State Park; typically held in July
✮ Newport Jazz Festival - famous 3-day jazz music festival held at Fort Adams State Park; typically held in July
✮ Newport Polo, Portsmouth - famous equestrian facility with polo matches
✮ Ocean Drive, Newport - this 10-mile coastal drive is Rhode Island's most famous and best scenic drive
✮ Rail Explorers, Newport - guided tours on pedal-powered rail bikes; there are currently only a few places in the U.S. where you can do this
✮ Rosecliff, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ Rough Point Museum, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, Middletown - coastal park with good hiking trails and scenic views
✮ Thames Street, Newport - tourist center of the lively city of Newport; attractive area with many shops and restaurants
✮ Trolley Tours in Newport - guided sightseeing tours of Newport
Southern Rhode Island (excluding Newport and surrounding area)
✮ Arcadia Management Area - the state's largest recreation area with boating, fishing, and hiking; Stepstone Falls is a small but pretty waterfall
✮ East Beach, Watch Hill area of Westerly
✮ Napatree Point Conservation Area, Westerly - take a long walk on an undeveloped beach; parking area also used for local shops/restaurants
✮ Narragansett Town Beach, Narragansett - one of the best beaches in Rhode Island; popular with surfers
✮ Nordic, The, Charlestown - a famous all-you-can-eat seafood buffet restaurant (e.g. lobster, shrimp, oysters, etc.)
✮ Ocean House, Westerly - 5-star grand hotel overlooking East Beach
✮ Tilted Barn Brewery, Exeter - great farmhouse-style brewery with food trucks often brought on site
Block Island
✮ 1661 Farm and Gardens, New Shoreham - small but highly-rated animal farm
✮ Bicycling the roads/streets around the island
✮ Exploring the island's 17 miles of beautiful beaches - e.g. Fred Benson Town Beach, Mansion Beach
✮ Mohegan Bluffs, New Shoreham - dramatic geologic attraction; the #1 natural attraction on Block Island
✮ North Lighthouse, New Shoreham - tour a granite lighthouse that was built in the 1800s
✮ Rodman's Hollow, New Shoreham - nature preserve with scenic views and several hiking trails (some of which lead to the coastline/beaches)
✮ Southeast Lighthouse, New Shoreham - red brick lighthouse near Mohegan Bluffs
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Rhode Island? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
CT |
MA
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN RHODE ISLAND
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These towns and cities in Rhode Island are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Narragansett - a coastal town known for its beaches (e.g. Narragansett Town Beach) and as the gateway to quaint and scenic Block Island
✮ New Shoreham - an upscale and quaint town on Block Island with miles of beaches, good on-street cycling, and some shops and art galleries
✮ Newport - a small city famous for its lively tourist areas, historic mansions, beaches, and Cliff Walk; also the "sailing capital of the World"
✮ Providence - a large city famous for its historic districts, colonial architecture, Italian restaurants, creative culture, and river bonfire events
✮ Westerly - a small coastal town with several tourist shops, restaurants, and beaches; the "Watch Hill" area is best but parking is limited
My favorite city in Rhode Island is Newport - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 3-4 nights there. There are dozens of great restaurants and many great museums. It's also an incredibly walkable city. Make sure to take a guided tour of at least one of the huge mansions and walk as much as the Cliff Walk as you can. There are many day trips you can take from here as well, including Providence and also Battleship Cove in Fall River.
My favorite small town in Rhode Island is New Shoreham (Block Island) - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there. The lodging on this island is insanely expensive, and so your best option is likely to be an Airbnb.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS RHODE ISLAND FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Rhode Island is famous or well-known for:
✮ beaches
✮ being the smallest U.S. state
✮ lighthouses
✮ mansions / mansion tours
✮ miles of coastline (nearly 400 miles!)
