Great Things to Do in Rhode Island -- find fun activities year-round

Rhode Island > State > Things to Do and See > 60 Great Things to Do in Rhode Island

Art and children's and cooking museums; historic houses; nature trails; boat cruises; historic Newport tours; unusual shopping, and more fun activities on land and water, year-round. Be sure to phone ahead or look at the website of places you want to visit to check hours and other details, especially for activities affected by weather.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

1000 Elmwood Avenue Providence, RI, 02907 Phone: 401-785-3510

Happenings at this zoo include visits to animals, zip rides, train excursions

You’ll find 40 acres of fun at the Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village. It all starts with the animals, of course, and the zoo has over 100 species from around the globe, including elephants, giraffes, snow leopards, bald eagles, New England’s only Komodo dragon, bison, giant and river otters, and red pandas. There’s a free-flight aviary to walk through, a petting zoo where you can interact with farm animals, and in the summer months get hands-on with daily armadillo and tortoise encounters. The zoo also is home to an exhilarating zip ride, where you soar 115 feet above the zoo, a train excursion, and a fully accessible nature play space with a building zone and treehouse.

Save The Bay

Multiple Centers & Dock Locations Providence, Newport, Westerly, RI and Fall River, MA Phone: 401-272-3540

From seal tours to touch tanks, Save The Bay has lots of activities for explorers

Start with this: seal tours! And if that’s not enough, environmental nonprofit Save The Bay also offers lighthouse tours, nature cruises and an Exploration Center & Aquarium where you can meet sea stars, dogfish sharks and sea urchins at their three touch tanks. Lighthouse Tours are offered June through October, while Nature Cruisies and Seal Tours take place October through April. The organization’s Bay Center in Providence offers public, Bayside walking trails, a kayak launch and fishing platform, while the year-round Exploration Center and Aquarium in Newport offers three touch tanks, and dozens of exhibits featuring local species.
Boat tours depart from Newport, Westerly, and Providence RI.

Ocean House Resort

1 Bluff Avenue Watch Hill, RI, 02891 Phone: Toll-Free: 877-346-9442

When you stay at this oceanfront inn, you’ll need a list to decide among all the activities, attractions

When you arrive at the Ocean House, take the time to make a list: There are so many different things to do on and off the inn’s 13 gorgeous acres of oceanfront property. There’s the private white-sand beach, with cabana service and surfing and paddle-board lessons, the tournament-level croquet lawn, putting green and shuffleboard court. There are movies in the screening room, children’s day and evening programs, bikes to take out to explore Watch Hill Village’s shops and galleries, and a heated indoor saltwater lap pool. Go for a sail on a yacht or a ride in a Mercedes – or just relax in your spacious room, suite or cottage. Nearby activities include a carousel, lighthouse museum, theaters, wineries, casinos and hiking trails. Ocean House was recently named to Forbes Magazine's list of "Most Luxurious Hotels & Spas", and is one of the top 100 hotels in the world among Travel + Leisure readers.

Visit our sister properties - Weekapaug Inn - Watch Hill Inn

Newport Vineyards

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

Glasses of wine, pints of beer, full menu, amazing views: all the makings of a great day

There’s plenty to do at the Newport Vineyards these days – and all of it is enjoyable. It might start with your selection of a perfect cabernet, chardonnay or pinot grigio to sip indoors or outdoors while you admire the vineyard’s sweeping vistas. Or you might wander into the beer side of things with a flight of fresh brews from the Taproot Brewery, where you can also order off a full menu of shareable noshes, entrees and desserts. The award-winning vineyard also offers winery tours and tastings and a full schedule of special events, from live music to days that feature special menu items that feature ingredients from their on-site culinary garden. And, there’s a retail shop selling wine, beer, home goods and branded merchandise.

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Paddys Beach Club - Misquamicut Beach, RI

Visit Misquamicut Beach - Rhode Island's family beach town

Rough Point

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

Walk through this mansion and experience the eclectic collection of its last owner, Doris Duke

Built as a "summer cottage" for Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt in 1891, Rough Point Museum today tells the story of the life and legacy of its most recent owner - heiress, collector, and philanthropist Doris Duke. Walk from room to room, from the solarium featuring breathtaking ocean views, to the Kitchen with a deluxe 1920s cigar case and marvel in between at the eclectic collection. There are sumptuous Flemish tapestries, gilded French furnishings, vibrant Chinese export ceramics, stately portraits, and more objects that reflect the wide-ranging tastes of their collector.
Open seasonally March-early January - For information about operating hours please check the Rough Point website.

