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.

Save The Bay

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

Hands-on fun on beautiful Narragansett Bay

Narragansett Bay is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth and Save The Bay connects you to it with hands-on and on-the-water experiences for families, groups, students and schools. Enjoy 360° views of harbor seals on winter Seal Tours. Get up close with hundreds of Bay critters year-round at the Exploration Center & Aquarium in Newport. Take in the beauty and history of Narragansett Bay on summer and fall Lighthouse Cruises. Enroll in week-long summer BayCamps that give K-12 students the perfect mix of fun and marine science education. Join Save The Bay in protecting and improving Narragansett Bay, keeping it swimable, fishable and accessible to everyone.
Boat tours depart from Newport, Westerly, and Providence RI.

Roger Williams Park Zoo

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

Looking for something fun to do with your free time? Go wild and head to the zoo!

Your free time is valuable, so why not go wild? Head to the Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village for a fun day of visiting the animals, seeing how a typical Rhode Island farm works – and zipping across the zoo 115 feet up! You’ll feel you are on safari at the Fabric of Africa exhibit, with zebras, cheetahs and elephants. On Marco Polo’s Adventure Trek, you’ll seek out the secretive snow leopard. In the North America exhibit, you’ll see bison graze and harbor seals swim. At the Faces of the Rainforest, explore amongst free-roaming sloths, birds and monkeys! Don’t miss the Soaring Eagle Zip Ride, with breathtaking views. Or visit the nearby Carousel Village, ride an historic carousel and take an all-ages train ride.

Tails Up Fishing Charters

Serving the waters of Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts Warwick, RI, 02886 Phone: 401-302-0963

Cast off for a fun day in Rhode Island’s waters with scenic tours, fishing charters

Looking for a fun day on the water? Check out Tails Up, providing a variety of fishing charters as well as a full slate of scenic cruises that take advantage of a coastline worth exploring. Cast off to a private beach or cruise around the bay on a getaway tour; experience Rhode Island’s beauty at daybreak and nightfall with serene sunrise and sunset tours; or cruise by the region’s scenic harbors or over a dozen lighthouses. Tails Up is always happy to talk about program modifications and special requests to help customize your experience. For fishing charters, be prepared to get excited as an experienced crew helps you go after striped or sea bass, bluefish, tautog – or sharks and mackerel.

Ocean House Resort

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

So much to do both on site and off site at this luxury waterfront resort

One of the best things about your stay at the five-star Ocean House resort: There are so many fun activities both on and off the property. On site, there’s the private sandy beach, of course, with beach butler service. There’s croquet on a manicured lawn, championship-level squash courts, a 24-hour fitness center, heated indoor saltwater lap pool and summer programs for kids as well as movie nights and concerts. Take a wine or cooking class at the Center for Wine & Culinary Arts, learn how to surf or get a massage at the world-class spa. Off-site, play tennis or golf, go hiking or biking, visit a lighthouse or winery, take a trip out to glorious Block Island or a short drive to Mystic Seaport.

Visit our sister properties - Weekapaug Inn - Watch Hill Inn

Visit Misquamicut Beach - Rhode Island's family beach town

Rough Point

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

Discover the Newport home of Doris Duke

The oceanfront estate of heiress Doris Duke was built by Frederick Vanderbilt in 1887 with the grounds landscaped by Frederick Law Olmstead’s’ firm in 1890. It was then the largest summer house in Newport. In 1922, James B. Duke purchased the house then left it to his 12 year-old daughter upon his death. Upon her death in 1993, Doris bequeathed the estate to the Newport Restoration Foundation, which opened the estate as a museum in 2000. The house is decorated with French furniture, European art, Chinese porcelains, and Flemish tapestries. Guided and self-guided tours are open to the public from April to November. More information available on the Rough Point website.

Newport Vineyards

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

Raise a glass, have a laugh, enjoy the view

More than a place about wine, for more than 20 years Newport Vineyards continues its traditions of outstanding wines for tasting, and adds Brix Restaurant, Taproot Brewing Co., The Marketplace, Tasting Room and Tank Room, and an expanded venue for public and private events. The vineyard is the largest grower of wine grapes in New England producing and bottling over 30,000 cases of estate-grown wine each year through sustainable farming methods on nearly 100-acres of historically preserved farmland. The region’s leading agritourism destination, the vineyards are alive with seasonal activities including music and celebrations of every kind.

