Rhode Island Vacation info * Do you know RI?

[ennazus]

"It ain't no Disney World"

We are taking a little trip in a couple weeks to Rhode Island. In particular we want to see the Roger Williams Park Zoo as our DS is an animal fanatic.

Since that's going to be the main thing we do (we will probably only spend 2 full days in RI) where should we stay? Should we stay right in Providence? or a suburb? If a suburb, what is your recommendation?

What other must see thing is there in RI for a mom, dad & 8 year old boy?

I hope there are some Rhode Islanders reading here!!

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Jenn]

We are going to the Roger Williams Park Zoo tomorrow. I will try to post over the weekend and let you know how it is. We are a little over an hours drive, so I can't help with hotels.

 

[JESW]

Next week we are spending 3 nights in Westerly at The Breezeway Resort (they have a web site). It's a small family-owned place. We stayed there last year and liked it because it was close to the ocean - they have a (free) parking lot across the street. The beach there was great with real nice waves for the kids. We couldn't get them out of the water! The beaches are real nice in RI.

Not sure what your DS likes, but mine is 8 and all he wants to do is go swimming!

But if you stay way down in Westerly, you are close to the Aquarium in Mystic CT and that is a REAL nice place! We went there last year and will go again this trip. There is also the Mystic seaport but we haven't explored that yet but hope to this trip. RI is a small state so you can cover a lot of ground in 2 days!

Hope you have fun!

Jill

 

[Jenzebelle]

RI resident and RW Zoo member here.

RW Zoo is a great place for families!
I personally would not stay in downtown providence. It's kind of confusing to manuever the city if you are not familiar with it and with construction, it's a nightmare for even us residents at times.

There's lots to do and see in RI. Take the ferry to Block Island if you can. Newport is a favorite place of mine - I love to tour the mansions. Newport was THE place for the rich and famous to vacation for a long time and they built these incredible summer homes.

Westerly is beautiful and the Breezeway Resort JESW mentioned is very convenient to the beach.
The best thing about RI is that it's so close to everything. I live on the North Providence/Johnston/Smithfield/Greenville/Centerdale line and I am 15min from Providence, 15min from the MA border, an hour from Mystic (great aquarium for kids), and a little over an hour from Boston and the Cape.

 

[dcg0317]

I don't know that much about what ot see in RI, but why not stop in FallRiver MA. on your way down or back and go to Battleship row, where the Battleship MA. is dry docked, there are other ships there also. I'm taking my DS 10 there next week on our way to Mystic Seaport in CT.

 

[debster812]

Also, if you are a Baseball fan, check out the Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox) schedule to see if they are playing at home. All box seat tickets are $8!!!!!

www.pawsox.com

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Another Rhode Islander here.....my uncle and cousins have been here visiting this week and stayed at the Comfort Inn in Smithfield - they found it to be affordable and quiet - and said the continental breakfast was good also.
I'm sure that you will enjoy the zoo - I have not been this year but my DD (16) went on a field trip and had a ball.
One last tip - should you be in RI on a rainy day the Providence Place Mall has an IMAX theater.

 

[glo]

MA on the RI border...

I would sty in Providence only because of the stuff nearby to do, and RW is not that far away. I was going to suggest the Prov Mall, and it has an IMAX theater and aq Dave and Busters The river front behind the mall is pretty cool too. I would catch the Paw Soxs if a baseball fan. Come early and buy the kids cards and have them signed by the players. You need a rope and a clipboard to lower them down the last time I was there. Very family oriented

 

[SplshMtn99]

Maybe check out Newport ....and visit one of the mansions?

My mom took me to ALL of them when I was young (some more than once).

Or Hammersmith Farm .....where Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's family home. John Kennedy used it as the summer White House one summer. And they were married there. (I think all that is right? LOL)

 

[ennazus]

Wow! You guys are awesome! I knew I could count on DISers for tips!

My DS LOVES to go swimming!

The Battleship row sounds like a fun stop on our way to or from RI. I'll have to look into that some more.

Thanks for the rainy day tip (although I hope we don't need to use it.)

I'd LOVE to check out Newport & the mansions.... but neither dh nor ds are excited about that.

Thank you all for your suggestions!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Just another suggestion about Newport - can you tel I was just there this week?? If the mansions don't appeal to DS and DH there is always Cliff Walk" - a beautiful walking trail along the ocean - Bretton Point (a state park famous for kite flying) - Fort Adams State park - I believe you can tour the old fort - and of course - "Ocean Drive" - the scenery and houses are magnificent.

I hope you have a great trip.


p.s. not sure what you are looking for restaurant wise but I have a great suggestion from my corner of the state
http://www.wrightsfarm.com/

 

[SplshMtn99]

Oh --- definitely Wright's Farm for a meal on the drive down. Ya know, that website doesn't do the place justice at all! Suggestion: arrive HUNGRY!

It's all you can eat family style chicken, salad, fries, shells w/ sauce. You sit....and the food is served to your table within 5 mintues....and just keeps coming until you say "STOP"!! Really!!!
And the price is VERY reasonable -- can't remember....but less than $10/person I'm pretty sure.

We are going there Sunday.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be warned...............it can be VERY VERY VERY busy.....but they seat hundreds, if not thousands!!!!

 

[kasar]

Don't miss the Waterfires at night in Providence (weekend nights). They are really magical and you can even ride in a real gondola. Check out: http://www.waterfire.org/schedule/index.html

Newport is great (The Breakers is the best mansion, in my opinion) and Mystic is also fun. The Pequot Museum in CT isn't too far and very interesting. There is a new ferry from Providence to Martha's Vineyard that I'm trying to get to, hopefully soon. Have fun in our little part of the country. Let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[ennazus]

You are really twisting my arm about Newport! I know I could entice my DS with the fort idea!! And then DH would go along and we could just happen to have a route drawn out to drive by some mansions on Ocean Dr.

Two recommendations for the restaurant!! Another mark on my list!

Unfortunately, I think we are going to only be there during the weekdays.

Thank you for you terrific ideas!! I'll have to report back after the vacation!

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

SplshMtn99, I live about 5 minutes from Wrights Farm!! We went there this week - good as always - and since I live so close if I don't feel like waiting in line we get take out.

 

[SplshMtn99]

DisneyfanRI....I grew up in Blackstone, MA....but now live in Oxford, MA.....so I'm still within REASONABLE distance to Wright's ...and we occasionally do the "take-out" route too....but I like to eat there. I think it tastes better there. We also ask if they have any frozen cooked chickens left when we go. They are about $2-$3 (small ones)....and I put several in the freezer for meals after work. Just unwrap foil a bit....and place in the oven for about 45 minutes. Not as good....but good enough.

NH relatives always want to go there when they come down. Great place for large groups. Largest I've been with is 33 people when friend got deployed.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I live about 15 minutes from Wright's Farm, and I love it there, but we hardly ever go. I think it's too far, being a Rhode Islander, you know.

I was going to recommend Waterfire too...I love that.

I'd stay in Providence...it's so small relative to other state's "big cities" and fairly easy to get around.

 

[DISNEYFANRI]

Maryann - I am chuckling at your "too far" comment ....we don't go that often either because growing up every occasion as there - proms - weddings - etc.