Fun Ideas

Libraries

Despite all of the information available on the Internet, public libraries remain popular and dynamic places with activities for the whole family. The best place to start your research about libraries is at the web site maintained by the state's Office of Library and Information Services. If your community library has a web site, you'll find a link to it there. Plus, you'll find links to college and university libraries and some libraries operated by schools. You'll learn about the cooperating libraries automated network (CLAN), which will give you access to the 4.1 million items owned by the 48 member libraries. You'll also learn about Talking Books Plus, a regional library for people who have a vision impairment or a physical disability. It lends special reading material and specially designed equipment free of charge. It also has 30,000 popular novels, magazines and books on cassettes that can be mailed postage free to those who qualify.

Coming to a library near you this summer
The Office os State Library Services sponsors a summer reading program that includes entertainment and learning experiences at local libraries. Here is a list of the 2010 artists. Check here for the 2011 schedule when OLIS posts it.

Parades
There are parades in Rhode Island communities big and small. Two of the most popular are the Gaspee Day Parade and the nation's oldest 4th of July event in Bristol.

Petting Zoos
Want to pat a pot-bellied pig or befriend a bunny? Petting zoos, many of them on multi-generation family farms, offer the best kind of hands-on experience. You can visit a petting zoo like the one at Chepachet Farm and Carriage Works. Or, experience one that is set up at a school, birthday party or library like Animal Affair, New England's premier traveling petting zoo, available for any occasion, year round, rain or shine, inside or out.

Fireworks
Many towns and cities feature fireworks on or around the Fourth of July. A number of these can be seen from town parks, beaches, and, in some cases, from strategically parked vans.

Organize a special event
The Providence Journal's guide to children's birthday parties at home or in the community features nearly 200 party and recreation options, divided into two sections. The first is a list of places that can organize birthday parties and other recreation opportunities. The second is a list of entertainers you can hire and games you can rent for a party at home or other location. Some wonderful ideas for groups or individuals even though it has'nt been updated since 2005.

On Line Resources
Whether you spend a couple of hours or an entire day, there are unique, family-friendly, cultural and just plain fun attractions and events in Rhode Island communities throughout the year. The Rhode Island Tourism Council lists hundreds of these activities by date in an easy to use data base.

Kidoinfo.com is a web guide for parents and kids brimming with information, creative ideas, things to do, places to go and links to family resources.

Rhode Island Family Guide.com. Provides lots of information about all the great things families can do together. There's information on travel, food, crafts, parties, holidays, games, activities, and products - all the essentials that enrich the important time parents and children share.

Some Specifics
Carousels. Great idea for a birthday party or just a family fun outing.

Biomes Marine Biology Center. Live animal educational programs (shark petting, tide pool tanks, reptile demonstrations, touch live sea creatures) for families, scouts, school groups, day care centers, and birthday parties. Winner of the Rhode Island Monthly Magazine's 2003 "Best Birthday Party" and winner of The Rhode Island Parent's Paper award for "Best Animal Encounter". Normally by appointment. Public walk in hours are Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm.

Newport Butterfly Zoo. 409 Bulgarmarsh Road, Tiverton. 401-849-9519. During the warm-weather months, visitors are free to explore the zoo independently or with a guide, who will point out the species of butterflies that are in the greenhouse that day. The zoo has up to 30 species, including many from Africa, Malaysia, South America, Thailand, New Guinea, Costa Rica, and the Philippines. Butterflies are most active on warm and sunny days with little wind. Bring a camera and wear brightly colored clothing. Closed on cloudy days. Call ahead for hours.

Animal Experiences Hands on educational fun. Whether you are looking for birthday party entertainment, school, scout, camp, YMCA or library program, Animal Experiences offers a low key, no pressure adventure for children and adults. The programs typically last an hour with a presentation portion followed by a hands-on session where the audience gets to handle turtles, snakes, lizards, amphibians, an alligator and some small mammals.

Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration. Your visit to Mystic Aquarium will get you as close as possible to ocean animals as you reach in and touch a ray or take part in a special ray feeding program. Go beak to nose with an African penguin, get eye to eye with an alligator and feel the splash of a beluga whale. See the stars of the sea lion show in the Marine Theater. Welcomes people with disabilities.

Wright's Dairy Farm. A real, working dairy farm where you can see 120 Holsteins milked daily between 3:00 and 5:00 pm. Enjoy Fresh ice cream, milk, whipped cream desserts from the farm and on-premises bakery. Tours may be available.

Seven Bs. An 80 foot custom fishing yacht. 11 Riptide Rd., Narragansett, RIÊ 02882. (401) 789-9250. Enjoy some of the best fishing the east coast has to offer. Provides everything you need including rods, reels, bait, and tackle. The Seven Bs' salon has a full galley, serving breakfast and lunch. Or, you are more than welcome to bring a picnic lunch and beverage on board. Operates from May 15 through October. Has a capacity for 120 persons. Offers variety of special excursions and programs for groups.

Waterparks appeal to families who want safe, quality recreation, offering a fun alternative to the ocean, rivers, lakes and even swimming pools. Take a break from the heat this summer by visiting Water Wizz, located right across the street from the Misquamicut State Beach on Atlantic Ave. in Westerly or Yawgoo Valley Water Park, 160 Yawgoo Valley Rd in Exeter.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. Don't miss this museum if you're in eastern Connecticut. Very accessible, kid friendly. Interactive with short movies, touch-screen video tours, and lots of then versus now comparisons and archaeology. The "village" is a must-see, one-of-a-kind. The Museum and Research Center breaks new ground in accessibility.

New England Aquarium. An immense variety of watery worlds housing hundreds of different species, a colorful tapestry of fish, rays, turtles, and sharks gliding gracefully through the 200,000 gallons of water that make up a giant coral reef. And there are penguins, seals and sea otters, each with their own habitat exhibit where they swim and play. You can also stick your hands in replicated tide pools to closely examine the creatures, like crabs, starfish and sea urchins. Special rates for seniors, children and groups over 20. Accessible, tactile exhibits, guide dogs permitted, signed interpreter available.

Pawtucket Red Sox. Pawsox programs include a special birthday party package (minimum 8 children, 2 adults). The birthday child receives a disposable camera to take pictures of the group at the stadium. His or her name will be announced during the game and displayed on the message board. Each party goer receives a hot dog, cold drink & a bag of chips, a free cup of Brigham's Premium Ice Cream and a PawSox gift bag.

Providence Children's Museum. An active place where kids and grown ups play and learn together. Presents hands-on exhibit areas and lively programs designed for children ages one to 11 that explore the arts, culture, history and science. Exhibits and programs are based on the developmental needs of children and embrace a wide range of learning styles and forms of expression.

Roger Williams Park Zoo. Forty-acres with more than 100 species of animals in their natural environment. Indoor exhibits, gift shops, restaurants, family-oriented animal exhibits, educational programs, and special events year round. Birthday parties for 10 to 30 people.

Quonset Air Museum.Located at Hanger 488 on Eccleston Ave. on the former Quonset Point Naval Air Station in North Kingstown. A place where you can see and touch actual flown-in-battle airplanes that helped make our military the best in the world!

Audubon Society of RI Environmental Education Center. Rhode Island's largest aquarium is situated on a 28-acre wildlife refuge. It features a life size model of a Right Whale, a Harbor Seal display, marine and freshwater aquarium exhibits, a tide pool tank, and gift shop. Boardwalk to Narragansett Bay is wheelchair accessible.

The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a special type of national park which includes nearly 400,000 acres located within Worcester County in central Massachusetts and Providence County in northern Rhode Island. The diversity of activities available throughout the Blackstone Valley include auto touring, backpacking, biking, bird watching, boating, camping, cross country skiing, fishing, hiking, hunting, interpretive programs, kayaking, mountaineering, nature walks, snowshoeing, stargazing, swimming, and wildlife viewing.