With more than 400 miles of scenic coastline, Rhode Island is the ideal spot for the quintessential family seaside vacation. Adults can relax on long sandy beaches while children build sandcastles in the sun and swim in the clear blue Atlantic Ocean. For an up-close-and-personal look at marine life, several charter companies offer half- and full-day whale watching excursions in search of humpback, finback, right and minke whales, as well as sharks, sea turtles, giant ocean sunfish and pelagic birds.
downtown Providence
With plenty of family fun, a critically acclaimed arts scene, a sophisticated nightlife, and world-class dining options, Providence, Rhode Island makes a great getaway. From parks with rolling green hills to riverwalks with kayaks and gondolas sharing space, there is plenty to catch your eye and keep your attention.
One of the city’s most popular events is WaterFire, a multi-sensory art installation, highlighted by a series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence. Held from May to October, WaterFire has drawn tens of thousands of people in a single evening.
Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do. With more than 430 acres, Roger Williams Park is comprised of waterways, walks, Botanical Center, a Carousel Village, Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, and the park's crown jewel, Roger Williams Park Zoo. In winter months, the Bank of America Skating Center offers ice skating in the heart of the city’s downtown.
From boutiques to department stores, Providence offers ample shopping. Connected to the Rhode Island Convention Center and The Westin Providence, Providence Place offers visitors a mall with more than 170 shopping, dining and entertainment options. Funky urban chic can be found at one of the many boutiques on Thayer and Wickenden streets, both on the city's tony East Side. From the hip downtown neighborhood, to elegant Wayland Square and eclectic Federal Hill, there is lots to see and buy.
History buffs will revel in the city’s rich and varied architecture, which ranges from Colonial to Modern, as well as landmarks such as the first Baptist Church in the United States
historical attractions
Remarkably, America 's smallest state—Rhode Island—is one of the nation's wealthiest repositories of historical attractions, boasting one of the highest concentrations of the country's National Historic Landmarks.
Visitors will discover that Rhode Island has an abundance of Colonial and Victorian homes, palatial estates reminiscent of the gilded age, and public buildings, the nation's first enclosed shopping mall, the first manufacturing plant in America, a delightful 17th-century fishing village, the boyhood home of one of America's finest colonial artists, and two houses of worship which represent the roots of religious freedom in America. Best of all, the state's compact size makes it easy to travel from one historic site to the next—none is more than an hour from any other, and many are within walking distance of each other.
Visit www.visitrhodeisland.com/attractions/index.aspx for historical listings.
performing arts
Rhode Island offers a variety of entertainment venues to suit the most discriminating theater patrons. Rhode Island takes much pride in its theaters from the Tony Award-winning Repertory Company to community productions. Many of the companies are housed in architectural masterpieces that attest to Rhode Island 's grand cultural history. With works from comedy to tragedy, classic to contemporary, it can all be found in the Rhode Island Theater.
Visit www.visitrhodeisland.com/attractions/performingarts.aspx for listings.
boat tours
Rhode Island boat tour providers have been providing harbor tours, sightseeing cruises, sunset cruises, fall foliage cruises, boat charters and private charters for many years. Tour boats are one of the most popular attractions in Rhode Island. Come aboard and you will see some of the most beautiful scenery in all of New England—there is nothing else like it! Even native Rhode Islanders are amazed at the new facts they learn, the sights they see, and oh—the fun they have!
Roger Williams Park & Zoo - http://www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org
Providence, Rhode Island's capital city, is home to Roger Williams Park & Zoo, a veritable playground for the young and young at heart. This beautiful 430-acre Victorian park (1878) is comprised of waterways, walks, outdoor gardens, a Carousel Village, Museum of Natural History and planetarium, and the park's crown jewel, Roger Williams Park Zoo. The Zoo houses 150 different species and over 900 animals. The animals live in exhibits resembling their natural habitats and are grouped geographically—"Plains of Africa" area with elephants, giraffes, cheetah and zebra, a new Tropical rainforest with canopy sky-walk, a Madagascar exhibit, and an Australasia area with an open-air aviary and clouded leopard exhibit. The Carousel Village features a vintage carousel, pony rides, a themed miniature golf course and kiddie go-boats. The Tennis Center has Rhode Island's only clay courts available for public use. The boathouse has paddle-boats and mini-speed boats.
