60 Great Things to Do in Rhode Island

Newport Vineyards

909 East Main Road (Route 138) Middletown, RI 02842 Phone: 401-848-5161 Fax: 401-848-5162

Newport Vineyards is a family owned winery, founded in 1978. Paul and John Nunes, whose local roots date back to 1917, purchased the winery in 1995. 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 and tastings for groups of ten or more are available. Newport Vineyards specializes in rehearsal dinners, corporate affairs and custom labels. The winery hours are Monday thru Saturday 10-5 and Sunday noon-5 year around. Receive a $2 discount off the admission price, valid for up to two adults by presenting this web page.

Rough Point

680 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI 02840 Phone: 401-847-8344

Experience the Life of 20th Century Heiress

Rough Point was the Newport home of Doris Duke – heiress, art collector, and Newport preservationist. Originally built by the Vanderbilt family in 1887 it later became one of Doris Duke’s homes. Still decorated as it was during her lifetime, the mansion is home to a remarkable collection of French furniture, European art, Chinese porcelains, and Turkish carpets; all collected during her world travels. The mansion features ocean views and landscaping design by Fredrick Law Olmsted, creator of New York’s Central Park. Rough Point opens of the season April 12, 2012. Tours last one hour and are led by knowledgeable guides.

A Walking Tour of Historic Woonsocket

The Blackstone River makes several lazy bends as it curves through downtown Woonsocket on its way from Worcester to Narragansett Bay. Woonsocket Falls was on the map by the early 1800s as a crossroads along the Boston-Hartford Highway and because of the Worcester- Providence Blackstone Canal. By 1850 the area was busy with factories, mostly textile mills, which employed French-speakers from Quebec. A wonderful walking tour of the Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor takes history buffs through these historic factory communities, back and forth across the Blackstone River. The second, third, and fourth generation descendants of these Northern American immigrants continue to give Woonsocket a genuine Canadien flavor. Phone: 401-762-0250.

Art From Watercolor Masters

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.

Folk Music Heaven in the Blackstone

Blackstone River Theatre, a 1928 Masonic Hall at 549 Broad Street in Cumberland, was renovated and reopened in 2000 as a cultural arts center, under the encouraging leadership of the Rhode Island-based ensemble, Pendragon. The theater hosts live heritage and folk music concerts, children's shows, art exhibits and special performances. Performing artists are primarily folk, Celtic, and world music ensembles. Among the performers scheduled for 2011 are Bertrand Laurence, Occidental Gypsy, Kelley Lennon, Long Time Courting, Triple Spiral, Pendragon, Lunasa, and more. Voted "Best New Folkie Haven" in the Providence Phoenix. Check website for schedules. Phone: 401-725-9272.

Little Theater, Big Talent

The Sandra Feinstein Gamm Theatre opened its new performance space in the Pawtucket Armory Annex in 2003 at 172 Exchange Street in Pawtucket. Complete with a sun-drenched lobby and a black-box performance space, the new Gamm has many more seats than its previous location but retains its hallmark intimacy. Its offerings have been described as a “theatrical feast” by the Providence Phoenix. Forthcoming performances in 2011-2012 include “Hamlet” (November 3 - December 11, 2011); “Festen” (January 12 - February 12, 2012); “Boon” (March 8 – April 8, 2012); and “1984” (April 26 - May 27, 2012). Phone: 401-723-4266.

Snow or Shine, the Market is Open

The Wintertime Farmer’s Market at the Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket is in full swing, with local farmers offering up everything from kale, collards, cabbage, and chard, to oysters, eggs, honey, and maple syrup. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th century textile mill, this market provides community members and guests with a cozy atmosphere to shop for fresh, local food and hand-made gifts, and maybe even enjoy some live music too. Open through May 28, 2011. Hours: Wednesday, 4 - 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Stone for the Garden

Planet Garden at 30 Martin Street in Cumberland is a place to indulge your garden decorating fantasies, even in the dead of winter (maybe especially in winter. This is an indoor garden showroom and factory direct outlet for garden statuary and accessories. The 1,500 items in stock include unique and unusual benches, birdbaths, stepping stones, religious figures, animals, architectural pieces, fountains, gargoyles, sun dials, Buddhas, pet memorials, wall hangings and other custom pieces. Great place to find gifts for your favorite gardener. Open year round except February in the old Berkeley Mill. Call ahead for hours. Phone: 401-334-4443.

