Rhode Island - 60 Great Things to Do in Rhode Island

Ten Great Things to Do in East Bay Rhode Island

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Hand-Made Crafts Shine at the Country Store

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Things Made Wonderful Country Store on Danielson Pike in Foster is a wonderful country/primitive store with handmade décor and a warming and inviting staff. Usually, you’ll find a nice mixture of primitive handmade crafts, antiques, and other country items like berry garlands and sheep’s wool placemats. There is also an assortment of made in Rhode Island souvenirs to bring back from the Ocean State. Open daily except Mondays. Phone: 401-647-7555

Industrial Revolution in America Born Here

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The Slater Mill Historic Site on Roosevelt Avenue in Pawtucket is where the Industrial Revolution was born in America. In the Slater Mill itself, visitors are surrounded by vintage textile machinery. With expert commentary from costumed interpreters they can imagine the lives of the people – many of them children – who made the early mills come alive. In the nearby Wilkinson Mill they can feel the throb of the great 16,000-pound mill wheel, a replica of the original wheel that harnessed the power of the Blackstone River. Children can provide the power and operate miniature machinery in the Apprentice Alcove. And in the Sylvanus Brown House they can look back to a time when spinning, weaving, cooking and quilting were the stuff of everyday life. Ghost tours offered in the fall. Phone: 401-725-8638

Museum Honors Blackstone Mill History
and the Lives of the Workers

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The Museum of Work and Culture on South Main Street in Woonsocket presents the story of the French Canadians who left the farms of Quebec for the factories of the New England area. It showcases the remarkable story of a people's preservation of their faith, language and customs and their acculturation into the working class of America. Entering the museum, guests cross the threshold of a Quebecois farmhouse to encounter a habitant's life and family in the pre-industrial era. Other exhibits are the shop floor of a textile mill; storytelling on the front porch of a triple-decker; a 1920s classroom; and a 1930s Independent Textile Union Hall. A walk through the museum tells the vivid story of the lives of working-class people in New England from the pre-World War era to the present. Phone: 401-769-WORK.

Sophisticated Jazz Sounds
Make Chan’s a Legend

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Since 1965, Chan’s Fine Oriental Dining on Main Street in Woonsocket has been a legendary place to take in a Chinese dinner followed by a close-up, live performance by masters of jazz, blues, folk, cabaret, and comedy in a sophisticated nightclub setting. Your host is John Chan, son of the founder, who greets and seats guests in family-style tables close to the best music to be found anywhere on the East Coast. Music is live and vibrant every weekend and some weeknights, including open mic nights once a month. Some upcoming performers include Duke Robillard Band, Commander Cody, Bellevue Cadillac, Ana Popvic Band, Lil’ Ed and the Blue Imperials, and more great jazz and blues. Silk ties and high heeled shoes are right in style at this place of glitter, fun, and excellent music. Phone: 401-765-1900.

The River Where American Industry Began

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Stop by the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center on Main Street in Pawtucket to get your bearings as you explore this region, where the mightly Blackstone River combined with the ingenuity of Samuel Slater brought about the birth of the the American Industrial Revolution (learn all about it at Slater Mill in Pawtucket). The Blackstone River Valley is rich in culture, history, ethnic dining, and recreational activities. The Visitor Center, at 175 Main Street, is the place to start your exploration. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.Phone: 800-454-2882

Theater Presents Entertainment
for Every Taste

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The Stadium Theatre in Monument Square in Woonsocket, listed on the National Historic Register, is one of the nation’s finest examples of restored art and décor and the home of Encore Repertory Company. The range and variety of performers at the Stadium is vast and includes classic plays, comedy, and music. Forthcoming shows include Loretta LaRoche, “A Christmas Carol,” “Scrooge, The Musical,” Cirque Le Masque, “Hair,” tributes to the Rolling Stones and the Rat Pack, Hit Men of Comedy, and “Julius Caesar.” Phone: 401-762-4545.

