Just thought I would post some travel ideas for reunion attendies with extra time beyond the bus tours, and who don't want to drift too far away from Providence. Maybe others will have some ideas to post also.....
PROVIDENCE: all within a 1/2 mile walking distance of the hotel:
Art Museum at Rhode Island School of Design: a very highly rated museum from Impressionist to Modern paintings and sculptures, oriental pieces, etc.
Art Museum site:
http://www.risd.edu/museum.html Historic Benefit Street: a mile's worth of some of the finest Colonial era houses in the country including the John Brown house.
A site with some interesting downtown pictures is:
http://www.cs.brown.edu/fun/pps/tour.htm Brown University: Ivy league campus with many historic buildings
The Arcade: The oldest mall in the US built in the mid 1800's
East Bay Bike Path: (a couple miles drive southeast) a 14 mile walking/ bike path along the rivers edge through a couple of parks. Will take you the closest you can get on shore to the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. If you park within the designated lots, you will have to walk a mile and 1/2 to the light. Try parking at the Riverside Library at 3625 Pawtucket Ave. in Riverside. This will get you within 1/4 mile of the light, with the bike path only a block away from the library. They said it is no problem to park there for a little while (just be considerate), may also be some on-street parking available too in the immediate area.
NEWPORT: less than 1 hour south of Providence
The Cliff Walk: Beautiful walking path along the bay high up on the cliffs and in the back yards of the mansions, created when the mansions were built and part of the National Historic Register.
Cliff Walk site:
http://www.newport1.com/cliffwalk The Mansions: There are plenty of famous mansions to tour on the east side including The Breakers (the biggest), Rosecliff (where the ballroom scene from True Lies was shot), and 3 or 4 others. On the west side is Hammersmith Farms to tour, one of the summer whitehouses of the Kennedys
Newport Mansions site:
http://www.newportmansions.org Ocean Drive: Along the south coast is a beautifull driving area with plenty of beaches to stop at. Connects the mansions from the east side over to the Castle Hill Lighthouse area to the west.
Downtown Harbor Area: Tons of nicely constructed shopping plazas along the wharfs with many restaurants and stores, a couple of HL stores, and windjammer harbor cruises. Could easily spend a few hours walking the area.
PLYMOUTH: Less than 1 Hr. to the east
Harbor Area: view Plymouth Rock (getting pretty small these days) and tour the reproduction of The Mayflower, complete with costumed men on board who explain the history, etc.
Trolley Tour: Take the trolley from Plymouth Rock for approx. 1 Hr. tour highlighting the city, you can hop on and off at various areas. Very interesting ride.
Plimouth Plantation: A few miles south of town (also on trolley tour stop). A complete little "pilgrim" town with all the costumed peasants, farmers, blacksmiths, etc. Could spend a few hours here. Great for children.
Plimoth Plantation site:
http://www.plimoth.org Pilgrim Hall Museum: Nice museum dedicated to pilgrim era history & possessions, etc.
Museum site:
http://www.pilgrimhall.org/plgrmhll.htm Downtown:Plenty of quaint little stores, restaurants and historic buildings to blow a few hours shopping in.
Downtown shops site:
http://www.visit-plymouth.com/shops/index.html anyone else with some suggestions?
-RodW
[This message has been edited by Rod Watson.]