Theater Presents Entertainment for Every Taste

The Stadium Theatre in Monument Square in Woonsocket is not only home to the fantastic Encore Repertory Company, but is also one of the nation’s finest examples of historic theater restoration. Built in 1926 while Woonsocket was still a bustling hub of the Industrial Revolution, the theater was left vacant in the 1970’s as industry started to move elsewhere. With the work of some dedicated supporters, the Stadium has been back up and running for nearly 10 years. Upcoming shows in 2011 include Rent, Fame, Little shop of Horrors, George Winston,and more. Phone: 401-762-4545.

Thrill of the Hunt

Sportsmen and hunters, you should know about Addieville East Farm at 200 Pheasant Drive in Mapleville. Addieville East Farm encompasses over 900 acres of ideal upland bird habitat. The farm is managed to provide the challenger of a natural hunt for fast-flying birds, sporting clays for shooters from novice to expert, and areas for fly fishing and dog training. The property has 20 fields studded with patches of corn and surrounded by brush thickets; a 15-stand sporting clays course; fly fishing; two trout ponds, a native trout stream and a bass lake; instruction in fly fishing and shot gunning, and a dog training and breeding facility. Instruction programs for novices. Phone: 401-568-3185.

Art From Needles

Knitters and fiber artists: if you needed any extra reason to visit beautiful Block Island, here it is. North Light Fibers is a small store and mini-mill on Spring Street on Block Island where the owners produce and sell high-quality premium yarns, garments, and home decor from luxury fibers such as alpaca, bison, llama, camel, silk, and merino. In addition to beautiful yarns, North Light Fibers has developed a line of beautiful Block Island Designs one-of-a-kind knitted and woven products. The mini-mill is located on Abrams Farm, home to several exotic quadrupeds like alpacas, yaks, llamas, camels, and sheep that produce beautiful wool. Classes and tours also are offered. Click here for travel information to Block Island. Phone: 401-466-2050.

Coastal Farm Offers
Peaceful Walks and Wonderful Vistas

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

1790s on a New England Farm

Coggeshall Farm Museum , on Poppasquash Road off of Route 114 in Bristol, portrays the work and life of a 1790s coastal farm. See rare breeds of livestock and heirloom varieties of vegetables and herbs. Buildings include barn, spring house, cooling house, blacksmith shop and privy. Special weekend events such as maple sugaring, sheep shearing, and demonstrations of 18th- and 19th-century skills, crafts, and farm work using materials and methods of the period are demonstrated throughout the year. Other fun activities include live music weekly and Colonial cooking workshops. Open year-round, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: 401-253-9062.

4 Corners, But Definitely Not Square

Located within a one hour drive of Boston, Providence, Newport, and the towns of southeastern Massachusetts, Tiverton Four Corners, has become an important center for antiques, fine art, decorative crafts, and cozy shops nestled into a quaint New England Village of 18th-century buildings. Enjoy the fresh air as you walk the few steps between shops to peek in windows, sample gourmet treats and purchase goods of all kinds in an unhurried, friendly and charming atmosphere. Lots of fun, seasonal events open to the public.

Famous Cows and Plenty of Unusual Gifts

On a visit to Rhode Island, treat yourself to a dreamy drive through the farm fields and small towns of the East Bar region. If you love to shop for unusual gifts, stop at Imagine Gift Store at 5 Miller Street in Warren. This cool shop is located in the restored former Lyric Theatre and contains three floors of unique and hard to find items, toys, clothing, jewelry and much more. Products for sale include toys, kitchenware, jewelry, gourmet foods, tableware, and more. Imagine Gift Store also owns cows that are alumni of Cow Parade, a worldwide public art event. Open year-round, daily. Phone: 401-245-4200.