Tour the Blackstone Valley, Bite By Bite

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The Blackstone Valley of Rhode Island has many layers of ethnic culture brought by the French-Canadian, Irish, Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Asian people who have lived and worked there. Now, the Blackstone tourism people have organized a Secret Ingredient Food and Beverage Tour , where visitors can taste and see the preparation of foods from many cultures that have made their way to the Blackstone. Cuisines from Colombian to Cape Verdean to Senegalese are featured on the tour each Wednesday. Each dining event includes a cooking demonstration and a meal or tasting, depending on the venue. See schedule and more details at the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center website or call 401-724-2200.

Twice the Gambling Fun at the Twin

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The Twin River casino and greyhound race track opened in 2007 on the site of the old Lincoln Greyhound Park at Twin River Road in the town of Lincoln. With 300,000 square feet of gaming space, 4,700 slot machines, virtual blackjack and roulette tables, gamblers have plenty of gaming opportunities to choose from. The casino is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. and around the clock on weekends. Twin River’s live greyhound racing features the best in the business as the greyhounds compete for some of the highest purses in the industry. This gambling destination also offers plenty of good dining, and Fred & Steve's Steakhouse and the Fadó Irish Pub & Restaurant. Live entertainment include Catch a Rising Star comedy every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and concerts by national headliners. Phone: 877-82-RIVER

Village Smithy on the Job

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With historic houses, farms and mills, the Great Road Historic District in Lincoln (Route 123) retains much of the Blackstone River Valley's 19th-century rural character. Memorable places to see life of 150 years ago include Hearthside, a 19th-century mansion and the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop. At the blacksmith’s shop, visitors can experience the ring of the anvil and the odor of coal and hot steel as blacksmiths forge pieces of the metal into hinges, nails, and other household items. Rangers from the National Park Service provide interpretive talks about the history of the Blackstone Valley at the Blacksmith Shop. The balcksmith shop is open to the public for classes and demonstrations on Saturday mornings, 8 a.m.-noon, year-round. Phone: 401- 724-1522.

Watercolor Masters Flaunt Their Colors

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The dreamy landscapes and historic cityscapes of New England are ideal fodder for watercolorists. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society, with more than 300 members, provides artists and the general public the opportunity to view, purchase, exhibit, and learn about watercolor art. Located in a historic lakeside boathouse on Armistice Boulevard in Slater Memorial Park in Pawtucket, the society features an art gallery, library, and studio space. The gallery hosts 15 shows per year, including a National Watermedia Competition. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Phone: 401-726-1876.

Art on Display Even in Winter

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Block Island tends to roll up the sidewalks in the winter, but make no mistake: if you are properly outfitted for the weather, strolling the streets, beaches, and woodlands of Block Island in cold weather brings marvelous rewards of powerful vistas and seascapes. For man-made art, a gallery that stays open most of the year is the Malcolm Greenaway Gallery on Water Street in the center of town, adjacent to the Empire Theater. The gallery is open weekends, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Christmas, and, during the rest of the winter, Greenaway will come over and open up for pop-in visitors. Come see Greenaway’s wonderful photos of Block and other gorgeous places. Phone: 401-466-5331.

Books, Glorious Books

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A relaxed afternoon in a good bookstore is as good excuse as we can think of for a day trip to Block Island. Set between the Post Office and Harry’s Café, Island Bound Bookstore offers lots of room to relax and browse. Island Bound stocks the island's widest variety of fine literature for all ages. Readers will find New York Times best sellers, current pulp and hard-bound fiction and a generous offering of nonfiction, including titles on Block Island, boating, cooking, gardening and more. An inviting children's section offers fun activities for rainy days. Open daily, spring, summer, and fall. Call ahead for winter hours. Phone: 401-466-8878

Coastal Farm Offers
Peaceful Walks and Wonderful Vistas

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The rolling hills and ocean vistas of Block Island are magical in all seasons. One place to walk, take photos, watch the birds, and enjoy fantastic views is the Lewis-Dickens Farm on Coonymus Road, a refuge operated by of the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. On this lovely property, coastal grasslands set on the bluffs above the Atlantic provide habitat for raptors and passerines. Walk in from the entry on the south side of Cooneymus Road near West Side Road intersection. Phone: 401-949-5454

Ferry for Fun

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A big part of the fun of Block Island is simply getting there. The Block Island Ferry departs from Point Judith – nosing its way out of a cluster of commercial fishing boats -- and the 30-minute ride is a mellow outdoor adventure. The ferry can accommodate cars and bikes, and bicycles and mopeds are available for rent on the island. Phone: 401-783-7996

Sunset To Remember

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Sunset at North Light is simply not to be missed. North Light, one of the island’s two lighthouses, is at Sandy Point at the north end the island. Prepare to walk a few hundred yards across rocky beach to reach the lighthouse. Phone: 401-466-3200.

