Fun Friday
Good Morning we have made it through another week and now it's time to go on our weekly Friday adventure.
Can you guess where we are going this week? We are going to the beautiful state of Rhode Island
1.) Cliff Walk located in Newport Located near the back lawn of The Breakers and other historic mansions like Rough Point, this scenic 3.5-mile walk along Newport's coastline connects the western end of Easton Beach to the eastern end of Bailey’s Beach. Stroll along the Cliff Walk to spot a variety of wildflowers and birds, and enjoy commanding views of Narragansett Bay.It’s mostly an easy walk, but watch out for the southern section, which can get slightly tricky along the rocky shore.
Newport gets especially busy during summer weekends—plan your visit during spring or fall, or on weekdays for fewer crowds. – Tripadvisor
2.) Mohegan Bluffs located in Shoreham Two-hundred-foot cliffs with great views of the Atlantic.
3.) Southeast Lighthouse located in Shoreham These two lighthouses stand watch over tiny Block Island, scene of 59 shipwrecks in the early 1800s.
North Lighthouse hours of operation are 12-4pm Granite lighthouse that was built on Sandy Point in 1867. Inside the building is a maritime museum. There are five rooms of exhibits each showcasing a particular piece of maritime history. Please come visit. The views are spectacular! We are open full time in July and August. Weekends in September and October until Columbus Day.
4.) Beavertail Lighthouse and Park located in Jamestown The site of America's third lighthouse and the first in Rhode Island dates back to 1749.
5.) Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge located in MIddleton A rich variety of habitats from salt and freshwater marshes, to grasslands to sandy beaches and dunes make this 242-acre nature refuge an excellent destination for outdoor and birding enthusiasts.
6.) Rhode Island State House located in Providence This imposing marble building houses King Charles' 1663 charter of the Rhode Island colony. Tours are 45 min long and informative. Not much of a gift shop. Pretty standard as far as statehouses go, nothing really stood out as unique. Just the usual marble columns, House, Senate, Library etc
7.) Wright's Dairy Farm and Bakery located in North Smithfield hours of operation are 8-5pm Winding road to the farm and what a wonderful stop! They have thoughtfully laid out a walking trail with signage along the way telling visitors about the farm and the dairy process. They very clearly address the use of hormones and antibiotics and clearly tell you about homogenization. The bakery is phenomenal. It is clean, the staff are over the top friendly. The baked goods - oh my! Delicious. They have a cake section and it is evident they have some good cake creators there. The cakes are beautiful. They have a refrigerated section with all things dairy. Cream, milk, cheese and anything else you could think of.
8.) Napatree Point Conservation Area located in Westerly- Watch Hill bird sanctuary. Watch Hill is a quiet cozy little hamlet. For even more quiet and getting close to nature you walk out to Napatree. There is a tiny beach with great views
9.) Castle Hill Lighthouse located in Newport Castle Hill Lighthouse was very difficult to find. The path can be hard to find so make sure you ask a local how to get there but once one gets to the right place the trail is marked with a nice sign. Castle Hill Lighthouse is located on Narragansett Bay in Newport. The lighthouse was completed in 1890 on property formerly belonging to the naturalist, oceanographer, and zoologist Alexander Agassiz of Harvard University. Agassiz sold the land to the United States Government for the lighthouse for $1. His mansion on the property, commissioned in 1874, is now an inn (Castle Hill Inn). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 as Castle Hill Lighthouse.
10.) WaterPlace Park located in Providence Watch a street artist sketching the city, enjoy a lovely stroll by the river past Venice inspired bridges or see some wonderful public art, all at this well-designed four-acre park and scenic riverwalk, considered to be the heart of the restoration of Providence's downtown area.
11.) Watch Hill Lighthouse Easy walk down to the lighthouse. Beautiful homes and gardens to admire along the way. There was no guard at the entrance maybe because it was the off season, but the sign does say no cars except over 65. The lighthouse itself is not huge or one of the nicest we’ve seen but the views make up for it. I was hesitant after reading reviews that the locals were not welcoming to tourists in the Watch Hill area but that could not be further from the truth from our experience.
12.) The Stephen Hopkins House located in Providence Take a tour of the 1707 home of Declaration-signer Stephen Hopkins, his family and their slaves, eight rooms full of antiques, Hopkins heirlooms and 18th century atmosphere. Learn about Rhode Island's own Founding Father and his house, the city's oldest, moved twice but virtually unmodernized, where George Washington was a guest in 1776 & 1781. Relax in our parterre garden designed by Alden Hopkins of Williamsburg. We're on Benefit Street between the John Brown House and First Baptist Church, a block from the RISD Museum, the Providence Athenaeum, the Brown campus and spectacular WaterFire. Open all year, Wednesdays 11AM to 2PM, April through November, Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM, and year-round by appointment *** till 10 PM when it falls on FULL lightings of WaterFire (last tour at 9:30)Tour highlights available in Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and soon French!