Hasbro Funlab .............................................................................. 401-727-5918 The toy team watches your kids (34 mos to 6 yrs) play with their new inventions. 1027 Newport Ave., Pawtucket
PreSchool Adventures At Roger Williams Park Zoo......401-785-3510 ext. 358 These programs are designed for children 3-5 years of age accompanied by an adult. Each adventure focuses on a special animal or area of the zoo and presents opportunities for adult/child pairs to make discoveries together. Also - Family Adventures - maximum family size is 5.
A Night at the Zoo ........................................................................ 401-785-3510 Special overnights for child (minimum age is 7) and adult pair to experience night time magic at the zoo. Roger Williams Park Zoo
Providence Children's Museum............................................... 401-273-5437 RI's only hands-on museum for children, ages 1-11 and their families. Kids and grown-ups play and learn together in nine exhibit areas, including: LandFULL!, a recycling adventure that features the area's first and only life-size virtual reality game; Water Ways - a wet and wild playscape of fountains and pumps; and TEETH! - an up-close peek at the science behind a smile and much more! Admission is $4.75. Members free. Open Tues - Sun 9:30 - 5:00 year round, Mon. during Summer and School Vacations, Fri - open 'til 8:00 June - Sept. Daily programs offered, call for details. Free parking, wheelchair accessible. www.childrenmuseum.org
100 South St., Providence
The RISD Museum ....................................................................... 401-454-6545 Family workshops for children ages 5-12 and their parents on alternating Sunday afternoons. Workshops relate art that is on exhibit in the museum to hands-on art techniques. FREE with museum admission. Children ages 4-6 must be accompanied by a caregiver. 224 Benefit St., Providence
In Newport County, children will delight in the performances by costumed actors portraying servants and guests at The Astors' Beechwood Mansion, marvel at the adult-size children's playhouse on the grounds of The Breakers Mansion, and may not be able to tear themselves away from the interactive video exhibits in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. They'll also enjoy walking Newport 's famous Cliffwalk or flying a kite at Brenton Point Park. In nearby Portsmouth, Green Animals Topiary Gardens features 80 trees and shrubs sculpted into geometrical forms and animal shapes—everything from a giraffe to a teddy bear!
Treat youngsters—and yourself—to a tour of Casey Farm (c. 1750) in Saunderstown or Coggeshall Farm (c. 1790) in Bristol, two authentic historical working farms. Both feature livestock and tours of historic farm buildings; Casey Farm was the site of Revolutionary War activity. To learn even more about rural life in the 18th and 19th centuries, visit South County Museum in Narragansett.
Watch Hill, a resort enclave in Westerly, is home to the Flying Horse Carousel, believed to be the nation's oldest (c. 1867). Two fine examples of carousels by Charles I.D. Looff can be found at Slater Park Carousel in Pawtucket and Crescent Park Carousel in East Providence. The Slater Park Carousel (1894) is said to be the fastest of the Looff carousels, while Crescent Park Carousel (1895) is considered a museum of Looff 's work.
National Park Highlights
Roger Williams National Memorial - http://www.nps.gov/rowi/
The Roger WIlliams National Memorial commemorates the life of the founder of Rhode Island and a champion of the ideal of religious freedom. Williams, banished from Massachusetts for his beliefs, founded Providence in 1636. This colony served as a refuge where all could come to worship as their conscience dictated without interference from the state. The Memorial is located on a common lot of the original settlement of Providence and includes 4.5 acres of landscaped park. 282 North Main Street, Providence
The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor
The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a special type of national park. It is a region of nearly 400,000 acres located within Worcester County in central Massachusetts and Providence County in northern Rhode Island. The National Corridor was designated by an Act of Congress on November 10, 1986 to preserve and interpret for present and future generations the unique and significant value of the Blackstone Valley.