The Other Bluffs

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The full moon over the ocean is spectacular from the legendary Mohegan Bluffs, a high escarpment off of Mohegan Trail that drops 150 feet to the sandy beach and crashing surf below. But local people say a better place to watch the moon rise is from Second Bluffs, about a quarter-mile down the road from Mohegan Bluffs. There is a little off-street parking area at Second Bluffs, but no sign to indicate you are there, so you will have to ask.

1790s on a New England Farm

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Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol portrays the work and lifestyles of a 1790s coastal farm on 39 acres. See rare breeds of livestock similar to those found on a farm in the 1790s and heirloom varieties of vegetables and herbs. Outdoor buildings include barn, spring house, cooling house, blacksmith shop and privy. Special weekend events such as maple sugaring, sheep shearing, and demonstrations of eighteenth and early nineteenth century skills, crafts, and farm work using materials and methods of the period are demonstrated throughout the year. Open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: 401-253-9062.

4 Corners, But Definitely Not Square

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Tucked away in the southeast corner of Rhode Island you’ll find the Tiverton Four Corners, an historic village turned cultural hub. It’s easy to spend an entire day here strolling around the quaint streets and enjoying some great antique shopping, fine art, 18th century buildings, and tasty little indulgences. Check out the gorgeous ceramic tile and tableware at Roseberry-Winn Pottery for instance, wander through the sculpture park at the Four Corners Arts Center, or hunt for treasure at Peter’s Attic Antiques. Artisanal cheeses and specialty foods can be found at Milk & Honey Bazaar, and Provender can provide hungry shoppers with yummy baked goods and gourmet food to go.

Birds, Whales, Tides

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For a close look at Rhode Island’s natural environment, one of the top resources is the Audubon Environmental Education Center in Bristol. This natural history museum and aquarium allows visitors to look inside a life-size model of a Right Whale, observe marine life in a tide-pool tank, and explore a cornfield at night. Walking trails lead from the center across the McIntosh Wildlife Refuge along a quarter-mile boardwalk. Phone 401-949-5454.

By Foot or by Bike -- Just Keep Rolling

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Smooth, flat, bicycling riding through salt-tinged air with bay views. The East Bay Bike path from Providence to Bristol is a 14.5-mile ribbon of asphalt along Narragansett Bay that provides safe, unobstructed cycling. Path travels by coves and marshes, over bridges, and through state parks. Access from Colt State Park, Haines Memorial State Park, or Veteran's Memorial Parkway (exit 4 off 195 east).

Easy Listening

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The folks at In Your Ear! on Main Street in Warren have a genuine appreciation for music in all of it’s various forms. Drop by this independently owned record store and lose track of time while you browse its extensive collection of used and new records, CDs, DVDs, posters, and other music-related merchandise. Instrument supplies such as strings, picks, tuners, instructional books and sheet music are also offered, and you can even learn how to play a song or two, as the store offers lessons in guitar, drums, bass and piano. Phone: 401-245-9840.

Green, Blue, and Frosty All Over

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The entire western border of Colt State Park in Bristol is an open panorama onto Narragansett Bay. The park offers four miles of walking, jogging, and cross-country skiing trails trails passing along the Bay and through 464 acres of trees, bushes, and open vistas. For a moment of peace, stop in the park’s Chapel-By-the-Sea.

