Fun Ideas

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Green Animals Topiary Garden. Preservation Society of Newport County, 380 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871. (401) 847-1000. For all ages. One of the country's oldest topiary gardens with more than 80 sculptured trees and shrubs, many in the shape of animals.

Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration. Discover the amazing creatures that call the Amazon home in Hidden Amazon. Touch a ray in the Ray Touch Pool. Take part in a contact program and get closer to Beluga Whales or African Penguins than you ever thought possible (reservations recommended). Visit exhibits based on Dr. Robert Ballard's expeditions, such as Return to Titanic featuring an incredibly detailed 18 foot model of the RMS Titanic. Accessible. Wheelchairs available, free of charge on a first come, first served basis.

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, RI  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.

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.

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