✮ sailing
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN RHODE ISLAND
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There are currently no national parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, or national forests in Rhode Island. However, there are a few other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Wildlife Refuges
✮ Block Island National Wildlife Refuge
✮ John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge
✮ Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
✮ Roger Williams National Memorial
✮ Touro Synagogue National Historic Site
✮ Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
For more information on Rhode Island's national parks, visit the Rhode Island page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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STATE PARKS IN RHODE ISLAND
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Rhode Island has more than a dozen state parks. Many would agree that these represent Rhode Island's finest state parks:
✮ Arcadia Management Area - the state's largest recreation area with boating, fishing, and hiking; Stepstone Falls is a small but pretty waterfall
✮ Beavertail State Park, Jamestown - holds one of the finest lighthouses in New England; one of the best views in Rhode Island
✮ Colt State Park, Bristol - the "gem" of the Rhode Island state park system; shorelines and great paved walking and biking paths
✮ Fort Adams State Park, Newport - historic fort and panoramic views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay; summer music festivals
My favorite state park in Rhode Island is Colt State Park. I love to cycle, and the bike paths and roads there are great. The park also directly connects with the excellent East Bay Bike Path, a paved 14.5 mile rail trail that is among the best rail trails in New England.
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN RHODE ISLAND
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Rhode Island only has two significant natural waterfalls, and both of them are very small. Neither is nationally significant, although I do think both are attractive when the water is flowing well.
✮ Cascade Brook Falls in Ken Weber Conservation Area, Smithfield - very seasonal (only visit during snow-melt or right after heavy rains)
✮ Stepstone Falls in Arcadia Management Area, West Greenwich
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Rhode Island, visit the World Waterfall Database.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN RHODE ISLAND
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Rhode Island:
✮ Ocean Drive - a 10-mile paved route that travels near the ocean in Newport using several different streets
Other than Ocean Drive, I really haven't found any other notable scenic drives in Rhode Island. However, that doesn't mean they don't exist. Do you know of any other special drives in Rhode Island?
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST OCEAN BEACHES IN RHODE ISLAND
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Rhode Island has many excellent beaches, including 17-miles of beaches on Block Island alone. Here are some of Rhode Island's best beaches:
Block Island
✮ Charlestown Beach, New Shoreham
✮ Crescent Beach, New Shoreham
✮ Fred Benson Town Beach, New Shoreham
The rest of Rhode Island
✮ Charlestown Town Beach, Charlestown
✮ East Beach, Charlestown
✮ East Beach, Westerly
✮ East Matunuck State Beach, South Kingstown
✮ Eaton's Beach/First Beach, Newport
✮ Goosewing Beach, Little Compton
✮ Misquamicut State Peach, Westerly
✮ Napatree Point Beach, Westerly
✮ Narragansett Town Beach, Narragansett
✮ Roger W. Wheeler State Beach, Narragansett
✮ Second Beach/Sachuest Beach, Middletown
✮ Watch Hill Beach, Westerly
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN RHODE ISLAND
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Here is a list of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Rhode Island:
✮ Blackstone River Greenway - nearly 30 mile (not continuous) rail trail that starts in Providence and heads north and extends into MA
✮ East Bay Bike Path - 14.5 mile paved rail trail from Providence to Bristol; one of the best rail trails in New England
✮ Washington Secondary Bike Path - 19.0 mile paved rail trail from Cranston to Coventry; mix of urban and rural environments
✮ William C. O'Neil Bike Path - 7.2 mile paved rail trail from West Kingston to Narragansett
The East Bay Bike Path is my favorite rail trail in Rhode Island. I would say it is tied with the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Massachusetts as my favorite rail trail in New England. The scenery along the East Bay Bike Path is superb and there's a Del's Lemonade shop right off the trail (which are probably the most famous lemonade shops in the U.S.).
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Rhode Island, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN RHODE ISLAND
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There are no notable amusement parks in Rhode Island currently.
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BEST MUSEUMS IN RHODE ISLAND
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Rhode Island has several notable museums, many of which are historic estates. The best museums in Rhode Island include:
Providence area (including Bristol, Pawtucket, and Warwick)
✮ Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, Bristol - tour one of the finest estates in New England; views of Narragansett Bay
✮ Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark, Pawtucket
✮ Providence Children's Museum, Providence
✮ Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (RISD), Providence
Newport and surrounding area (including Jamestown, Middletown, and Portsmouth)
✮ Breakers, The, Newport - tour Newport's largest mansion and one of the biggest in the U.S. (70 rooms!)