Theater With Attitude

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The 2nd Story Theatre on Market Street in Warren has been garnering respectful reviews with its productions of American and British classics and its Short Attention Span Theatre series. “If there is more gripping, dead-on theatre to be found on a local stage right now, I'd like to know about it," one reviewer has written of this small, inspired company. Onstage in 2009-2010 are " I Am My Own Wife," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Comic Potential," "The Voysey Inheritance," and "The Underpants." Phone: 401-247-4200

Airborne Thrills

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If you think Newport is spectacularly beautiful, just wait: the view from directly overhead offers a new and thrilling dimension. Bird’s Eye View Helicopters , a business based at the Newport State Airport in Newport, offers helicopter rides above the city and harbor. Check out Bellevue Avenue's world renowned mansions by air. Other points of interest that are easily visible from the helicopter include Ocean Drive, along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the country; the majestic Castle Hill and Rose Island light houses; Jacqueline Kennedy's summer home, Hammersmith Farm; and the aircraft carriers USS Forrestal and USS Saratoga. Options include the mansion tour, lighthouse tour, island tour and the sunset tour. Newport’s beauty and majesty is well-known, but a view from the air magnifies the effect, sending visitors home with fabulous photos and lifelong memories. Phone: 401-843-8687.

Bannister’s Wharf Could Take Your Whole Day

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The marvelous and luxurious Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf in Newport, a legendary spot for Newporters and visitors to meet and greet, is renowned for its innovative cuisine. In this 18th-century building visitors can dine in romantic elegance on The Porch, high above the assembled yachts, or casually relax at harbor level in The Candy Store. For the smart set there are intimate cocktails at The SkyBar. When winter settles upon us, the fireplace warms and The Bistro is cozy with dark wood and leather. The temperature is always high on the dance floor of The Boom Boom Room. Pick a pleasure.

Blink Here

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Blink Gallery on Thames Street in Newport exhibits new photography of Newport and world travel images by award-winning adventure travel photographer Alexander Nesbitt. Nesbitt who took the great interior character and practical location of his studio space into the public as a formal gallery space offering an on-going series of work by other artists. The gallery also shows stylish home accessories by woodworker Jeff Soderbergh of Reflect Art and unique, high-tech carbon fiber jewelry by Diana Hall. This three-artist gallery space is very much worth a visit for people willing to take a pause from the outdoor beauties of Newport. Phone: 401-847-4255

Breakers Revealed

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The Preservation Society of Newport County is offering a new tour of The Breakers -- the historic Vanderbilt summer "cottage" -- that offers an updated interpretation of its place in American architectural, social and cultural history. The focus of the tour is on the visual beauty of the building, followed by stories of the Vanderbilt family and servants. It captures the spirit of a bygone era that is part of America's heritage. The new tour will take visitors into several previously unseen areas. Visitors will for the first time have an opportunity to see the house from multiple points of view, experiencing it the way different people did in its heyday...as a family member, a servant, or a guest. Phone: 401-847-1000.

Cliffside Views Are Out of This World

The Newport Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile elevated, winding path along Newport’s shoreline with breathtaking views of Narragansett Bay and the rocky coves below. The walk runs from Bailey's Beach to First Beach, with public access points at Bellevue Avenue, Ledge Road, Marine Avenue, Ruggles Avenue, Ruggles Avenue, Sheppard Avenue, Webster Street, and Narragansett Avenue. The walk skirts the edges of some of the city’s mansions, including Beechwood, Rosecliff, Marble House, The Breakers, Ochre Court, and Rough Point. The latter half of the cliff walk has unpaved sections and rugged paths. All manner of people, from little children to oldsters, stroll the walk at their own pace, some enjoying the view from the heights, some clambering down to the rocky shoreline below.

Colonial Classic

White Horse Tavern in Newport is historically a 17th century tavern, but that word doesn’t convey the present-day tone of this classiest of Newport dining establishments. The décor is sumptuous and the menu is first-class. It is the place to impress a visitor or Newport. The building itself is a classic of colonial Newport construction with its giant interior beams, small stairway hard against chimney, tiny front hall, and cavernous fireplaces. Great for formal or romantic occasions.