Paddy's Beach Club

159 Atlantic Avenue Misquamicut, RI, 02891 Phone: 401-596-2610

Soak up the sun, and have a blast on the beach, at this popular restaurant and bar

Have a blast at the beach at Paddy’s Beach Club! Reserve a chaise lounge or cabana on Tikki Beach (for the over-21 crowd) or enjoy the sand and surf of lively Misquamicut Beach with the family, on the opposite side of the property. Dine on creative beach cuisine, from raw bar offerings to street tacos and lobster rolls, and sample some of the drinks that earned Paddy’s a nod from Coastal Living magazine as one of the top 10 Beach Bars in America. Enjoy live music, DJs, and beach dance parties. Watch Hill Catering also pairs with outside vendors in its summer dinner series, this year including offerings from Gooseneck Vineyards and Harpoon Brewery. It’s a fun place to spend a summer afternoon or evening.

Girl Watching Flamingos at Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, RI - Credit PWCVB

Go Providence

1 Sabin Street Providence, RI, 02903 Phone: 401-751-1177

From great restaurants and shops to award-winning arts venues, museums and zoos, Providence has it all

What’s your pleasure when you’re on vacation or want to spend a day in the city? Dining in a great ethnic restaurant? Shopping for that one-of-a-kind item? Hiking in a city park with a botanical center and waterfall? Visiting elephants and giraffes at a zoo? Exploring intriguing neighborhoods on a foodie or history tour? In the Providence, RI area, you can do all that and so much more! Award-winning theater, sports events and concerts, funky boutiques, museums that celebrate natural and regional history – this walkable city has it all. Check the website for events from festivals and parades to comedy nights and restaurant weeks. Thinking of staying a couple nights? There are plenty of lodging options, from charming bed-and-breakfast inns to hotels with spacious suites and indoor pools. For more info, visit GoProvidence.com

goat hikes at simmons farm in midletown ri

You and a Goat, With a Leash in the Middle

You and a Goat, With a Leash in the Middle Simmons Farm at 1942 West Main Road in Middletown is happy to share it goats, pastures and fields, and views by offering goat hikes for the public. Admission of $10-$40 is all it takes to acquire a goat to walk on a leash. Bring one or two kids age 9 or younger. Farmer Karla leads the hikes, which include views of Narragansett Bay at the top of the farm, a busy brook and open pastures. Greet the pigs and Galloway cows. Dress in layers with comfortable shoes. The hike ends at the farm stand with a warm cup of hot chocolate. Choose your date and time.

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Newport, Rhode Island - A Year Round Destination!

Peace on a Pristine Pond

A visit to Ninigret Pond off Route 1A in Charlestown is a unique experience on the water. The pond is shallow, brackish, and protected from the Atlantic by a narrow barrier beach. Kayakers skim the surface and dart among the grassy hillocks while clamdiggers stand in the shallow water beside their boats and rake for quahogs. Watch for kids hitch-hiking from one tiny island to another. And, if you have a kayak, bring it!

Fun Browsing & Shopping With The Lady

The Lady Next Door a vintage clothing and collectibles store on Water Street in Warren, is a condensed marketplace of the best and most interesting stuff from estate sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. Founded by a former prop master and set decorator for Trinity Rep theater group, the store, under newer ownership, offers delightful millinery, clothing, pottery, linen, toys and many other items. Fun browsing.

Glass Blowers Create Shop & Studio of Delicate Art

The Glass Station Studio and Gallery on Main Street in Wakefield is an art project for Eben Horton and Jennifer Nauck, and a shopping delight for you. The glass blowing workshop is attached to the gallery, allowing visitors to see the artists at work and even to try blowing glass for themselves. The gallery offers many glass objects, from small hostess gifts to large platters, vessels, and sculpture. In addition to the owner / artists, other glass and jewelry makers display their art here. This is a fun shopping experience. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays. 401-788-2500

Get to Know Newport by Touring Local Restaurants

One of the most pleasurable ways to explorea new place is through its food. The Newport Foodies Stroll welcomes guests to this charming Colonial-era city by guiding them through a walk with stops at classic and well-loved dining spots. In less than 2 miles, guests will stop in at five locally owned restaurants near Lower Thames Street. The tour runs rain or shine May 1- October 30 on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Tours begin at 11:30 a.m. and noon and last 2.5 to 3 hours. These have become so popular a winter stroll has been added. Details at the stroll website.