Gift-Buying Options From Around the World

Gallery 4 at 3848 Main Road in Tiverton Four Corners is home to Silk Road Traders, Susan Freda Studio, and Wanderer Imports. Sensuous crocheted wire gowns by artist Susan Freda, carpets from the Middle East, antique furniture, architectural pieces and decorative objects from China and Vietnam, kilim shoes, cashmere shawls, designer jewelry and stone garden sculpture are just a sampling of this unique collection from the four corners of New England and the world. Fun to browse and full of refreshing alternatives for your gift-giving quandary. Winter hours from January 1-May 25 are Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Open daily June through December. Phone: 401-816-0999.

Jay Gatsby Lounged Here

Linden Place, an 1810 Federal-style mansion in downtown Bristol that was featured in the film "The Great Gatsby" with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, is well worth a visit. The mansion and outbuildings (a 1902 ballroom building and a 19th-century carriage barn) are surrounded by rose gardens and sculpture. Tours are offered Thursdays through Sundays. Highlights include tales of DeWolf family exploits, from their privateering and slave trading to their financial ruin and return to prosperity during Victorian times. Special events include seasonal parties, art and printmaking exhibitions; and historic films. Phone: 401-253-0390

Magnificent House With a Marvelous History

Which is more beautiful, the house or the gardens? Blithewold Mansion Gardens & Arboretum at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol is a turn-of-the-century mansion on 33 acres of landscaped grounds overlooking Narragansett Bay. The house is grand but very comfortable and very much a reflection of the generations of accomplished men and women who lived there. A tour is an eye-opener into earlier generations of elite Rhode Island families. In warmer seasons, the gardens offer 50,000 flowering bulbs, a Japanese water garden, and an exotic bamboo stand. Lots of special and seasonal gardening events and displays, including a monumental Christmas tree, take place throughout the year. Phone: 401-253-2707.

Arp! Arp! to Starboard

From November 2011 through April 2012, Save The Bay offers seasonal seal watching tours aboard M/V Alletta Morris. Expert guides and binoculars are provided for an educational view of these seasonal marine visitors. Tours are offered on weekends and school vacations. A great activity for children during the slow days of winter. Boat departs Bowen's Ferry Landing, 18 Market Square, in Newport. Cost is $20 for a one-hour trips and $30 for two hours, with children under age 5 admitted free. Phone: 401-324-6020.

Blades Are A’Blazing in Newport

Newport welcomes everyone to hit the ice at the Sovereign Bank Family Skating Center at 4 Commercial Wharf in Newport. The 90-by-100-foot outdoor skating rink located in the heart of Newport's downtown shopping and waterfront district. Group rates and skating lessons are available. Open daily; hours vary. Check the skating rink website. Phone: 401-846-3018

Breakers Mansion Welcomes Families and Kids

The Breakers , the historic Vanderbilt summer cottage at 44 Ochre Point Avenue in Newport is offering a famil-oriented program that allows youngsters and parents to imagine themselves witnessing the history made in this great Gilded Age chateau. Visitors on the tour will meet Vanderbilt family members and staff, as well as fanciful creatures like the friendly dolphin hiding under the grand staircase, the lions of the Music Room and the dragons in the Dining Room. Spend a summer day in the life of one of the Vanderbilt children and meet the masters of the kitchen, Monsieur Le Chef and his colleague, The Butler. Kids will love it. Information: 401-847-1000

Cinema for Elite Tastes

People who love movies: do yourselves a favor and get out of those multiplexes that look and feel like a walk through the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. New England has a healthy scattering of proudly small, independent movie theaters that show new releases along with independent films, shorts, and other cinematic art that doesn’t necessarily include exploding helicopter scenes. Among these is the Jane Pickens Theater at 49 Touro Street in Newport. This is a historic and glamorous movie house for a glamorous town. It presents a mix of first run movies, documentaries and art films. And when you walk out after the show, you have lovely Newport all around you. Phone: 401-846-5252

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. Phone: 401-845-5300.

Discover Newport’s Tumultuous History
from the Sidewalk

Learn about Newport’s fascinating Colonial history in the best way possible: by walking the streets of this old city in the company of an expert. Newport History Tours conducts several walking tours from spring through fall. The flagship tour, “Discover Colonial Newport,” tells stories of struggles for liberty by Newport’s people. “Pirates and Scoundrels” shows where pirates profited. “Old House ABCs” explores Newport’s architecture. “Newport’s Buried History” tour, describes the history of Newport’s people of color. “Tastes of the Working Waterfront” invites guests to taste their way through history. Tours depart from 127 Thames Street, Newport. Phone: 401-841-8770.