Distinctive Wines in a Island Setting

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Newport Vineyards in Middletown provides an example of excellent wines and hospitable vineyard operators to be found in the Northeast. This is a family owned winery, founded in 1978. Since that time, the winery has grown to 50 acres of varietal and hybrid grapes. Visitors are offered public tours at 1 and 3 pm, seven days a week. These include a tour in the vineyards, a behind the scenes look at the winemaking process and a tasting of five wines. The winery features an art gallery and retail shop with wine accessories and signature clothing. Private tours are available. The winery hours are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday noon-5 p.m. year around. Phone: 401-848-5161.

Farm Life, Preserved

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Jamestown Island is such a beautiful place to walk, bicycle, or drive, you almost don’t need to do anything while you are there; just being there is enough. But people who are fascinated with traditional farm life should stop at Watson Farm on North Road in Jamestown. This beautiful 265-acre working farm, managed by preservationist group Historic New England, welcomes visitors to its two-mile walking trail and special farm events. Phone: 401-423-0005

Gilded to the Rooftops

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Visit any of the mansions that grace Newport’s rocky shoreline and stately avenues. Built as summer cottages by the plutocrats of the Gilded Age, the mansions – the Breakers, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff, and more -- are impressive artifacts of American social history in spectacular natural settings.

Athenaeum Provides Plenty of
Engagement for the Intellect

Providence Athenaeum on Benefit Street in Providence is one of America's oldest libraries (1753) and cultural centers, housed in a granite Greek Revival structure designed by William Strickland of Philadelphia. Stephen Hopkins, Moses Brown, and Silas Downer (who served as a librarian) were all active in the library in the 18th century. Legend has it that in the 19th century, Edgar Allan Poe and Sarah Whitman carried on their courtship in the stacks. Changing exhibitions of rare books and local artists’ works are on display in the Charles and Deborah Philbrick Rare Book Library. Cultural programmings, lectures, readings, theatrical presentations, musical performances and more. Phone: 401-421-6970

Beneficial to the Senses

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A walk along Benefit Street, carved high into a ridge along Providence’s East Side overlooking downtown, is a memorable walk among beautiful and immaculately preserved Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian-style houses. The Providence Preservation Society distributes maps with self-guided tours and the Rhode Island Historical Society conducts walks in the summer.

Breathtaking Art of Many Ages and Cultures

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To see a wide variety of spectacular artwork from many cultures and ages, visit the Rhode Island School of Design Museum on Benefit Street in Providence. The RISD Museum houses over 80,000 works of art, ranging from ancient Greek and Roman sculpture to French Impressionist paintings, from Chinese stone and terracotta sculpture to contemporary art in every medium, including textiles, ceramics, glass and furniture. It also serves the general public with a full schedule of special exhibitions, lectures, tours, concerts and other programs. Exhibits coming from late 2009 into 2010 include drawings and animations by Iranian artist Avish Khebrehzadeh, praised for its poetic sensibility and dreamy, timeless atmosphere; and Mountains and Rivers: Scenic Views of Japan. Phone: 401-454-6500. Website:

CDs to Belly-Dancing Costumes
Are All Part of the Fun at Spectrum

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Spectrum India Retail Store at 252 Thayer Street in Providence is a fun shopping excursion in the heart of the Brown University neighborhood, itself a stimulating scene for people-watching. Spectrum is a fun store where guests receive superb service as they shop for clothing, accessories, books, CDs, candles and gifts. Spectrum carries women's, unisex and ethnic-inspired children's clothing, and emphasizes natural fiber fabrics and eco-friendly brands. Items recently highlighted on its website include flowing Bohemian and tie-dyed skirts, Indian kurta tops, exotic wrap skirts, Brazilian-cut jeans, the Goddess dress and even belly-dancing outfits. The store has been in operation at this location for 38 years, so you know it is filling a shopping niche with style and staying power. Phone: 401-421-1010

Children's Garden Is a Delight
for the Small Fry

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It’s a delightful garden, and it is just for the kids. Surrounded by Rhode Island’s native trees, shrubs and flowers, kids and grownups who visit the Children’s Garden at the Providence Children’s Museum on South Street in Providence will discover how the delicate cinnamon fern got its name, smell fragrant blossoms, and dabble their fingers in the fieldstone fountain. The centerpiece of this urban oasis is a huge, colorful play-on map of Rhode Island that designates the environmental regions of the state, such as beach areas, wetlands and forests. Kids and grown-ups have active outdoor fun as they jam on the JunkMusic PlayStation, explore a cave and discover a host of colorful, hands-on toys, blow bubbles, fly kites, investigate slime and get acquainted with a different work vehicle every Wednesday in July and August. Phone: 401-273-5437.