Browse for Art and Antiques at the Providence Flea

The Providence Flea runs year-round – in the winter, it’s indoors at the Farm Fresh Market Hall at 10 Sims Avenue; in the summer, it’s outdoors in front of Plant City at 275 Water Street. Crafters and antique dealers abound here. It’s the perfect place to pick up some new jewelry, soap, or hand-made artisanal crafts. Snacks and drinks are available from food trucks. There are also themed nighttime markets. 401-484-7783

Delve Into Chinese Art History in Newport

The beloved Newport mansion Rosecliff is hosting “The Celestial City: Newport and China,” a new collection of more than 100 works of art. The exhibition sheds light on Newport’s deep connections with China from the 18th century through the Gilded Age. Styles include media, paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, fashion, ceramics, lacquerwares, and lanterns. Highlights include treasures of Chinese art collected by Newport merchants and industrialists; photographs and stories from Newport’s early Chinese community; and the writings, portraits and family heirlooms of Chinese women suffragists who inspired American women’s rights leaders. On display from September 1, 2023, through February 11, 2024. Admission: $25. Hours are from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

RI's Blackstone Valley: Industrial History, Biking, Paddling, Tasting

The Blackstone River Valley, from Providence, RI, to Worcester, MA, is a crucible of American industrial history. The town of Pawtucket, RI, is where the Englishman Samuel Slater built our country’s first cotton spinning mill in 1790, based on plans stolen from England. Over the next centuries, the river became an industrial zone for early mills and a magnet for immigrant workers from French Canada and elsewhere. Today, visitors can enjoy bicycling, paddling the river, tasting ethnic foods from two centuries of immigration, and tours of historic sites like Slater Mill in Woonsocket. Six visitor centers help you plan your tour. Choose a self- guided tour.

Arts and Food, With a Deeply ‘60s Vibe

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. The Empire Street Complex HAS a performance space, galleries, studios, and the Perishable Theatre. Also: there is very good food and grog at AS220 Food + Drink . Find a genuine 1960s vibe with good, solid, representation from the vegetable category, Satisfying and groovy. This is not an off-the-shelf art experience. 401-831-9327.

Pump House Music Works - Wakefield, RI - Photo Credit Bob Kidd Photography

Get the Spirit at Pump House Music Works

You get the feeling from the street view – just from the beauty of this old stone building – that the Pump House Music Works at 1464 Kingstown Road in Wakefield is a special place. The place started as a guitar-making school by Shady Lea Guitars, and has evolved into a live music venue, with shows every Friday, Saturday & Sunday. All manner of performers play music in all genres in this cozy, 125-seat space. Monthly open mic and pot luck socials, backyard barbecues and holiday parties are times for music makers and listeners come together and build community. A full bar helps add to the joviality. See schedule of events. 401-824-9971. [photo by Bob Kidd]

Twin River Doubles Down on Gaming Fun

The Twin River Casino opened in Lincoln in 2007 and it just keeps growing. Formerly the Lincoln Park greyhound track, the casino has offers 300,000 square feet of gaming space, with 4,500 video slot machines; virtual table games (including blackjack and roulette); and 80 live table games, including blackjack, roulette, craps and more. It hosts simulcasting of the best thoroughbred and greyhound racing from around the country. There is live entertainment by national headliners, comedy, dining, and a cigar bar, Twin River Casino is a 10-minute drive from Providence and less than an hour from Boston. 877-82-RIVER

Theater Presents Entertainment for Every Taste

The Stadium Theatre in Monument Square in Woonsocket, listed on the National Historic Register and a fine example of the Vaudeville period in American entertainment, was built in 1926 and restored in 2001. The range and variety of performances at the Stadium is vast and includes classic plays, comedy, music, and tribute groups. There are lots of seasonal shows at holiday times and plenty of good live entertainment all year. Fans of the theater come back again and again. A sample of the shows in recent years include “Nunsense,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Show Me the Glory,” “Annie,” “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “Cinderella,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” 401-762-4545.