Farm Life, Preserved

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

Game, Set, Match

The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum at 194 Bellevue Avenue Newport presents a chronology of the sport's rich history, from its earliest origins through today’s champions and stars. Set in the historic Newport Casino, the museum chronicles the history of the sport and Newport’s role as the cradle of American tennis. The museum contains a diverse collection of memorabilia, art, fashion and more from the 12th century through present day. Also, From May through September the public is welcome to play tennis on the museum’s 13 grass courts, one clay court and three indoor hard courts. Phone: 401-849-3990.

Relaxed Shopping
With Fresh Air on the Side

Garden City Shopping Center, at 100 Midway Road in Cranston is a great resource for a full day of shopping, dining, and seasonal entertainment. It is a well-maintained and attractive outdoor shopping center, with interesting stores that loop around a central gazebo used for special events. A page on the shopping center’s website gives a summary of sales and special events. The selection of stores ranges from Eastern Mountain Sports to Victoria’s Secret. The lovely Italian restaurant, Papa Razzi, and several other eateries offer rest and good food. From visits with Santa to wedding photos at the gazebo, five generations of Rhode Islands have fond memories of their trips here. Phone: 4021-942-2800.

3 Centuries of Architectural Masterpieces

Just 16 years after the landing of the Mayflower at Plymouth, Massachusetts, Roger Williams founded a new settlement called Providence in what would become Rhode Island. This downtown walking tour of churches and libraries from three centuries was created by the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor and it takes visitors along streets that date to the founding of Providence. Highlights are the Cathedral of St. John and the First Baptist Church, Memorial Hall at the Rhode Island School of Design, several halls of Brown University, the Congdon Street Baptist Church. These buildings include beautiful and mixed elements of English Gothic Revival style, traditional New England meeting house, Romanesque designs, Baroque and Greek Revival style, high Victorian Gothic design, a Renaissance-style dome, and Italianate style. Enjoy the history and the beauty. Phone: 401-762-0250.

A Night at the Movies, Only Better

The Cable Car Cinema at 204 South Main Street in Providence is a step ahead of the rest--or a step behind, depending on how you look at it. The theater’s cozy, art-house atmosphere harkens back to a time before giant multiplexes and IMAX theaters were all the rage. But unlike those multiplexes, the Cable Car is also home to an adorable, locally-owned cafe--serving espresso, soup, sandwiches, wine, and beer--so you can snuggle up on one of the theater’s leather sofas and enjoy a snack while you watch the movie. Phone: 401-272-3970.

A Wicked Fun City Stroll

Wickenden Street, on the east side of Providence, finds itself on the eastern border of two major universities: Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. Predictably, the street is a great place to walk, dine, and shop, offering a nice dose of interesting clothing, art supply and collectible shops; cheap eats; international flavor; bold murals; and occasional comic counterculture imagery. Rhode Island Roads Magazine has called Wickenden Street “a romantic jaunt in the artsy side of Providence.” Scrape together a few hours and a nose from browsing and come walk Wickenden.

Above and Overlooking Downtown,
Providence Place Is a Mall of Wonders

Providence Place mall, at 1 Providence Place, overlooking the beautifully restored heart of the downtown, is a fun place for a shopping expedition, especially around the Christmas holidays, when sparkling decorations hang from the three-story-tall atrium and pop-up retail booths fill the hallways with color and diversity in gift choices. The mall opened in the early 2000s with a lot of ballyhoo for its elegant design and location literally overlooking the lovely paths of WaterPlace Park below. This shopping, dining and entertainment destination is the centerpiece of a downtown Providence renaissance. Retailers include Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Coach, The Apple Store, The Cheesecake Factory, Sephora, J. Jill, Ross-Simons, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and an IMAX theater. Phone: 401-270-1000.