Disney, Hockey, and Much More

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For indoor entertainment and high-energy sporting action during the cold months, keep an eye on the activities at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on LaSalle Square in the heart of downtown Providence. For sports fans, the center hosts continuous hockey action with the Providence Bruins throughout the winter and auto racing in early December. For others, the Dunk bring in a variety of entertainment, such as Stars Wars in concert on November 11; the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on December 10; Boston Pops Holiday Concert on December 19; Disney on Ice December 26-30; Celtic Woman on March 10; and much more. Phone: 401-331-6700.

It's a Nice Place to be Alive, Too

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The paths and gardens of Swan Point Cemetery make for one of the most peaceful and interesting walks in all of Providence. Within the Cemetery’s gates lie 200 acres of pristinely manicured lawns that flank the Seekonk River, replete with laurel, rhododendrons, azaleas and other flowering shrubs. Aside from just being scenic, a walk through Swan Point is always educational; the grounds are home to an abundance of rare and beautiful trees with plaques for easy identification, and the gravestones are pieces of artwork in and of themselves. Here you’ll find the final resting places of everyone from Civil War officers and early state politicians, to the famous science-fiction pioneer H.P. Lovecraft.

Pass the Parmesan

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Bring your appetite to Rhode Island’s authentic Italian restaurants on Providence’s Federal Hill. There are more Italian restaurants on this mile-long stretch than in Manhattan’s Little Italy. When you are filled to the groaning point, stroll along the neighborhood’s sidewalks and mellow outdoor piazzas.

Talk to the Animals

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A trip to Providence must include a day at Roger Williams Park, a 430-acre Victorian-era park comprised of ponds, walks, gardens, greenhouses, paddle boats and bumper boats, playgrounds, pony rides, a Carousel Village, and the Museum of Natural History and Cormack Planetarium. The park's crown jewel, Roger Williams Park Zoo, is home to more than 1,500 animals of 150 species.

When is a Mall Not Like a Mall?

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The Providence Place Mall, smack in the heart of downtown, is a three-story, full-carpeted retail palace with wonderful views of the river and the city below. With 170 upscale stores, eight restaurants, video arcade, and IMAX theater, a visit to this mall is a great and lively indoor activity any time of the year.

Avenger, Tomcat, Skyhawk, MIG: See ‘Em Here

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Located in the only brick hangar on the East coast, the Quonset Aviation Museum on Ecclecston Avenue in North Kingstown hosts a growing collection of aircraft and Rhode Island Aviation memorabilia. Aircraft such as a Russian MIG-17, an F-14 Tomcat Jet Fighter, TBM Avenger, A-4 Skyhawk, A6 Intruder and SH3 Seaking are on display and under restoration. Rhode Island aviation exhibits focus on both commercial and military history, with a total of 30 aircraft. Hours: Daily, October-April, Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; May-September, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 401-294-9540.

Blues of Legendary Musicians Wails at the Knickerbocker

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The Knickerbocker Café , a longstanding club serving up primo blues, jazz, and R&B, reopened in 2009 on Railroad Avenue in downtown Westerlyafter having been shuttered for a number of years. As if to make up for lost time, the places howls every weekend with excellent live music in a small, relaxed club atmosphere with tables wrapped around a little but hard-used dance floor. Groups that appear and re-appear at the reincarnated Knickerbocker include Soul Shot, The Shiny Lapel Trio, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, The Commander Cody Band, Johnny and the East Coast Rockers, Roomful of Blues … you get it. Got it? Phone: 401-596-4225.

