The Crescent Park Looff Carousel is a historic carousel that opened in Riverside, East Providence,…read moreRhode Island in 1895. It was built by Danish immigrant Charles I. D. Looff. He was born as Carl Jürgen Detlef Looff in Bad Bramstedt, Holstein (now Germany) in 1852. After immigrating to the United States in 1870 at the age of 18, Looff settled in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and found work as a carver for a furniture factory. He began a hobby of taking home leftover wood scraps from the factory and carving them into carousel animals. He created his first carousel in 1876 and it became Coney Island's first carousel and amusement ride. Looff soon opened his own carousel factory in Brooklyn and continued to build more of the rides. In 1886, Looff was commissioned to build a carousel for Crescent Park (known as "the Coney Island of the East") in Rhode Island. In 1895, he moved his family there and established a new headquarters. He built a second, larger and more elaborate carousel for the amusement park. He also built an adjoining workshop and showroom for prospective buyers. Looff relocated to California in 1910 so he could build carousels for amusement parks on the West Coast. He passed away in 1918 after building close to 50 carousels. Looff is regarded as one of the most important and influential carousel builders of all time. Crescent Park was damaged by the 1938 New England Hurricane. Repairs were made, but the park permanently closed in 1977 with most of the rides being sold at auction. The Looff Carousel was saved and was declared a National Historic Landmark. It has undergone a number of restorations over the years. The platform features 61 horses, a camel, two single dragon coaches and two double chariots. It is one of the last surviving carousels to still be standing in its original location with all of the original components. Today the carousel is open from June through October. It operates on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm - 6pm. Rides cost $2. My family and I recently visited the Crescent Park Looff Carousel. My wife and I have been carousel enthusiasts since we visited the New England Carousel Museum a few years ago. We had heard that the carousel in Riverside was one of the best historic carousels that was still left. This carousel is absolutely beautiful! You can tell that all of the horses were carved by a master craftsman. We also really liked that this one is one of the few that still features a brass ring device. A wooden arm dispenses iron rings that carousel riders try to grab as they pass by. If a rider gets a 'brass ring', then they win a free ride. This whole concept adds a fun competitive element to the ride. As an added bonus, riders can throw them into the cut-out mouth of a clown face painted on a large canvas. We had so much fun riding the Crescent Park Looff Carousel. Our only complaint is that the band organ wasn't operating during our visit. Aside from that, we think that it is probably the BEST carousel that we have ever visited! We hope to return again and again!

Atmosphere was fine but service and price wasn't great. It made me pretty sad and my friend wasn't…read morevery happy.

Came here for an event on Saturday and it was initially pretty empty but it did get very crowded…read morequickly. You can tell people definitely take this skating thing serious. Felt like I was in the movie ATL and fighting for my life in here, will NOT be back. I've skated before but I am no pro and I will admit that, but I didn't know I was in the damn derby! There were people literally skating within centimeters of you on purpose to try and make you fall. Not to mention it was rather hot in there and peoples wind wasn't smelling too fresh. (If you can't skate, I don't suggest taking a bathroom break with your skates on because, well yeah, use your imagination. Not to mention the floor is slippery as all hell in there) There was not anyone behind the snack bar for quite some time and then when she did come over, it was like she was under too much pressure. (Not sure how, the oven wasn't even working) so we could only get drinks (Luckily we brought our own skates because the way those people were sweating and smelling, no thank you) If YOU CAN skate && I mean SKATE SKATE (you know I mean business because I said it twice) then definitely give it a try. It's not a beginner friendly rink by any means. (No bars to hold on to or any order at all) There was an older woman and man in there getting their money honey, right in the middle of the rink. Worked them up a great old sweat and then sat on them chairs people were sitting to eat. Also (sign the waiver before you go to avoid waiting even longer)

This place is great! The bars they have for inexperienced skaters to push around are super helpful…read more Food was good, staff were excellent!

Another spectacular visit to the Paragon Carousel. Still a wonderful summertime tradition. For…read moreeveryone young and old alike.