Arts Center is Just of the Attractions
of Gracious Goddard Park

Goddard Memorial State Park, at 1095 Ives Road in Warwick is a wonderful, large green stretch along Greenwich Cove for everything from an impromptu walk to a large, festive party. The park offers a beautiful natural environment with spacious lawns, fields, and forested areas with a variety of trees from all over the world, including 62 deciduous and 19 evergreen species. Visitors can make use of a nine-hole golf course, an equestrian show area, 18 miles of bridle trails, 355 picnic tables, 11 game fields, and a new performing arts center – located in a former carousel building -- for weddings, concerts, picnics and special events. Picnic shelters and grills alongside wide green playing fields attract everyone from intimate couples to family parties. Phone: 401-884-2010.

Arts, Without Inhibitions

AS220 is a non-profit community arts space at 115 Empire Street in downtown Providence with a mission of providing an unjuried and uncensored forum for the arts. AS220 is part incubator and part bazaar for the visual and performing arts. Among its tasks is to build new audiences and infrastructure for artists to stimulate the cultural mulch in Rhode Island. The Empire Street Complex consists of a performance space, galleries, studios, and the Perishable Theatre. This is not an off-the-shelf art experience. Come check it out. Phone: 401-831-9327.

Breathtaking Art of Many Ages and Cultures

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. Phone: 401-454-6500.

Clouds Hill is a Marvelous Tour for Victoriana Fans

The Victorian mansion at Clouds Hill at 4157 Post Road in Warwick was built as a wedding gift for Elizabeth Ives Slater on her marriage to Alfred Augustus Reed, Jr. Visitors from around the world have found this house to be one of the best examples of Victoriana in terms of authenticity of its contents. Original collections include textiles, with family articles dating back to the 1870s; porcelain, including the dinner set used by Elizabeth and her family; carriages, including a gypsy wagon from the mid-1800s; and much more. The public is invited to seasonal events at Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and at the height of summer flower blooms. Hours: Available for tours every day; call ahead to confirm. Phone: 401-884-9490.

Colonial Village Still Charms Visitors

Pawtuxet Village is a small, historic neighborhood at Post Road and Narragansett Parkway on the border of Warwick and Cranston, famous for the annual Gaspee Day parade in June, when dozens of fife and drum corps commemorate the burning of the British revenue schooner HMS Gaspee in 1772. Other times of the year, it is a cozy section of historic buildings on a tiny cove of the Upper Narragansett Bay filled with interesting shops and eateries. Among them are Twice Told Tales Books & Gifts, Libations Wine & Spirits, Village Art & Antiques, Waters Edge Furniture Gallery & Café, and many interesting restaurants, from O'Rourke's Bar & Grill to Rim Nahm Thai Restaurant. Small Pawtuxet Park, facing the cove, is a lovely place to rest with a book or enjoy your purchases.

Cooking History & Cookery Gadgets

Whether you relate to food by cooking, eating, or watching its preparation, you will enjoy the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University at 315 Harborside Boulevard in Providence. This is the nation’s premier museum devoted to the preservation of the history of the culinary and hospitality industries. Exhibits include a diner museum, a stove museum; a pantheon of chefs; a restored New England tavern, collections of kitchen gadgets and appliances, and other culinary showpieces. An international array of chefs and restaurateurs have contributed to the museum's holdings. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 401-598-2805.

Enjoy the Heart of the City – on Ice Skates

From mid-December to late February, everyone is welcome to come ice skate outdoors in the very heart of Providence’s restored downtown. The rink is at City Hall Park in Kennedy Plaza, bounded by Exchange, Francis and Washington streets. The 14,000-square-foot skating rink is twice the size of Rockefeller Plaza’s ice rink in New York City and the beautiful urban cityscape on all sides is just as inspiring. Skate rentals are available. May close pending weather conditions – call first. Phone: 401-331-5544 ext. 5.

Fete Offers a New Place to Celebrate Live Music

Fete, at 103 Dike Street in Providence, is a new boutique live music venue dedicated to providing innovative music programming. Fete’s ballroom, lounge, and bistro (to come in 2013) are making a splash in the Creative Capital’s vibrant art, culture and tourism industry. Fête’s mission is to create a haven where artists and audiences actively enjoy a diverse selection of live music. Fête’s programming will celebrate all types of music. For instance, every Monday night Eric Bloom and The 5 Point Brass Gang lead Nola, a weekly party inspired by the second line and brass band tradition in New Orleans. Phone: 401-838-1112.

