The Norman Bird Sanctuary is the perfect venue in Newport for bird watching, hiking and family outings. Located just beyond Newport's Third Beach, the park blends ponds and woodlands with ocean breezes and sandy terrain. Trail maps and public restrooms are available at the entrance to the park, along with ample parking spaces. There are over seven miles of trails, allowing visitors to bird watch from designated posts or enjoy views of the sea from the rocks and hills.
Inhabiting the southeasternmost tip of Middletown in the state of Rhode Island, the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is a series of diverse wetlands that covers an area of 242 acres (97.93 hectares). Its serene shorelines, elegant mansions and verdant promontories allure tens of thousands of visitors every year, making it one of the most-frequented attractions in Newport County. Passing sailboats and a beautiful view of the Newport mansions can be seen along the shoreline of this lovely park.
Third Beach is not an oceanfront beach; it faces Narragansett Bay. Small and quiet, this beach is popular with families. The surf is calm, making it easy to play in the water. Bath houses and facilities for changing are available, but parking is limited. Bird watchers may also catch a glimpse of favorite species from a nearby bird sanctuary. Sunsets are lovely to watch from this eastern section of the beach, making this a great spot to end a beach day.
The Providence Athenaeum is one of America's oldest member-supported libraries, and it has functioned as such since 1753 (although the present structure was built in 1838). According to a 19th-century legend, the poet Edgar Allen Poe courted Sarah Whitman in the stacks of this granite Greek Revival building. Some of the collections include documents and books from the original Providence Library, rare editions from the likes of Louisa May Alcott, Herman Melville and other American authors, along with the Robert Burns collection, which has more than 400 items. Today, the Athenaeum hosts events round the year focusing on education for both adults as well as children.
Riverwalk & Waterplace Park is pegged against the confluence of the Woonasquatucket and Providence rivers in a little corner of downtown Providence. It's best known for its WaterFire events, which are mini-bonfires that bob atop the water to the beat of world and classical music. The city revitalized the entire area in 1994 and the walk makes an otherwise droll stroll into a pleasant one when walking to College Hill over the Washington Street bridge. The park's bridges are fashioned after those classical ones in Venice, and it's not uncommon to see gondoliers gliding under them.
The Providence Performing Arts Center is the second largest theater in New England. It seats 3200 people and it originally opened as a Loew's movie theater in 1928. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places after its 1977 renovation. In this baroquely elegant space, the stage is set for Broadway musicals and concerts. Events as diverse as a Jackson Browne concert or The Sound of Music can be found on this venerable establishment's schedule. Located downtown on Weybosset Street, PPAC (pronounced Pea-Pac, as it is known locally) is close to many downtown hotels as well as other attractions.
Discover the type and style architecture that was followed in the 17th Century by visiting the Clemence–Irons House. The house was built in the year 1691 by Richard Clemence and passed on to a number of owners before finally coming under the ownership of the Historic New England Society. The house was restored to its original stone structure in order to make the public understand about stone houses in an earlier century and was listed on the U.S National Register of Historic Places in the year 1973.
Barrington Preservation Society was inaugurated in 1885 and aims at portraying the history of the town of Barrington. They collect, organize and present documents, collectibles and other data which portrays the rich history and culture of the town. The museum has on display various photographs and official documents dating back to as far 1700's which describes the life and development the town underwent over the ages.
Clouds Hill; located in Warwick, RI was built in the year 1877 and is one of the last existing large scale residential buildings built during the 18th century. The house shows prominent Gothic Revival architecture and has Egyptian themed rooms and Victorian Era designs. Currently the house has been converted into a historic house museum in 2004 and was registered under the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.