✮ Elms, The, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport - the premier tennis museum in the U.S.; you can play on their courts
✮ Marble House, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ National Museum of American Illustration, Newport - one of the finest illustration museums in the U.S.
✮ Newport Art Museum, Newport
✮ Newport Car Museum, Portsmouth
✮ Rosecliff, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
✮ Rough Point Museum, Newport - one of several opulent grand estates you can tour in Newport
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BEST DAY HIKES IN RHODE ISLAND
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Rhode Island is a very small state and it only has a few notable hiking trails. Most of the best trails offer great ocean or shoreline views. Here are some of the best day hikes in Rhode Island:
✮ Beavertail State Park trails, Jamestown
✮ Black Point Trail, Narragansett
✮ Cliff Walk, Newport
✮ Napatree Point Conservation Area, Westerly
✮ Rodman's Hollow Nature Preserve, Block Island
✮ Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge trails, Middletown
The highpoint of Rhode Island is Jerimoth Hill (812'). A 0.8 mile round-trip hike from RI-101 (the "Old Hartford Pike") in Foster is required to reach the top. There are no views at the top, just a stone and usually a few rock cairns.
Great information on Rhode Island hikes can be found on the RI Walks website.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN RHODE ISLAND
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I only know of two areas in Rhode Island that are rumored to allow backpacking:
✮ Arcadia Management Area
✮ George Washington Wildlife Management Area
There is very limited information about the backpacking opportunities in these areas online. If you have any information you can share, please email me!
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN RHODE ISLAND
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Rhode Island offers several great outdoor adventures, including:
✮ Bouldering in Lincoln Woods State Park
✮ Cycling the Blackstone River Bikeway
✮ Cycling the East Bay Bike Path
✮ Cycling on the roads/streets of Block Island
✮ Cycling the Washington Secondary Bike Path
✮ Helicopter tours in Newport
✮ Horseback riding in Arcadia Management Area
✮ Horseback riding in Goddard Memorial State Park
✮ Mountain biking Big River Management Area
✮ Mountain biking in Diamond Hill State Park
✮ Mountain biking in Lincoln Woods State Park
✮ Parasailing in Newport
✮ Sailing in Newport
✮ Skydiving in Middletown (near Newport) or Smithfield
✮ Surfing at Sachuest Beach
✮ Surfing at Narragansett Town Beach
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN RHODE ISLAND
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Rhode Island:
✮ calamari (e.g. Rhode Island style)
✮ clam cakes
✮ coffee milk
✮ dynamite sandwich
✮ frozen lemonade (e.g. Del's Lemonade)
✮ johnnycakes
✮ snail salad
✮ stuffies (stuffed quahogs)
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Rhode Island (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Rhode Island (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY RHODE ISLAND INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Rhode Island:
State Capital:
Providence
Major Airports:
Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD): you can also fly into Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston and then drive into Rhode Island
Largest Cities:
Providence (193,512), Cranston (83,444), Warwick (82,853), Pawtucket (76,496), East Providence (47,159), Woonsocket (43,650)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-95
State Highpoint:
Jerimoth Hill (812') in the town of Foster in northwestern Rhode Island; a 0.8 mile round-trip hike from RI-101 (the "Old Hartford Pike") is required to reach the top
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
None
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Ocean House in Westerly, Rhode Island
Del's Lemonade, likely the most beloved lemonade company in the U.S.
a portion of the 14.5 mile East Bay Bike Path, Rhode Island
Beavertail State Park lighthouse in Jamestown, Rhode Island
Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island
Jerimoth Hill, the highpoint of Rhode Island
(reaching the top requires an easy 0.4 mile round-trip hike)
Napatree Point Conservation Area in the "Watch Hill" area of Westerly, Rhode Island
Colonial buildings in Newport, Rhode Island
Gun Totem Pole in Providence, Rhode Island
one of several donut shops in/around Providence, Rhode Island
canals of Providence, Rhode Island
Tilted Barn Brewery in Essex, Rhode Island
the large Rhode Island Antiques Mall in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Claiborne Pell Bridge / Newport Bridge in Newport, Rhode Island
(photo donated by Adriana Buontempo)
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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