Block Island Art Trail Map

Block Island is a beautiful and fairly undeveloped island retreat by ferr off the coast of southern Rhode Island. Its pleasures are many: lighthouses, beaches, shopping, walking in many nature preserves. Here’s something else: take yourself on an exploration of island galleries with this Art Trail Map. The map includes sites of farmers markets, so if you plan your adventure on market day, you can nibble your way from shore to shore.

Maple, Llamas, and Wool Blankets Come From This Welcoming Farm

Chepachet Farms and Sugar House at 226 Tourtellot Hill Road in Chepachet is a working farm where farmers Jody & Neil Esposito welcome everyone to visit and enjoy the maple sugaring season, farm animals, and the Green Thumb horticultural program that celebrates the work of farms. Sugar season is usually late February to mid-March, and the sugar house and maple store are open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on days when boiling is happening (call ahead or check the farm’s Facebook page). Also at the farm, guests can meet the resident llamas, draft horses, miniature horse, donkey, sheep, goats, ducks, pot-bellied pig and chickens. You can even choose and buy a Rhody Warm blanket or throw for the chilly times of the year. 401-568-9996.

Frosty Drew Observatory - Charlestown, RI - Photo Credit Scott MacNeill and Frosty Drew Observatory

Summer Stargazing Nights From a Coastal RI Park

Stargazing Nights are happening each Friday at the Frosty Drew Observatory in beautiful Ninigret Park in Charlestown. If the weather allows, the observatory opens itsSky Theatre and telescopes for free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in the night skies. Expect to see nebulae, star clusters, binary stars, the moon, and possibly Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars.

Take a Piece of the Island Home

Like many other watery places in New England, Block Island, an easy ferry ride off the shore of Rhode Island, digs deep into people’s hearts. It is a unique place, mostly undeveloped, and blessed with a stairway down a glorious bluff and lighthouses and great places to drink and dine. Block Island Trading Company at 1 Water Street (where else?) offers a big array of fun Block Island-infused gifts to take back to your own home or to pass around to other like-minded friends. 401-859-1524. Photo by Jon MacKenzie with permission.

The Blues Finds a Place to Wail 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 Westerly after 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?

Re Antiques and Interiors - North Kingstown, RI

Re Antiques and Interiors Makes Browsing Easy

Re Antiques and Interiors at 7511 Post Road in North Kingstown loves the concept of “re-”in the sense of re-use, re-design, and renew. The collection of antiques found here is vast in scope and very, very interesting. The objects to browse and buy are curated by the shop owner, who knows how to invite antiques into a contemporary design setting that maintains relevance with current interior trends. Here’ s a nice feature: on the Re Antiques and Interiors, you can click on the dropdown ”Shop” and see many and very detailed photos of what is in the store. Check website for operating hours. Pictured here: a Black Forest carved box with Meershaum pipes. (On your trip here, don’t miss the chance to also visit the charming village of Wickford, just a bit further down Post Road).

Yes You Can … Have Fun Creating Art

Muse Paintbar, with many locations, including a cozy storefront on the very hip North Main Street in Providence, rocks the slogan “Making Masterpieces and Memories.” Bring a friend or a group to enjoy some wine or tasty snacks while you follow close directions by an artist-leader in creating a painting. Bring your inner Van Gogh if you wish, but, really, no artistic talent is required. You are here for fun and to splash some color on a palette. Go into Muse’s website to see exactly what paintings will be the specific subject for each day’s class. You can do it! 401-764-3600

You Think You’ve Seen Reality? Try It Virtually

Base Station VR, at 286 Thayer Street in Providence,, is Rhode Island's first dedicated virtual reality arcade and lounge. This is a virtual reality experience that you cannot get with cheaper headsets. Experiences include Beat Saber, Arizona Sunshine, Superhot VR, Skyfront VR, Elven Assassin, Job Simulator, and many more. Categories of experiences include action, adventure, scary, puzzles, and others. Come alone or bring friends. An eight-by-eight-foot space allows room for movement. Try a $5 demo. The operators swear you’ll be hooked on this otherworldly experience. Open year-round, but hours vary. Check the website. 401-484-1895.

Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum in Warwick IR

Find a Warm Welcome to the Victorian Age at the Mansion

People interested in beauty and elegance of the Victorian age will love a visit to Clouds Hill Victorian House Museum at 4157 Post Road in Warwick. The house was built in the 1870s a wedding gift for Elizabeth Ives Slater. Ownership of the house descended through the oldest female and is now in the fourth generation of the family. Since 2000, Clouds Hill has been opened to the public. (It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.) The museum hosts lots of special events, including formal dinners five times a year. Displays of wedding attire, household appliances, carriages and riding equipment are perfectly intriguing. Guests are met with a true spirit of hospitality by volunteer docents who love discussing Victorian culture. 401-884-9490. [photo by Ian Iannuccilli.]

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. 401-454-6500.

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 things to do and seasonal gardening events and displays, including a monumental Christmas tree, take place throughout the year. Phone: 401-253-2707.

Sophisticated Jazz Sounds

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.

Walking tour by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

Walk the Majestic Streets of the East Side of Providence

Providence has many distinctive neighborhoods, and one of them – The East Side – is particularly endowed with natural and architectural beauty, along with connections to the state’s founding principles of religious freedom. The self-guided East Side walking tour created by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau starts at the magnificent State House and then ambles across the Providence River, past a national memorial named for Roger Williams, the city’s founder, and other places along North Main and Benefit streets that are equally stirring for their roles and their architecture: First Baptist Church, Rhode Island School of Design, the Providence Athenaeum and Brown University. Follow the tour on your phone and feel the pull of lofty minds from our past.

Maze and Clayhead Preserve off Corn Neck Road - Block Island, RI

A Quiet and Beautiful Walk on Block Island

Maze and Clayhead Preserve off Corn Neck Road on Block Island is secluded spot to take in the peace and quiet of nature on the island. The preserve is 190 acres of walks and rambles where you can see some of the most spectacular scenery on the island. Within the preserve is a sandy beach that’s off the beaten path enough to be almost deserted. You can walk along picturesque bluffs or wander a series of interconnected, unmarked paths. During the fall, the maze is one of the best spots on the continent to see migratory songbirds. To reach the trail, look for a post marker on the right side of Corn Neck Road, about 3 miles from town and across from a big yellow farm house. Turn right down the dirt road and go straight for one-third of a mile until you reach a parking area.

Primitive Country Furnishings and a Warm Welcome

Brown & Hopkins Country Store on Putnam Pike in Chepachet defines itself as “purveyors of fine primitive country wares, period lighting & reproduction furniture [with] everything from penny candy to primitive cupboards.” The store, in business since 1809, sells primitive country home accessories, curtains, furniture, lighting, quilts, framed prints, fabric by the yard, candles, florals, garlands, primitive dolls gourmet specialties and, of course, penny candy. The shopkeeper, Liz McIntyre, promises: “Stop in soon... old fashioned hospitality awaits you!” Open daily. Phone: 401-568-4830

Light Atop the Bluffs

Please don't miss this Block Island icon. That is, Southeast Lighthouse, perched atop the Mohegan Bluffs, which rise abruptly to a height of about 200 feet above the sea and stretch for nearly three miles along the southern shore. The lighthouse was moved from the edge of the bluffs in 1993 as natural forces eroded the bluffs closer to the structure. You can go into the lighthouse in July and August. A short distance west of the lighthouse along the Mohegan Trail is the top of a chain of stairs built into the side of the bluff, leading to the beach far below. If you are fit to climb lots of stairs and are looking for a fun thing to do outdoors, the hike to the beach is fantastic.

