100 Things to Do in Rhode Island Before You Die

by Robert Curley

Overview

From sunrise in the shadow of the Beavertail lighthouse to sunset on the deck of the Coast Guard House, 100 Things to Do in Rhode Island Before You Die will fill your days with experiences of a lifetime in the Ocean State. Fuel up for adventure with “only in Rhode Island” treats like Del’s lemonade, coffee “cabinets,” and New York System Wieners, then set course for a 12-meter yacht sail on Narragansett Bay, a day trip to Block Island to collect glass orbs and scale the Mohegan Bluffs, and a walk on the wild side of historic Newport’s Cliff Walk.

You’ll meet polo ponies, harbor seals, and some leafy green animals by day, and fill your nights with the sounds of live music at the Ocean Mist beach bar and the Rhythm and Roots festival and take in the sights (and smells) of Providence’s Waterfire.

Author Robert Curley has always lived within hailing distance of the sea, moving from his native Long Island to Rhode Island more than two decades ago and quickly falling in love with the quirky character and rich history of his adopted home. His carefully curated attractions and itineraries are your personal “Rhode Trip” for creating big memories in the littlest state.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681062112
Publisher:	Reedy press, LLC.
Publication date:	09/01/2019
Series:	100 Things to Do Before You Die
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	998,296
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Robert Curley is a freelance travel writer and guidebook author who has written extensively about his current home state of Rhode Island. His work has appeared in hundreds of print and online publications, including Rhode Island Monthly, Providence Monthly, Newport Life, Coastal Living, AFAR, USA Today, and Four Seasons magazine. When he’s not off exploring, he lives in a lakeside cottage with his wife, dog, cat, and several very large raccoons.

Table of Contents

Preface xii

Acknowledgments xiii

Food and Drink

1 Stuff Yourself Silly at the Nordic 2

2 Delight in Greasy Goodness at Ye Olde English Fish & Chips 3

3 Attend a May Breakfast 4

4 Eat a Hot Lobster Roll (or Two) at the Easton's Beach Snack Bar 6

5 Feast on Italian Food on Federal Hill 8

6 Tap into Your Sweet Side at the Spring Hill Sugar House 9

7 Take a Country Drive for Ice Cream at Gray's 10

8 Get Spirited at Sons of Liberty 12

9 Drink a Cabinet at Delekta Pharmacy 13

10 Punch Your Passport on the Rhode Island Brewery Trail 14

11 Savor the Flavor of Hartley's Original Pork Pies 16

12 Try Some Stripped-Down Bakery Pizza 17

13 Invade the Hotel Viking Rooftop for Drinks and Dining 18

14 Get Wild at Paddy's in Westerly 20

15 Eat Pasta and Gravy at Mike's Kitchen 22

16 Make a Late-Night Stop for New York System Wieners 24

17 Go Fish at Aunt Carrie's 25

18 Toast the Sunset on the Coast Guard House Deck 26

19 Drink In Summer on the Castle Hill Inn's Lawn 27

20 Get Into a Grilled Pizza at Al Forno 28

21 Take Your Flock to Wright's Farm 30

22 Dress Up for Brunch at the Ocean House 31

23 Enjoy Burgers, Bands, and Bocce at the Rathskeller 32

24 Eat the Hole Thing at Allie's Donuts 34

25 Go to Shell at Matunuck Oyster Bar 36

26 Drink a Del's on the Beach 37

Music and Entertainment

27 Sea a Band Play at the Ocean Mist 40

28 Attend the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals 42

29 Make a Comedy Connection in East Providence 43

30 Party with a Yachty in the Boom Boom Room 44

31 Make a Haunted Visit to the Zoo 46

32 Hit the Block for Summer Concerts at Ballard's 47

33 Do a Double Feature at the Drive-in 48

34 Tune In to Live Music at the Greenwich Odeum 50

Sports and Recreation

35 Saddle Up for Newport Polo 54

36 Spot a Snowy Owl at Sachuest Point 55

37 Catch a Game at Cardines Field 56

38 Go Surfing on Narragansett Beach 58

39 Gallop in the Surf on Block Island 59

40 Tour the East Bay by Pedal Power 60

41 Bike the Block 62

42 Play Keeper at the Rose Island Lighthouse 64

43 Go Karting in Lincoln 66

44 Dive with Sharks off the Rhode Island Coast 67

45 Greet the Day at Beavertail State Park 68

46 See the Seals of Narragansett Bay 69

47 Round Up a Glass Orb on Block Island 70

48 Get Rugged on the Newport Cliff Walk 72

49 Prepare for Awe on the Trestle Trail 73

50 Beach It at the Mohegan Bluffs 74

51 Scope Out Some Stars at Ninigret Park 76

52 Chart a Course for Prudence Island 78

53 Roar with the Crowd at a Providence Bruins Game 80

54 Take a Snowy Slide at Yawgoo Valley Ski Area 82

55 Skydive over Newport 99

56 Kayak the Narrow River 100

57 Skate in Kennedy Plaza 102

58 Step Out to Rhode Island's Best Waterfall 103

59 Fish for Stripers on Narragansett Bay 104

60 Play and Stay at the Maxwell Mays Preserve 106

61 Climb Neutaconkanut Hill 107

62 Join a Summer Float Party on Narragansett Bay 108

63 Learn to Jib and Tack at Sail Newport 110

64 Camp on the Sand at East Beach 112

65 Fly a Kite at Brenton Point 113

66 Take the Waters at the Bodhi Spa 114

67 Net Some Great Tennis Action at the Newport Hall of Fame Tournament 116

68 Sail a 12 Metre Yacht in Newport Harbor 118

69 Go Quahogging and Rake In Your Dinner 119

Culture and History

70 Stock Up on Musicals at Theatre By The Sea 122

71 Connect with Culture at the Providence Art Club 123

72 Light Up the Night at WaterFire 124

73 Have a Garden Party at Blithewold 126

74 Get Festive at Rhythm & Roots 127

75 Toast a Patriot at Gaspee Days in Pawtuxet 128

76 Get Scrooged at Trinity Rep's A Christmas Carol 130

77 Have an Ancient and Horrible Day in Chepachet 132

78 Meet the Green Animals 134

79 Wave the Flag at Bristol's Fourth of July Parade 135

80 Find Your Country Soul at the Washington County Fair 136

81 Grab the Brass Ring at the Crescent Park Carousel 138

82 Park Yourself in Westerly for Live Shakespeare 139

83 Explore the Ruins at Fort Wetherill 140

84 See the Torah at Touro Synagogue 142

85 Enjoy Tours and Tunes at Fort Adams 143

86 Fall in Lovecraft with Providence's Master of Literary Horror 144

87 Stroll (or Jog) through the Swan Point Cemetery 146

88 Celebrate Christmas at the Mansions 147

89 Experience Gemütlichkeit at the German American Cultural Society 148

90 Catch a Flick at the Avon Cinema 150

91 Spring into the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Newport 151

92 Learn about the Industrial Revolution at Slater Mill 152

93 Honor Native Culture at the Charlestown Powwow 154

94 Get the First Gift of Christmas on the Polar Express 155

Shopping and Fashion

95 Curl Up with a Good Book at the Savoy 158

96 Pick Apples at Jaswell's Farm 160

97 Commune with Artists at the Fantastic Umbrella Factory 162

98 Say How Now, Cow at Wright's Dairy Farm & Bakery 164

99 Pick Up Some Treasures at the Wickford Art Festival 165

100 Experience Sensory Overload in Warren's Imagine Gift Store 166

Suggested Itineraries 169

Activities by Season 172

Index 174