Maybe the horses (all named and either perpetually or seasonally "adoptable") are cracked for wear,…read moreshowing signs of their 90-year-old senior citizen status. Maybe they don't have the admittedly flashy variety of animalia found in newer carousels. Looking at you, grasshoppers and ostriches of the Greenway. Maybe they don't have the bronze rings of Oak Bluff's game. And luckily, that means you don't have jammed fingers or hyperextension pains. Maybe that'll have you proclaiming, "No gimmicks? It's not worth the $3 fee!" But these maybes just make you a fuddy-duddy. This covered delight is five minutes of innocent fun that'll put a priceless grin on your two (or 22) year old. Extra love for charging only a single admission when the parent has to stand with their kid. Safety first!

Harkening back to the days when children roamed the lush green fields on less than tame ponies,…read morethis is a throwback to a fond yesteryear. One in which young people played hopscotch in the streets and raced bikes in the neighborhoods. As you climb on to this majestic historical artifact, you find yourself transported to a much happier place where one had little to worry about other than the distant thought of losing a tooth when the tooth fairy was on vacation. Yes, my friends, princesses may have turned into queens and coachmen may have retired into the heavens, but just for a moment and a mere $3, you too can relive those times in a desolate village called Marlborough in a modern twist on classical Renaissance folklore, where electric horses spin to the tune of carnival style calliopes.

The carousel is wonderful. Would be very helpful if they…read morewere more trash and recycle bins. There are bins near the entryway to the carousel. On the opposite side, where there are tables where people could enjoy food, there aren't bins close by or within view. In addition, there was an ice cream spill near the tables on Saturday. The spill was still in the same place Sunday. Hopefully today's rain will wash the spill away. If there can be some attention and care to the entire area of the carousel, that would be so helpful for All visiting the carousel on the Greenway.

The prettiest carousel! The staff at the ticket booth are really nice. $4 a ride and parents ride…read morefree for kids under 42 inches. I have never seen a carousel with such cute animals. This is also a newer one too so the seats are really new.

It's a great place for some summer heat relief. The pond is about 6 inches deep, maybe more but…read moreless than 12 inches. It's big. A playground is at one end while the merry go round is at the other. The restrooms in between the two. I saw that the center spout sprays out water but it didn't do that while we were there. If your with kids remember to bring some dry clothes.

I wasn't too impressed with this carousel during my recent trip to Boston. My 2yo daughter usually…read moreenjoys carousel rides, but this one made her cry. The horses could use some WD-40. I think I would skip coming here next time I am in Boston.

I know I have reviewed this place already but I went yesterday to check out the new garden feature…read morethat opened. What a creative beautiful spot. The building was filled with happy people. I grabbed a delicious coffee and found interest in signs from the original Lincoln Park that were displayed throughout the promenade space surrounding the carousel. I was flooded with memories of spending summers and my birthday at the park each year. I highly suggest checking this beautiful place out, grab your summer plants and succulents, take a ride on the historic carousel or just sit and watch the views. I love this place! The new occupants of the building have done an impressive job updating and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. You can tell they have a love of historical things! Cannot wait to spend their first anniversary with them on 4th of July!

I had such a wonderful experience! The capsule was decorated beautifully for the holiday. The…read moredownstairs cafe and bookshop was amazing. I enjoyed the food and drink very much. I would certainly come again.

The Greenway is such a breath of fresh air. So crazy how the highway used to be in its place. There…read moreis quite a bit to look at while walking - pop up art pieces all along the way, beautiful trees, and even some wildlife - mostly birds and rabbits, but every now and again, I'll see a turkey. Toward the North End, there's a carousel and often there is at least one food truck - usually a sweet treat. Luke's lobster is nearby the carousel too. During the summer, they have an artisan market and even some food trucks. There aren't any bathrooms but right across the street - Atlantic, there are a few options--the Marriott at Long wharf, Boston Harbor Hotel, and the Intercontinental.

A beautiful park in the middle of one side of the city. A great place for pictures. It had a…read morecarousel and a rose garden in the center. The rose garden was not very big. It was nice. It was an area fenced in. It had benches inside, and it smelled wonderful. Right at the entrance of the garden, a round fountain stood. To the sides, two large walk-in canopies were surrounded by green. The park was nice. I liked my time there. It was a family-friendly place.