Galloping Dinner

A very cool and unusual experience for visitors to the capital city of Providence is a chauffeured tasting tour of a half-dozen Providence restaurants over the course of an evening. The Providence Chauffeured Dine Around is a service of All Occasion Transportation. You and your guests may choose six restaurants from a list of more than 15 premier eateries and enjoy featured menu tastings all evening long. One friend reported “...the restaurants rocked; and we felt really special.” Phone: 401-312-0945 ext. 131.

Hope on Foot

On a sunny day, a stroll along Hope Street on the East Side of Providence alongside Brown University offers a pleasant parade of interesting shops, restaurants, and small parks. Eateries include Blaze, Chez Pascal, India Restaurant, and the family-owned Seven Stars Bakery. Shopping venues offers textile art, yarns, vintage jewelry and furniture, and kitchenware. If you travel south to north, from Wickenden Street to Blackstone Boulevard (the entire length would be nine miles), you would end up at a farmers market that gathers on Saturday mornings from June to October at Lippitt Memorial Park at the intersection of Hope Street and Blackstone Boulevard. This park, with a playground for young children, is the starting point for a leafy walking path along all of Blackstone Boulevard.

Providence's Shopping & Dining "Downcity" Neighborhood Is a Fun Exploration

If the urge to splurge hits you, check out the shops in Providence’s Downcity district, along Westminster Street and the surrounding neighborhood. This recently revitalized part of downtown is home to some of the city’s coolest locally owned shops, restaurants, and bars. Some not-to-be-missed highlights include Craftland on Westminster Street; Gourmet Heaven on Weybosset Street; Heir Antiques on Eddy Street; and more good, unique restaurants than you could shake a chopstick at.

A Refuge of Greenery, Stone, and Serenity

A series of unusual and highly personalized gardens cover the former dairy farm of the Miner family in Ashaway, at a garden farm now known as Solitude Springs. Robert Miner, proprietor, will take you on a personal tour. Tomaquag Brook runs through the property and underground springs are abundant, with wood and stone bridges scattered throughout the property. There are benches for sitting in delightful little nooks created with various plantings. Towering bamboo, ponds, babbling brooks, an old-fashioned swing and gardens everywhere create a natural atmosphere that embraces solitude, reflection, and even play. In one area is a collection of heart shaped stones that Miner has acquired over the years. Stone and metal sculptures are tucked in crannies on all sides. Also on the property are a donkey, a few pot-bellied pigs, a pair of emu, and horses. Spend an hour walking the farm with the gardener in your circle. Call ahead before visiting. Phone: 401-377-4059.

A Stroll Through an Oyster Nursery

Oyster is a dish loved by a particular slice of the populace, but their ardor for the glossy shellfish is strong. People who want to meet and then eat this delicacy can watch the farming process and then dine at the Matunuck Oyster Bar and its sister business, an oyster farming operation, at 629 Succotash Road in Matunuck. The Matunuck Oyster Farm offers year-round group tours and educational field trips to show how shellfish are cultivated in Rhode Island waters. Each member of the tour is given a pair of waders to get an up-close look at the growing oysters – a sort of education by immersion. The oyster bar offers a variety of cherrystones, littlenecks, shrimp, and chilled lobsters, served at a waterfront patio. Talk about local food sources? Check website for hours. Phone; 401-783-4202.

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

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.

Best Snow Tubing in Little Rhody

Among the New England states, Rhode Island is not famous for its skiing, but don’t be fooled: in the town of Exeter in the South County is the well-loved Yawgoo Valley at 160 Yawgoo Valley Road, and it has excellent snow tubing when weather conditions are ripe on 12 trails with four lifts with a 245-foot vertical drop. Great fun for kids and adults alike. Be sure always to call ahead for current conditions. Hours are Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m. Phone: 401-295-2276.

Blues of Legendary Musicians Wails at the Knickerbocker

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

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. When the University of Rhode Island Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Teams are 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. 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.