13.) East Beach located in Charleston This beach is breathtaking, clean, quiet, family friendly and they have the best grinders and lemonade drinks. The people are friendly and very welcoming. The pathway into the beach feels magical, and it has gorgeous views. Lots of beautiful stones on the beach (at low tide) and good waves for skimboarding. There is a bathroom by the carousel for changing.
14.) Redwood Library & Athenaeum located in Newport Chartered in 1747, the Redwood Library & Athenæum is a museum, rare book repository, the nation's oldest public Neoclassical building and the oldest operating lending library still in its original structure. Designed by Peter Harrison and built in 1750 the library contains over 200,000 titles in its Circulating and Special Collections, another 751 titles forming the Original Collection which were purchased by the founders, and an exceptional collection of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century portraits by such artists as John Smibert, Robert Feke, Charles Bird King, and Gilbert Stuart. In addition there is a range of sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts. Lectures, gallery talks, and musical events are scheduled throughout the year, and unique gift items and used books are available in the gift shop. Tours given Monday through Friday at 10:30am and 2:00pm, Saturdays at 10:30am.
15.) Sweet Berry Farm located in MIddleton hours of operation are 9-6pm Sweet Berry Farm is a post-and-beam farm market and café situated on 100 acres of conserved farmland. We are located only a short distance from downtown Newport and the island's beaches. From our market we sell our own freshly grown seasonal fresh fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, as well as a variety of gourmet and specialty foods. The pick-your-own season spans from June through December. Our barn and orchard offer two picturesque settings for your wedding or special event.
16.) WaterFire located in Providence WaterFire Providence is an independent, non-profit arts organization whose mission is to inspire Providence and its visitors by revitalizing the urban experience, fostering community engagement and creatively transforming the city by presenting WaterFire for all to enjoy. This award-winning sculpture by Barnaby Evans installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence, has been praised by Rhode Island residents and international visitors alike as a powerful work of art and a moving symbol of Providence’s renaissance. WaterFire over eighty sparkling bonfires, the fragrant scent of aromatic wood smoke, the flickering firelight on the arched bridges, the silhouettes of the fire-tenders passing by the flames, and the enchanting music from around the world engage all the senses and emotions of those who stroll the paths of Waterplace Park. WaterFire has captured the imagination of over ten million visitors, bringing life to downtown, and revitalizing Rhode Island’s capital city.
17.) Roger Williams National Memorial located in Providence hours of operation are 9-5pm Roger Williams National Memorial commemorates the founder of Rhode Island and his ideal of the Liberty of Consciousness. Roger Williams arrived in what he named Providence in 1636, attracted by a freshwater spring. The site grew into a settlement with a government that ensured freedom of religion via separation of church and state. Williams built his house across the street from the spring and lived there on and off until his death. The spring was revealed in the early 20th century, later enshrined within the Hahn Memorial. Completed in 1982, the urban park hosts winding paths, open lawns, and groves of trees on 4.5 acres. Visit the Antram-Gray House, which includes a visitor center, exhibits, video, and bookstore. Free 2-hour parking is available for park visitors. Roger Williams National Memorial is the venue for many outdoor activities and events throughout spring, summer, and fall including Junior Ranger programs, festivals and cultural events.
18.) Naval War College Museum located in Newport hours of operation are Mon-Fri from 10-4pm The Naval War College Museum interprets the history of the Navy in Narragansett Bay. Permanent exhibits interpret naval activities in the region from the colonial period through the Civil War and also focus on the Naval Torpedo Station, the Naval Training Station, and the Naval War College. A naval art gallery and temporary exhibit space offer changing exhibits on various subjects. For those without base access, reservations need to be made at least 7 business days in advance. Please call or email for details. Closed Holidays
19.) Frosty Drew Observatory located in Charleston hours of operation are Fridays from 6pm-12am This place is small, but it's free and you get a chance to look through high-powered telescopes. There are bathroom facilities and everyone is so nice and so willing to share their knowledge. These people are volunteers and it's free. It gets very chilly and there are bugs. Bring bug spray, but be mindful not to spray it in the enclosed area with the telescopes. Bring snacks and chairs. Go early,lines can get long. Charlestown,RI, is the darkest place along the East coast and so an observatory is in its glory on clear nights.