Paddy's Beach Club

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

A summer place for everything your summer self desires

A summer of sun, fun, and surf is upon you and Paddy’s Beach Club on Misquamicut Beach. Join the crew as the sand and waves come alive and let the prime beachfront location and expansive tented deck overlooking the ocean keep you smiling, tanned and dry. There’s plenty of seating for your next party or event and a top-notch staff and casual, fun atmosphere. Paddy’s is kid friendly and there’s always lots of parking and great events including Monday Night Trivia, Wednesday night Kids Nights, Thursday Non-profit nights July 4th Fireworks and the always popular DJ Dance Parties. Enjoy great food, drinks, and entertainment in the Tikki Beach VIP area or Ocean Lounge. Book a cabana, daybed, or chaise Lounge and just chill.

Take a Flying Spin

Who doesn’t love a carousel, especially an antique that boasts impeccable artistry from the golden age of carousel building? The Flying Horse Carousel on Bay Street in Watch Hill is a National Historic landmark. Its 20 horses are hand-carved and embellished with real horsehair tail and mane, leather saddles, and agate eyes. The horses are not attached to the floor, but are suspended from a frame, allowing them to swing out, or “fly,” when the carousel is in motion. Children only. Last dayof operation in 2021 is September 12

The Essex Steam Train & Riverboat -Train & Boat Excursions through the Connecticut River Valley - with all the bells & whistles!

Newport, Rhode Island - A Year Round Destination!

Surf’s Up in Block Island

From beginner level to experienced, you can find the perfect surf lesson for you at Diamond Blue Surf Shop at 442 Dodge Street in Block Island. You do not need to go all the way to Hawaii to learn how to ride the waves, the deep blue sea is ready to receive you in your own backyard. Experienced instructors give lessons in the basics and beyond, from technique to etiquette. Rentals are available too. May through October.

Don’t Forget Your Helmet

On the Blackstone River Bikeway, cyclists can enjoy a 10-mile stretch of scenic, car-free, bicycle-induced bliss extending from Central Falls, through Lincoln and into Cumberland. The mighty waters of the Blackstone, once known as “America’s hardest working river,” were once the power source for America’s first textile mill, built in 1790, and the many subsequent mills that would appear throughout the industrial revolution. See the interactive map to find and use the numerous parking lots and access points.

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.

Polo and Picnic Baskets in Portsmouth

Believe it or not, polo and tailgating parties do, indeed, go together. The Newport International Polo Series is conducted at Glen Farms on East Main Road in Portsmouth every Saturday evening from June to September. Play starts at about 5 p.m. (4 p.m. in September). Guests should arrive early, park along the field, and have sandwiches and Thermoses at hand when the action begins. As part of the ritual, spectators even get to walk out on the field and stomp down the divots during time-outs. It is really a lot of fun, whether or not you know the first thing about the sport. Phone: 401-846-0200

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.

Linden Place: Historic Mansion, Sculpture, Gardens Are Delightful

Linden Place, an 1810 Federal-style mansion in downtown Bristol is a charming visit for fans of grand house, sculpture, and historic gardens. The mansion and outbuildings (a 1902 ballroom building and a 19th-century carriage barn) are surrounded by rose gardens and sculpture. Tour guides tell 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 exhibitions; and films. Hours: January-April and November: Tuesdays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; May-October and December: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 401-253-0390

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.

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.

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

Ready or Not: Surf Your Heart Out

The ocean-raised and family-friendly owners and crew of Paddle Surf Shop at 3 India Point Road (at the Frank Hall boat yard) in Westerly have one goal: to get you on a board and out on the ocean, whether you feel quite up to it, or not. The shop offers private or group lessons in surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and on the lift e-foil (which you will need to get the experts to define for you). Need gear, not lessons? Gear is available for rent, and Paddle Surf Shop will deliver it to you, for a fee. Reservations highly recommended. 401-741- 5661.

