Rhode Island - 60 Great Things to Do in Rhode Island in East Bay

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