This is a beautiful marble dome and building in the Capitol Hill section of Providence…read more Many state offices are housed here such as the Governor's, Treasurer, House of Representatives, Senators, etc. They offer guided tours a few times a day (usually from 10a-3pm on weekdays) but you can also follow a self guided tour program and enjoy the inside of the building.

This was quite lovely and parking was easy to find, but I wouldn't place it in my top state…read morecapitols I've visited. It wasn't very busy on a dreary Thursday morning. There are guided tours, but I didn't see any reference guides or pamphlets for self-guided tours. I didn't get to see inside every nook and cranny, but I did wander around and take some photos. My favorite touch is the Anchor adorning the floor of the elevator. Tres apropos for the Ocean State's State House.

If you are visiting RI, Wickford is a cute seaside village. There are a couple of restaurants with…read morewater views that serve good food. Shops in town include coffee, antiques, clothes, household goods, day spa, kayak rental/tours and so on. Some of the older, long time businesses have closed in the past decade and a couple of 'big businesses' have taken over those spots. Still, it's a charming walk down tree line streets. We will often walk the town, and through the nearby neighborhood, ending at the town dock. There is a seafood market and a Seal Tour boat company near the dock with a few parking spots for customers. Information boards have been installed in the neighborhood near historic buildings, along the sidewalk. This is a nice addition. There are quite a few lovely older homes, a church and burying yard to see if you are willing to wander. Public parking is available on street and behind buildings on Brown St., on the water side. There are public restrooms in the parking area near the Narragansett Rune Stone. A bit of local history and folklore. Walk down to the historic Hussey Bridge for water views of the marina.

We made a quick drive through parts of this historic village while on vacation. There were many…read moreinteresting shops waiting to be visited as well numerous historic houses that deserve more of our time than we had available. Perhaps a return will be made later this fall.

A lonely little…read morecoffee pot Hog Island Light is a lonely little lighthouse that few people get to see up close. It's located about a third of a mile southeast of Hog Island and north of the Newport Bridge and most of the boat traffic. Distance views can be seen from the Mount Hope Bridge and a few places in Portsmouth but you really need a small boat to get good views. The area south of Hog Island has treacherous shoals and rocks so it was decided back in 1838 to place a small buoy as a warning. This of course didn't work so in 1866 a small lightship was anchored there and then replaced by a larger lightship in 1886. Lightships were always at high risk and deteriorated quickly so in 1901 at real lighthouse was constructed. This is the newest light in Rhode Island and is a very generic design that was popular at the time. Called spark plugs or coffee pots because of there shapes, these lights certainly weren't as aesthetically beautiful as the earlier lights but were cheap and strong as hell. There are three other lights in RI that look a lot like it and they actually are well designed with five levels inside to house the keeper and all the equipment. The light is about 60 feet tall and never had a real dock. That means anyone trying to get on the light has to climb from a boat up a ladder and then into the light. Not as easy as it sounds in crappy weather and nasty falls were always a possibility. Interestingly tons of granite was placed around the light to protect it from ice flows even though I have seldom seen much ice in the area. I suspect the weather was quite a bit cooler back when the light was built. The lighthouse was automated in 1964 and is now a private dwelling. Nobody actually lives in the lighthouse but it was bought by a couple from South Dakota in 2006 for 165,000 dollars. Part of the deal is that they have to do the maintenance and keep it looking nice but exactly what they do with the light is unknown. Having your own private chunk of maritime history would be nice and It certainly is a very cool place to hang out and spend some time.

No tolls, almost unobstructed views-an almost MUST if you are traveling to Newport. Perfection!read more

A cool bridge with…read moregreat views I love going over bridges, especially really big bridges. I realize that some people think reviewing a bridge is stupid but real cool ones deserve to be reviewed. Here I am actually reviewing two bridges, the old Jamestown Bridge and its replacement the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge. Everyone calls the new one the Jamestown Bridge, just like the older one. The first bridge was built in 1940 and was the very first bridge to Conanicut Island. This opened things up for people living there because they didn't have to rely on just ferries any more. There were plans to keep the old bridge open for bikes and pedestrians but the old bridge was found to be in such lousy condition that they were afraid it would fall and end up killing people. So they finally got around to blowing it in April, 2006. The new bridge was completed and opened in 1992 and is much wider and higher than the previous one. Great fun to drive over and look at down at Plum Beach Lighthouse, Dutch Island, ships and the water. It's such a great view that it's difficult to keep my eyes on the road, so I frequently weave around a bit. Scares the hell out of my wife which is always cool. Unlike the Newport Bridge (Pell), there is no toll to cross the Jamestown Bridge. Unfortunately bikes and people are not allowed on the new bridge which is to bad because it would be a great place for a walk. It can get a bit feisty in the winter, especially during snow or ice storms, but the highway guys do a good job of keeping it passable so there really aren't that many fatal accidents. I've been over both bridges a zillion times and still love it. Crossing into Jamestown over the bridge is something I'll never get tired of. Here's a cool video of the demolition of the old bridge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2nGtVURPlE

Good. Had a good time looking at the old buildings and seeing the tools that they used.read more

