There are many reasons Rhode Island is worth visiting during winter. Besides being an opportunity to learn some interesting history, winter in Rhode Island is also an opportunity to enjoy a wide range of winter adventures such as holiday events, skiing, ice skating, dog sledding, and more. Without further ado, here are some activities to do in Rhode Island for an unforgettable winter vacation.
10 Attend Newport Winter Festival
Newport Winter Festival is an annual winter event in Rhode Island that invites visitors to an atmosphere of music and winter adventures. Throughout the event, visitors will be entertained with winter activities such as - snowmobiling, ice skating, and sledding. There will also be a couple of contests and fireworks to spice up the event. Newport Winter Festival is family-friendly, and plenty of activities are available for children. The next date for the event if February 17 - 26, 2023, and the festival website is available for more information.
9 Go Cross Country Skiing At Pulaski State Park
Pulaski State Park is a great place to enjoy outdoor adventures all year round. During winter, however, this park opens up opportunities for a wide range of activities. Cross-country is particularly one activity that’s enjoyable here during winter, and there are plenty of groomed trails that will give visitors the best experience.
8 Go Shopping For The Holidays
Shopping in Rhode Island is exciting, especially during winter. In many parts of the state, one will find several malls and shopping centers that offer a wide variety of products, from artwork to packaged food. For some shopping ideas, head over to Providence Art Club to get some original artwork or go to Aardvark Antiques to purchase some vintage antiques.
7 Experience The Thrills Of Sledding
Sledding in Rhode Island is fun and exciting as the state receives an abundance of snow and has plenty of hills where the activity can be done. The Big River Desert is perhaps the most popular place to enjoy this activity in Rhode Island. Here, the snow mixes with the dunes, and when that is combined with the vast area, the sledding becomes more exciting. Besides the Big River Desert, other places one can enjoy amazing sledding in Rhode Island include - Colt State Park, Diamond Hill park, and Roger Williams Park.
6 Enjoy Outdoor Winter Adventures At Yawgoo Valley Ski Area
Yawgoo Valley Ski Area is the best place in Rhode Island to enjoy winter adventures. Being the only ski resort in the state, this resort ensures that it provides the stage for a wide range of activities to get adventurers satisfied. Here, one will enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. With up to four ski lifts, several ski trails for all ski levels, and great snow, every moment spent here promises to be memorable.
5 Relax At A Spa
After engaging in all the exciting winter activities, it is a cool thing for visitors to be able to relax and let a professional treat them to some amazing spa services. In Rhode Island, there are many stand-alone spas that one can visit individually, but for a more enjoyable experience, one can simply book a hotel that has a spa. Some hotels with this offering in Rhode Island are Ocean House and Gurney's Newport Resort & Marin.
4 Enjoy a Fun Time With Family At Carousel Village
Carousel village is a family-friendly indoor attraction in Roger William Park where several rides, including carousel and train rides, are offered to children and adults. The village also features a party area which is a great place to just hang out with friends and family and enjoy some fun time. Visitors heading to these destinations during the holidays will also be met with dazzling decorations that make the whole experience more exciting.
3 Explore Roger Williams Park Zoo And The Botanical Center
Less than a mile from Carousel Village is the Roger Williams Park Zoo, where one can see some interesting wildlife. The zoo is also part of Roger Williams Park, and it has more than a hundred animal species, some of which include giraffes, elephants, komodo, sloths, and more. Visitors are often encouraged to feed some of these animals, and this makes the experience here more memorable. After exploring the zoo, one can also check out the Roger William Park Botanical Center to see some interesting varieties of plants.
2 Go Ice Skating
Ice skating is an exciting thing to do in Rhode Island, and there are many places to do this in the state. The Providence Rink, located in the Kennedy Plaza, is a great place to begin, as it is one of the best outdoor rinks in the US. Others around the state worth checking out include - Newport Skating Center in New Port and Boss Ice Arena in Kingstown.
1 Learn History At Museums In Rhode Island
Rhode Island is a state full of history, and there’s no better way to learn about this history than by visiting a museum. Museums in this state are not just focused on national and state history but also on different things, including automobiles, art, tennis, and science. The National Museum of American Illustration, which is located in Newport, is one worth visiting as it is perhaps the best place in the state to learn about American history. For something different, check out the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium in Providence for some natural history or the Herreshoff Marine Museum for some boating and sailing history.