Rhode Island trip last week august - suggestions things to do

[Anonymous]

With a 4 yr old. Thinking of spending 3-4 days in Providence and do the children's museum, zoo, museum of natural history.

Any other suggestions like a beach within in driving distance? Will likely go the airbnb route. Suggestions would be great.

[Anonymous]

Definitely go to Watch Hill (best on weekday, weekends are crazy) and let DC ride the Flying Horse carousel. Great little candy shop called The Candy Box in the shops behind the carousel. There is a beach right next to carousel (fee required), but bathrooms are right there.

We also love the Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth (part of Newport Preservation Society homes). The lawns of the Breakers, Rosecliff and Marble House are great for toddlers to run. You can get a family membership to see all of the member mansions for about $90.

Our favorite family beach: Matunuck State Beach (lifeguards and great food pavilion), nice families. Napatree Pt in Watch Hill is stunning for a walk (it's a wildlife preserve, but no lifeguards and bathrooms).

Sometimes there is a lot of red seaweed in August.

[Anonymous]

Theoretically, you could head down to Newport and do a limited house tour. Sounds insane with a young kid, but we did the Biltmore in Asheville with a 2-year-old who LOVED it.

This is the nicest place to be in RI: Ocean House. It's in Watch Hill. $$$$$$ but amazing.
https://www.oceanhouseri.com/

You could also jump a ferry and head to Block Island, but that's dependent on your comfort level with bicycling around the island with your kid. It's really fun, though!

[Anonymous]

OP. Thanks,
How is the Roger Wheeler state beach? I can't find Airbnb accommodations in/near Narangansett, but we may go the hotel route for 2 days as I don't think just Providence will be fun enough for all of us beyond 3 or so days. I think I have zeroed in on stay in Providence.
Going to check out a couple of days in the Watch Hill area, ideally a beach house or near a beach would be ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks,
How is the Roger Wheeler state beach? I can't find Airbnb accommodations in/near Narangansett, but we may go the hotel route for 2 days as I don't think just Providence will be fun enough for all of us beyond 3 or so days. I think I have zeroed in on stay in Providence.
Going to check out a couple of days in the Watch Hill area, ideally a beach house or near a beach would be ideal.

We used to go to Roger Wheeler a lot. Last time we went was really crowded and thought beach was not as nice/clean as East Matunuck State Beach where you can spread out a bit. Lots of little kids. There are not big waves at Roger Wheeler, so that is good.

Hampton Inn in South Kingstown is nice hotel --10 min drive toNarragansett/15 mins to Roger Wheeler Beach; about 25 mins to Watch Hill.

[Anonymous]

RI is small. If you can't find places in a few location you could easily pick a "home base" and do day trips from there. Providence to Matunuck beach is less than an hour each way. Although finding a house or hotel near the beach would be nice. Definitely check out Newport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thanks,
How is the Roger Wheeler state beach? I can't find Airbnb accommodations in/near Narangansett, but we may go the hotel route for 2 days as I don't think just Providence will be fun enough for all of us beyond 3 or so days. I think I have zeroed in on stay in Providence.
Going to check out a couple of days in the Watch Hill area, ideally a beach house or near a beach would be ideal.

We used to go to Roger Wheeler a lot. Last time we went was really crowded and thought beach was not as nice/clean as East Matunuck State Beach where you can spread out a bit. Lots of little kids. There are not big waves at Roger Wheeler, so that is good.

Hampton Inn in South Kingstown is nice hotel --10 min drive toNarragansett/15 mins to Roger Wheeler Beach; about 25 mins to Watch Hill.

I am PP. Also meant to add at Roger Wheeler the lifeguards were pretty restrictive--they did not allow older DCs to use their shark/whale blowup in the water, and def no frisbee/football/handball games if that applies to you. East Matunuck lifeguards allowed all of these. Roger Wheeler Food pavilion is more run of the mill, whereas East Matunuck is run by Salty's, RI favorite for fish (they have superb fish n chips and veggie burgers).

State Beach access is about $20 per day for parking, but is free after 4 pm. You could checkout each beach to decide which is better for your family. East Matunuck is 15 min drive from Hampton Inn in South Kingstown.

[Anonymous]

Definitely check out Newport. You could do Cliff Walk (and see the mansions on one side of you and the ocean on the other). You could also take a boat tour of Newport Harbor if that is something your DD would enjoy. There are beaches in Newport, too. Visit Brenton Point State Park (still in Newport) to fly kites.

Jamestown is also lovely, and much less touristy. I love clambering around on the rocks at Beavertail, and my DS started enjoying it at your DD's age. There is a lighthouse there, and a tiny, free kids aquarium (just a room at the base of the lighthouse with tanks with assorted sea creatures). There are lots of grassy areas at Beavertail, so it's a great place to bring a picnic and a kite/ soccer ball etc.

The best part of summer in RI is the ice cream! There are a couple of really amazing places. Gray's in Tiverton and Brickleys in several locations (one on the road from Newport to Naragansett). You must try some!

[Anonymous]

Hmmm I am from RI and never heard of the Musuem of Natural History. The zoo and children's museum are nice. I personally would spend the entire week in South county. Your trip may overlap with the hot air balloon festival or the South County fair. Blithewold in Bristol has beautiful gardens. There is a garden where they carve bushes into shapes. Take the ferry from Jamestown to Newport. Newport mansions, carousel in first beach, kite flying at Fort Adams Park. Watch Hill is pretty far from everything else but very cute and also has a carousel. You could go to Masquamakit if you want water slides, cheesy amusement activities. There is a sea life museum in Narragansett and also one at the lighthouse on Jamestown. Also check out the schedule for Theatre by the Sea. Have fun!

[Anonymous]

OP. Lot's of ideas thanks. If we wanted to make south county our base and go to the beaches and to providence any particular city I can search for on airbnb?

I checked the dates for the balloon fest and the fair and looks like we will miss those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Lot's of ideas thanks. If we wanted to make south county our base and go to the beaches and to providence any particular city I can search for on airbnb?

I checked the dates for the balloon fest and the fair and looks like we will miss those.

I'm from Rhode Island and just moved away last summer. Look up south kingstown, Narragansett and even north kingstown however finding a house rental at this point for the summer will be really tough. You may have better luck with a hotel- holiday inn in south kingstown or Hampton inn. Also small bed and breakfasts throughout the area too.

Misquamicut would be fun with a 4 year old. Big beach, water slides and carnival rides. Adventure land in Narragansett is fun also. Mini golf, bumper boats, carousel, go karts and batting cages.

Roger wheeler beach is fine, just crowded as it's very popular with families as there is little to no waves and a playground right on the beach.

[Anonymous]

Take the ferry to Block Island. Your kid will love it

[Anonymous]

I heard the aquarium in providence was nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard the aquarium in providence was nice.

There is no aquarium is providence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard the aquarium in providence was nice.

There is no aquarium is providence.

Maybe they meant Mystic Aquarium? Nice little aquarium. Mystic is great!