Ready for an adventure kiddies? Then come to Fall River and see the aging ruins of the Old Fall…read moreRiver Ice House. But please, be discreet. Signs around the entryway state that fishing, boating, swimming and camping are strictly prohibited. But ever since I was a child I always wondered what the old Medieval looking ruin had to offer the not so faint of heart. Now as an adult literalist, I interpret the absence of a no trespassing order as something akin to an invitation. One side of the structure can be seen on the right while driving north on Route 24 coming from 195. Take exit 5 and follow Eastern Avenue then take a left onto New Boston Road. At the end, turn left onto Willow Street which turns into Ruth Street (over the freeway) and then Meridian Street (in a very short distance). Park on Hannah Street or Bergeron Street and then walk back toward whence you drove and go around the left of the fence across the road. What awaits you on the other side is a lonesome path long neglected over time. Weeds and trees flourish between cracks in the crumbling asphalt. Once past the noise from the street, an eerie quiet sets in. A short walk will lead you to the northern shores of the pond. Continue along and watch for the ruins on the right. Inside you will find excellent photo opportunities and a remarkable example of structural decay and a forest gradually reclaiming lost ground. Vines ensnare the surrounding trees and creep alongside the walls of the massive building. The colossal inner chambers are full of trees and enormous stones that have given way to time. Interesting exterior brickwork nestled among stones can be seen as one moves along the southern edge of the building closer to the shore. One wall bears the scar of what may have been a large lightning strike. Most of the walls have soaring vacancies in the stonework that may have once held windows or doors. Sadly, there is some graffiti, but it's a minor distraction in such an exciting place. After you've had your fill of the ruins, continue along the path and feel the eyes of the forest upon you. Low walls of stone accompany you throughout most of your journey and it would be difficult to get lost. Bear left when the path splits about a half mile after you've gone over the causeway (it can be difficult to discern) and you will eventually return to Meridian Street. Do NOT forget your camera!

I am still not sure why this trail has "10 mile" in the name when it's only 3 miles long, but I try…read moreto not think too hard about it. Anyways, I decided to come here for the first time on a weekday afternoon and it was very pretty and peaceful, well maintained, and the perfect running distance for me. I parked on the street outside the carousel entrance of slater park, towards the Pawtucket country club which is where the trail splits. To my left was about half a mile of trail and to my left there was about 2.5 miles of trail. To the left there wasn't much to see, but there was a lot of green, so it was pretty. At the end of this chunk there is a big parking lot. To the right the trail does have more to see, especially since it cuts through slater park, there is a river, and even a dirt bike riding area. At the end of that is also a parking lot and a baseball field. The terrain is mostly flat but there are some tiny hills/slopes that can be challenging towards the end. I was able to see a red cardinal and a couple other birds.

Very nice paved trail that is well maintained, has clear markings and boasts peaceful scenery…read more I would rate the trail as easy, there are some inclines and declines but none that are extreme or difficult to navigate. The entire trail is 3 miles one-way. There are approximately 3 trailheads and 2 additional entry points.

Yep, it's a big-arse dam. No where to park. I think this is one of those parks you're just supposed…read moreto drive by.

A whole lot of…read morewater Gainer Memorial Dam is a big dam. That's pretty obvious to even the most casual observer. It's 3,000 feet long, 110 feet high, and holds back almost 40 billion gallons of water. The reservoir behind the damn contains over 60% of the state's water supply. It the dam decided to break, the ground would be flooded for over twenty miles in all directions. Yep, it's a big dam that has impressive views of the reservoir and woods around it. There's some hiking trails around the reservoir but many are unmarked and go off into all directions. Still a fun place to get lost, although in the snowy weather finding a place to park is really hard because most of the parking areas aren't plowed. When the dam was completed in 1925 it was considered an engineering marvel. It has been inspected many times over the years and although modern construction methods weren't used when it was built, it is said to be able to withstand a direct hit by an earthquake up to magnitude 5.0. I guess the towns around the massive old dam just have to hope a magnitude 5.1 doesn't hit the area.

I have been living in Rhode Island for 4.5 months. Never have I ever been ticketed for parking in…read morefront of my apartment building. I LIVE HERE!! What type of law prohibits tenants from parking on the street from 2-5am?! To put the cherry on top, there's no sign. And there never will be because money is the root of this city. You can tell this is the north.

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States; but it has a unique and diverse culture,…read moreespecially its capital city, Providence. Downtown Providence is my favorite City; maybe I'm biased because I was born there. As a teenager, I loved taking the city bus to the Providence Place Mall, then hanging out at the Waterplace Park. Once I was in college, I would frequent Thayer St., the East side, and Wickenden St. often. I was always hanging out with my friends, at one of my favorite dive bar/club, Club Hell; they had 80s nights on Tuesdays, goth nights on Wednesdays, and Rock & Roll nights on Fridays. Providence is definitely a foodie city with tons of good eats. On a warm day, just take a walk around; lots of history and beautiful architecture. The new pedestrian bridge is also a lovely addition. There are many events that goes on, Waterfire is a popular one. It is home to some notable colleges such as Brown University, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Rhode Island College (my alma mater!) If you go to Federal Hill, there are some good restaurants and bars; home to the best Italian food. If you want to be one with nature, go to Roger Williams Park and Zoo. Overall, definitely a fun little city and gem in my eyes.