Save the Bay’s Explore The Bay Programs.......................... 272-3540, ext 133 See seals sunning themselves. Kayak quiet coves. Trawl for marine life. Learn where ice cream really comes from. Meet Eelgrass Man. Visit the Narragansett BayStation, and more. www.savebay.org/explorethebay
Beadworks .................................................................................... 401-861-4540 Everything you need to make very cool bead jewelry. Lots of fun for everyone (especially on rainy days)! 290 Thayer St., Providence
The Museum of Natural History's Cormack Planetarium .. 401-785-9457 Regular shows every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 and 3 p.m. A wonderful adventure...see more stars than possible from anywhere on Earth! Children 4 and under are not permitted into the Planetarium. Admission: General $3, Children under 8 $2. www.OSFN.org/museumRoger Williams Park, Providence
Heritage Harbor Museum........................................................... 401-751-7979
Coming soon! ... Heritage Harbor Museum consists of 19 historical & cultural organizations who are renovating a former power plant on the Providence River to become Rhode Island's statewide history and cultural center. Heritage Harbor is the 1st New England affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and will feature over 250,000 sq. feet of exhibit, collections, office, library & community space. www.heritageharbor.org
Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum ................................ 401-453-0688 The Lippitt House is an 1865 Renaissance Revival Mansion. The house is a blend of traditional architectural forms and a high-style Victorian decorative scheme. View by appt. Adults $5, seniors & students $4. 199 Hope St., Providence
Holocaust Memorial Museum & Garden ............................... 401-453-7860 The Holocaust Museum is an educational resource center which focuses on community outreach. There is a library of books & tapes available to the public, as well as the Memorial Garden. Please call for an appointment or to find out about guest speakers, special films, programs, or membership. Jewish Community Center of RI, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence
The Johnson and Wales Culinary Archives and Museum.. 401-598-2805 This unique museum has something for every appetite to savor, from a dinner invitation from Thomas Jefferson to a bread ring from Pompeii. Closed Sun. Open Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat. 10-4. Admission: Adults $5, seniors $4, students $2. Group rates. 315 Harborside Blvd., Providence
The Museum of Natural History & Planetarium ................... 401-785-9457 Open year-round, 7 days a week, 10-5pm. Admission: General $2, Children (8 and under) $1, Planetarium shows: General $3, Children (8 and under) $2.
Roger Williams Pk, Elmwood Ave., Providence
Museum of Work and Culture................................................... 401-769-WORK Traces the story of mill workers who came from the farms of Quebec in the last third of the 19th century to work in the shoe and textile factories of New England. Open daily. Admission: Adults $5, seniors/students $3, free for kids under 10. 42 South Main St., Woonsocket
RISD Museum of Art.................................................................... 401-454-6500 Ongoing, larger-than-life exhibits appeal to kids of all ages. Free-for-all Saturdays (the last Saturday of the month during the school year) offer special activities for kids. 224 Benefit Street, Providence
Russian Sub Museum................................................................. 401-640-3333 Dive into history aboard Juliett 484, the former Soviet nuclear cruise missile sub that roamed the seas for 30 years as one of America's deadliest enemies. Children 6-17 $5, Adults 18-64 $8, Seniors & Active Military $6. Infants, toddlers and children under 6 are not allowed. www.saratogamuseum.orgCollier Point Park, Providence
Slater Mill Historic Site ............................................................... 401-725-8638 "The Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution," a historic landmark housing textile machinery, a theater, and classrooms. The site includes the Sylvanus Brown House (c.1758) and the Wilkinson Mill (c.1818) that houses an eight-ton water wheel and a 19th-century machine shop. Admission: Adults $8, Children (6 - 12) $6, Seniors (65 and older) $7. Under 6 free. Handicapped accessible.
E-mail: samslater@aol.com67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket
Battleship Massachusetts........................................508-678-1100 / 800-533-3194 Conveniently located in Fall River off I-195 exit 5, Battleship Cove harbors the world's largest collection of historic naval vessels. Explore five national historic landmarks: Battleship Massachusetts, Destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Sub-marine Lionfish, and the only restored PT Boats on display in the world, and then climb on board the world's only publicly exhibited Soviet-built missile corvette, the Hiddensee. Complemented by neighboring attractions like the Fall River Carousel, the Old Colony Railroad Museum, the Marine Museum of Fall River, and Heritage State Park. Open daily, year round, from 9-5. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Admission: $10 Adults, $8 Seniors, Children (6-14) $5. Under 6 free. www.battleshipcove.comBattleship Cove, Fall River, MA
Download the Registration Brochure and mail in your registration.
Accommodations are available at a reduced
rate for Seminar registrants at The Westin Providence. For reservations call
800-WESTIN-1 (800-937-8461) and mention
“La Leche League 2008 Physicians’ Seminar”
or make your room reservation online by
clicking the link above. The group rate is available until August 5 - EXTENDED DATE.
We recommend making your hotel reservations early since there is a WaterFire festival this weekend and the hotel may fill up!
Providence, Rhode Island seamlessly blends
the urban sophistication of a big city with the graceful charm of a small town. Sightseers leisurely glide in gondolas on the Providence River past gleaming office buildings. Cobblestone streets lead to some of the finest restaurants in the country. This unique mix entices thousands of visitors annually. Check out photos, fun things to do for the whole family, and more ...
Download the Registration Brochure and mail in your registration.