Boss Is the Place to Get Onto the Ice

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Added January 2008 removed March 200 For a little exercise and a whole lot of fun head over to the Boss Ice Arena at the University of Rhode Island athletic complex off Route 138 in KIngstson. This arena packs in up to 2,500 fans when the nationally ranked University of Rhode Island Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Teams are on the ice. When they aren’t on the ice, the rink is open for public skating, adult skating, and open figure skating sessions. Public skating programs are available for all types of skaters. Whether you’re in it for the competition or just want to have a little fun on the ice, the Boss Ice Arena is the place to be. Times vary but public skating sessions are available every day, all year long. General admission is $6 with an additional fee charged for skate rentals.Phone: 401-874-5480.

Broadway Plays with Zest

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The Granite Theatre on Granite Street in Westerly puts on community theater productions year-round with a degree of verve and zest that could move mountains of, well, granite. Home-based in a handsomely restored Greek Revival Church that sits at the foot of Granite Street in downtown Westerly, the Granite Theatre stages various forms of entertainment, Broadway plays, children's plays, holiday shows, lecture programs, cabaret acts, and more. Shows in the 2009 season include "Self Help," "Cabaret," and "A Christmas Carol." Phone: 401-596-2341.

Collegiate – and Classy -- Theater

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For good and not overpriced theatrical entertainment, do not overlook the theater department of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. The Fine Art Center on Upper College Road, in the heart of this very beautiful rural campus, hosts several professional-caliber productions yearly. Coming up from late 2009 into 2010 are productions of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “A Flea in Her Ear,” and “Unbound.” Do not be surprised at the high quality of these performances. Phone: 401-874-5843.

Creatures of the Deep,
Explained by the Experts

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University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute Visitor Center on South Ferry Road in Narrangansett welcomes the public to take a look at the work of the world-class marine biologists of the university. The Coastal Institute Visitor Center features an interactive science exhibit, bookstore and educational offerings for schools, teachers, tour groups, tourists and the general public. While on campus, stop by the Coastal Institute Bookstore for a wide selection of marine-oriented books, field guides, toys, games, gifts, jewelry, clothing, and accessories. Featuring a unique selection of marine and environmental books and field guides, educational resources for teachers and educators, educational games and toys, and marine jewelry, art, and clothing, the Coastal Institute Bookstore is located just inside the entrance of the Coastal Institute Visitor Center. Phone: 401-874-6211

Elegance in Stone

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Visit the Towers on Ocean Street in the center of downtown Narragansett. You know you are there when you spot a pair of massive, medieval-looking cylindrical stone towers straddling Route 1A like a moat leading to a castle. The towers are open for live music and ballroom dancing lessons Wednesday evenings all year (no partner necesssary!) as well as concerts and other public events. Phone: 401-782-2597

Galaxies Aloft

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Astronomy buffs may be delighted to learn that the town of Charlestown is home to an observatory where the public is welcome to come and star-gaze every Friday night, provided the skies are clear. Visitors to the Frosty Drew Observatory on Park Lane in Ninigret Park in Charlestown sometimes are surprised to learn that it is a collection of telescopes and associated equipment – it is not a planetarium. The staff has enthusiastic and knowledgeable astronomy buffs who like nothing better than to point out the stars, galaxies, and planets to interested visitors. The observatory opens just after sunset when the days are long and at 6:30 on winter nights. If the skies are clear, come down and look up.

Intimate Shopping in a Small Downtown

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Wickford Village, in the town of North Kingstown, is an intimate village center with serene Colonial architecture and rows of wonderful and unusual shops. The village’s 1700s historic homes, churches, gardens and picturesque harbor offer a glimpse of our nation's early history. Shops include Different Drummer, Askham & Telham, Villa Bella, Blue Hydrangea, Beauty and the Bath, Herb Wyfe, and JW Graham/Yes Gallery, Absolutely perfect for holiday gift shopping. WhEN your feet give out, don’t fail to stop at Wickford Gourmet for a meal or a snack. Phone: 877-295-7200

Victorian Stroll

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Westerly’s historic downtown on the edge of the Pawcatuck River is a pretty place for an old-fashioned walk, especially when it leads to Wilcox Park, a Victorian-era beauty with a koi pond, dwarf conifers, a daylily collection, perennial borders, and winding trails. The Chorus of Westerly presents a pops concert here in June, complete with Grucci fireworks, and the park also hosts performances of Shakespearean plays.