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown - Great Things To Do

Immerse Yourself in Bird Life at Sachuest Point

At 240 acres, Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown is important stopover and wintering area for migratory birds. Nature- and bird lovers know this rocky peninsula as the place to see colorful harlequin ducks, loons, eiders, gannets, and, in winter, snowy owls. A walk on the three miles of trails around Sachuest Point reveals several habitats, including salt marshlands and steep rocky shorelines around the perimeter. Elevated observation platforms along the trails provide unobstructed views. The visitor center is an ideal way to begin or end a trail walk; creative exhibits tell you all about the land and creatures you will be traversing. You can get a permit for nighttime fishing. - Trail map - Brochure

Providence Children's Museum - Providence, RI

Children's Museum Is a Delight for the Small Fry

The Providence Children’s Museum on South Street in Providence is a joy for kids and parents because of the enormous variety of themes, and play and discovery areas. Examples: Water Ways is a water play environment; Play Power uses air tubes and magnetic mazes to enhance pure play; The Children’s Garden is an oasis of native plants; The Climber is a two-story-high climbing maze; Underland is a subterranean world of roots, worm tunnels and critters’ burrows. And that is only a partial list. The museum hosts lots of seasonal and special events. Really – the place has everything for kid fun and learning. 401-273-5437.

Feed Your Inner Explorer at Biomes

The marine biologists at Biomes Marine Biology Center at 6640 Post Road in North Kingstown really want to teach you what they know about sea life, particularly the plants and creatures who live in Narragansett Bay. The Biomes Center is New England's only private marine education facility and the most hands-on aquarium zaround. The scientists here host demonstrations throughout Saturdays, Sundays, school vacation days, and every day during the summer, noon to 5 p.m. Daily events include pufferfish and octopus demonstrations, and feedings of tortoises, shark, horseshoe crabs, skates, stingrays, and sea horses. Discover the marine biologists in yourself or your family! 401-885-4690

Craftland is Gift-Shopping Heaven

212 Westminster Street Providence, RI, 02903 Phone:

A little bit like a brick-and-mortar Etsy tucked into Providence’s artsy Downcity district, Craftland is an artist-owned shop full of unusual handmade gifts and “and select pieces of artistry and weirdness from across the country,” according to its proprietors. It’s hard to tell what you might find here, but categories could include photography, stationery, clothing, accessories, original artwork, housewares, toys, prints, jewelry, stationery, and oddities that defy categorization. Craftland began in 2002 as a holiday pop-up, but its popularity led it to become a year-round establishment. And, Craftland purchases are tax free.

Sacred Labyrinth on Block Island

Off Corn Neck Road on Block Island is a labyrinth of paths lined by stones, with a beautiful view of the North Light and Sachem Pond. The labyrinth, unlike a maze, is a single winding path that leads to the center point and back out. Walking the labyrinth is a universal ritual that has survived unchanged for thousands of years. People report that labyrinths can heal body and soul. It's on the west side of the road, just a little bit south of Sachem Pond. Look for wooden steps over the stone wall.

What is a “Poke Bowl” Anyway?

Poke is the next generation of sushi, according to a West Coast chef. The word itself means to slice or cut in the language of Hawaii, and the dish is usually chunks of raw, marinated fish — usually tuna — which are tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and sauces. In early 2020, Yelp included among its top 100 eateries in the United States the Hometown Café & Poke Bar at 185 Camp Street in the Mount Hope neighborhood of Providence. Hometown’s co-owners described poke as “deconstructed sushi in a bowl, but more bold and flavorful.” Hometown started in 2017 in a trailer, but now it’s in a bright and sunny storefront. You don’t need to be a daring diner to love poke; try it! 401- 868-1247.

Paint the Town

Rhode Island may be the smallest state, but it sure packs a punch when it comes to art and relaxed fun with a group of friends. Paint and Vino at 150 Main Street, Pawtucket offers a unique ladies' night out at 7 p.m. nearly every day of the week and weekends. Practice the art of painting in a relaxed, social atmosphere. Even if you've never picked up a paintbrush before, Paint and Vino can provide you with a full evening of creative fun and wine tastings in Pawtucket’s buzzing art scene and night life. Local artists teach these group painting classes step-by-step, and New England wine will be served during the party. Reservations are required; make reservations through the website. 401-680-0856

rogue wave painting at block island gallery

Galleries Are Full of Surprises on BI

Block Island is all about restful pleasure and what is better for that than a stroll through one-of-a-kind art galleries? Among our favorites is Jessie Edwards Studio on Water Street, presenting contemporary American paintings, works on paper, wood turnings, and fine ceramics (open May through December, and always by appointment in the winter). Find a ferry to make the trip over. [Painting shown here is by Rhode Island artist Susan Klas Wright]

Blackstone Valley

Block Island

Newport

Providence Warwick

South County