20.) Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge Free refuge which has trails over fields and around salt marshes.National wildlife refuge in coastal RI will not disappoint if you enjoy serenity and beauty. Lookout platforms available for close up views of wildlife. So nice seeing a deer enjoying his habitat. Sunset on Moonstone Beach indescribable
21.) Jamestown Windmill Opened Summer Weekends from 1-4pm The Jamestown Historical Society has done a wonderful job preserving and maintaining this 225+ year old structure. It provides a glimpse into the island’s agricultural past and begs comparison to modern wind turbines used to generate electricity. You are able to go inside the windmill and climb to the top! They have multiple displays inside and they have a lot about its history. A must see if you are in this beautiful town.
22.) IYRS School of Technology & Trades located in Newport hours of operation are 9-5pm IYRS is a premier marine trades and design & modern manufacturing school founded on the Newport harbor front. Restoration Hall is the home of our traditional wooden Boatbuilding & Restoration program where visitors can view multiple historic yachts under restoration by our students. The Brooks Building next door offers visitors the opportunity to visit the shops and labs of our Composites Technology, Digital Modeling & Fabrication, and Marine Systems programs. Reservations are not necessary. Free.
23.) Casey Farm located in North Kingstown The farm is located on the ancestral homeland of the Narragansett nation. In the eighteenth century, this property overlooking Narragansett Bay was the center of a plantation that produced food for local and foreign markets. Starting in the mid-nineteenth century, the Casey family began to improve the farm and lease it to tenant farmers. In 1955, they donated their ancestral home to Historic New England. Today, farm managers raise organically grown produce for a CSA program. A weekly Saturday morning farmers' market from mid-May to October offers products from other local farms and artisans. The site provides a perfect setting for children's field trips and summer camps. June 1 to October 15, tour the farmyard to visit the animals, the cemetery where six generations of Caseys are buried, and the farm house museum gallery featuring family portraits and cultural objects representing all the people of this land. Virtual tour available at Casey.Farm with hiking trail maps.
24.) Artillery Company of Newport hours of operation are 10-2pm This was such a cool museum with so many amazing treasures!They have several unique collections (one of my favorites was a tiny pale pink paper pass for the balcony of the Senate during the impeachment of Andrew Johnson). Doesn't take too long to see but is worth a trip!
25.) Boyd's Wind Grist Mill located in Middleton This beautiful little park provides gentle walking paths, lovely picnic spots, a gentle small river, a petite museum with fascinating exhibits, and as a spectacular centerpiece a unique eight-bladed fully restored and operational historic windmill.
26.) John H. Chafee Nature Preserve located in North Kingstown Newly opened nature preserve that is a great place for seal-watching. Lovely hike from the parking area on a path to the beach, a little less than a mile each way. Gorgeous beach - very pebbly and full of tiny shells. Free Entry Dog friendly
27.) Fort Barton located in Tiverton By the Tiverton Town Hall. One entrance to the Redoubt, the viewing platform and the Red Loop (with its ups and downs) up a sort of steep ramp. Green Loop entrance 100 yards or so west and less easy to find.
28.) Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology located in Providence hours of operation are 10-4pm The Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology is Brown University’s teaching museum. A resource across the university, we inspire creative and critical thinking about culture by fostering interdisciplinary understanding of the material world. We provide opportunities for faculty and students to work with collections and the public, teaching through objects and programs in classrooms, in the gallery in Manning Hall, and at the Collections Research Center.
29.) Anchor Bend Glassworks is one of the many shops located in Newport that you will want to check out. hours of operation are 10-5pm Anchor Bend Glassworks LLC is an unprecedented glass artist collaborative, established 2003! This award winning team is composed of childhood friends, Michael Richardson, Justin Tarducci, and Timothy Underwood. All met while exploring their shared enthusiasm for art, glass, and creation. Combining their shared passion for hand blown glass after more than 10 years of personal development, anchor bend glassworks continue to redefine the glassblower's art. The talents from every artist encourage and compliment the energy and originality that permeates every piece of hand blown glass anchor bend glassworks creates. Their award winning designs can be seen at select galleries and museums nationwide. "Anchor Bend Glassworks is constantly striving to honor and expand the glass blowers art. Our innovation is fueled through experimentation and creation. Put simply, we love what we do and do what we love! Anchor Bend Glassworks is proud to share our labor of love with you! Thank you for your support and great taste in hand blown glass."
30.) Purgatory Chasm located in Middleton This was a very hard place to find but it's worth the trouble. The view was nice and the bridge going over the water was a small reminder of the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris with engraved locks of loved ones attached to the wire It is not marked but is worth the drive.
Even though this state is very small you can very easily find some amazing things to do and discover around every corner.
I hope that you have enjoyed this week's tour and come back next week for another amazing adventure. Remember to always be kind as it costs nothing and if you see someone without a smile stop and give them yours a smile is contagious.
Written by: BeautifulChaos318