Take a Llook at the Llamas

Take the kids to the Exotic Animal Farms & Gardens and petting zoo to experience an array of exotic animals up close. Watch them gaze in awe at camels, llamas, sheep, goats and emus. Even adults will see animals that they have never seen before. The farm, located in a meadow next to the 1661 Inn at 5 Spring Street in Block Island, hosts perennial favorites such as Nyla the camel and Mr. McDuff, the Scottish Highland steer. Come see the famous fainting goats and a zebu. Always open. 401-466-2421

Crescent Is the Shape; Fun Is the Function

Block Island has 17 miles of pristine beaches, protected by lighthouses and spectacular bluffs, and surrounded by rolling roads and winding paths. Many of the beaches are isolated and nearly untouched, providing breathtaking views and utmost tranquility. Two-and-one-half miles of some of New England's finest beachfront can be found at Crescent Beach, which stretches along the island's east coast from Old Harbor, where the ferries dock, to Clay Head. Crescent connects with two other fine beaches, Scotch and Mansion beaches, to the north. Ferries to Block Island.

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!

Get Your Summer Fun in Misquamicut

South County is famous for its long, sandy beaches and non-stop beach fun in the summer. One of the best of them is Misquamicut, along Atlantic Avenue in Westerly, a 3-mile stretch of sand that encompasses several beaches, including Misquamicut State Beach. In summer, this is a place of classic, old-fashioned family fun. Misquamicut has a drive-in movie theater, and most nights in summer bring entertainment: live blues music on the beach and hermit crab races on Wednesdays, Classic Car Cruise Nights and family-friendly Magic on the Sea on Thursdays. Also: surfing lessons, kayaking and paddle boards, water slides, an amusement park Spring and fall festivals in Misquamicut bracket the season. Night life for adults is at The Andrea, Paddy’s Beach, Sandy’s Lighthouse, and Windjammer. 401-322-1026.

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

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 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? 401-596-4225.

Mellow Water Park for Young Families Out in the Woods

Yawgoo Valley Water Park at 160 Yawgoo Valley Road in Exeter is a smallish, intimate, and kid-friendly park that offers snow tubing in winter, and outdoor fun in the summer on water slides, in three swimming pools and a wading pool. It’s easy and restful for parents and other adults to bring a picnic and relax nearby during supervised play in the pools. Enjoy ice cream at the snack-oriented Tiki Bar. This is really and truly out in the country -- beautiful woods and country roads. Reserve your space at a timed session; see park website.

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.

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.

Enjoy the Bay With Save the Bay

The Rhode Island environmental organization Save the Bay operated an Exploration Center and Aquarium at Easton’s Beach, 175 Memorial Blvd. in Newport that is an ideal place to whet the interest of young kids in the mystery and value of marine life. The center shelters 40 species from Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island waters, and kids may meet some of them via three touch tanks and dozens of exhibits. Skates, dogfish sharks, urchins, crabs and lobsters, seahorses, turtles, and more! In summer of 2021, the center is open Wednesday-Monday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 401-324-6020.

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.

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]

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.

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.

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). 401-667-5996

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.

Craftland is Gift-Shopping Heaven

A little bit like a brick-and-mortar Etsy tucked into Providence’s artsy Downcity district, Craftland , at 212 Westminster Street, 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.

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.]

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.

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. Ferries.

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

Eploration center and aquarium by save the bay

Start Saving the Bay by Knowing the Bay

Save the Bay is a non-profit dedicated to protecting Rhode Island’s glorious Narragansett Bay. The organization also wants everyone to understand and enjoy the bay as much as the marine scientists do. This all leads to the Exploration Center and Aquarium, open to the public and located right ON Easton’s Beach, at 175 Memorial Blvd in Newport. Open year-round, this marine science center displays 40 species of animals from Narragansett Bay in touch tanks and dozens of exhibits. There is a new theme every month for activities like scavenger hunts, story hours, crafts, and science experiments. Build a future marine biologist in your family or come to simply slake your own curiosity. The third Thursday of each month is Feeding Frenzy, when you can help feed the animals. Admission is only $8. 401-324-6020.

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.

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.

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

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]

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

A Quiet and Beautiful Walk on Block Island

Maze and Clayhead Preserve off Corn Neck Road in 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.

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. Phone: 401-466-5009

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.

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.

Know Your Ecosystem

People who are fascinated by Rhode Island’s complex coastal ecology should high-tail it to the Kettle Pond Visitor Center on Bend Road in Charlestown, the local habitat of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Located on the north side of U.S. 1 between Burlingame State Park and Ninigret Park, the center offers an interactive gallery of dioramas, murals, and giant photos of sandy beaches, rocky shores, and other other Ocean State ecosystems. Extensive hiking trails are open dawn to dark.

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 & Visitor’s 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.

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

Blackstone Valley

Block Island

Newport

Providence Warwick

South County