Collegiate – and Classy -- Theater

 For good theatrical entertainment that’s not overpriced, one should not overlook the University of Rhode Island’s Theater Department in Kingston. The Fine Art Center on Upper College Road, in the heart of this very beautiful rural campus, hosts several professional-caliber productions every year. The lineup for the 2011-2012 year includes “Marat Sade” on October 13-23, 2011; “The Sea Gull” on December 1-11, 2011; “Tartuffe” February 23-March 4, 2012; and “Singin' in the Rain” on April 19-29, 2012. Phone: 401-874-5843.

Dramatic Views and Ocean Breezes

Walking along the rocky bluffs at Beavertail State Park, in Jamestown, you might find it hard to believe you’re still in little Rhody at all. The park offers some truly breathtaking views of the Atlantic, and provides some interesting walking paths through what was once a U.S. Navy fortification. Also on the park grounds is the Beavertail Lighthouse, built in 1856, and a museum detailing the area’s significant cultural history. The park is open from dawn to dusk, with no entrance fee, all year round. Phone: 401-884-2010.

Five Diamonds for One Magnificent Hotel

January 2012 brought welcome but not surprising news that Ocean House on Bluff Avenue in Watch Hill [Westerly] has been named a Five Diamond Lodging by AAA. This is among the most prestigious awards any lodging can receive, and the first received by a Rhode Island establishment, according to AAA. "Five Diamond lodgings feature extraordinary physical attributes and meticulous personalized attention,” said an AAA spokesman. The Ocean House is the last of the grand Victorian hotels, where life is still lived much as it was a century ago, a tranquil timetable of tides and sun, teatime and cocktails, sailing regattas and strolls on the beach. The hotel first opened in 1868 and was closed in 2003 in a state of disrepair. Later that decade it was restored to its original state and reopened. Phone: 401-584-7000

Intimate Shopping in a Small Downtown

Established in 1709, Wickford Village is a collection of picturesque waterfront streets lined with one-of-a-kind shops featuring jewelry, house wares, clothing and more. You'll also find galleries, antique shops, cafes and restaurants nestled amongst beautifully maintained churches, Colonial homes and gardens. Have a boat? Tie up to the town dock while you explore the village. Even your dog will enjoy a refreshing drink of water outside the many shops and restaurants in this pet-friendly village. Phone: 877-295-7200.

Lots of Fantastic; Umbrellas on the Side

Fantastic Umbrella Factory at 4820 Old Post Road in Charlestown is a very personalized collection of shops and gardens. The place was established in 1968 by Robert Palmer Bankel, who had a mission to provide South County with good Karma, a fun atmosphere, eclectic shops, and an interesting staff of artisans and locals. The property consists of extensive gardens, shops, and resident animals. Bring a sense of exploration and adventure. The shops include Umbrella Factory Main Store, Small Axe Productions, Umbrella Factory Gardens, Cheap Frills, and Vintage Eyewear. Open year-round but hours vary seasonally. Phone: 401-364-9199.

Run With the Alpacas

Shadow Pines Farm on Purgatory Road in Exeter is a small, family-run operation of people who love to raise and show alpacas. The owners visited alpaca farms and became enamored with alpacas while traveling to watch their daughters compete in college sports. They welcome opportunities to show the herd to visitors. Alpaca fleece products for sale. Hours: Year-round Saturdays and Sundays. Phone: 401-295-7859.

Stroll, Sit, Shop, Sightsee in This Sweet Village

The charming village of Watch Hill near the town of Westerly is nestled along the shore of Block Island Sound in the southwest corner of Rhode Island. Watch Hill is situated on a peninsula that is nearly surrounded by ocean, further adding to its awe-inspiring beauty. Outdoor activities in the area include rowing, swimming, ocean sailing, fishing and hiking. Additionally, local shopping and fine restaurants combine to make this a favored resort area. Attractions include Napatree Point Beach and Watch Hill Beach, a historic carousel, a lighthouse, and much more. Fun for a day of strolling, a weekend getaway, or longer.

Blackstone Valley	Block Island	East Bay
Newport	Providence/Warwick	South County

RHODE ISLAND