Adventure Mom: Head to Narragansett and Beyond

EDITOR’S NOTE: This column originally ran on the Morris Township and Morris Plains Patch, which is allegedly in New Jersey. (It’s more than an hour away, so honestly, I have no clue.)

However, I thought it would be interesting for everyone to see an outsider’s perspective on Narragansett, hence why it is reproduced here. The original article can be found . – Narragansett Local Editor Stephen Greenwell

My friend Mary Rydstrom recently took her family on a wonderful trip to Narragansett, Rhode Island.  She says that the vibe among the locals is very laid-back and casual, which helps when you have little kids in tow.

I am extremely grateful for the amazing information and reviews from her trip.

You will want to take your family there too!

1) How will you get there?  It is a four hour car ride from Morris Plains to Narragansett, RI. Take the Tappan Zee Bridge or the George Washington Bridge to 95 North.

2) Where will you stay? Mary stayed right across the street from Narragansett Beach at . She reports that this hotel was just okay, but her family chose it for its ocean view and short walking distance to the beach and restaurants. Some better choices of places to stay that are just a little farther walk or drive, located in or near Narragansett, include , , and in South Kingston. There are also some really nice bed-and-breakfasts in Narragansett such as Tower House, The Richards, and the Stone’s Throw Inn. Newport is also a great choice for more luxurious and slightly pricier accommodations. You would just need to check ahead to determine if children are welcome.

3) What will you eat?  Following their trip, here is Mary’s report on family-friendly dining in the Narragansett area.

• at 144 Boon St. is great fun and the kids get children’s books to look at instead of the standard coloring placemats. There are lots of healthy, homemade choices in a fun, hippie-style atmosphere.
• at 135 Boon St. has excellent food and a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere.
• at 191 Point Judith Road has a cool atmosphere including a giant bee sculpture above the bar that the kids couldn’t keep their eyes off of.
• on Point Judith is BYOB. This 85-year old landmark specializes in seafood and now has its own ice cream parlor across the street.
• East Ferry Deli at 47 Conanicus Ave. in Jamestown is a great deli. You can sit at a table outside with a beautiful view of the harbor and the Newport Bridge.
• has two locations in North Kingston—6525 Post Road and 105 Gate Road, and also has carts and trucks traveling all over southern Rhode Island in the summer. It is super-refreshing, a must-try!

4) What should you do? 

In addition to trips to the beach, Mary provided some amazing ideas for sightseeing throughout the Narragansett Beach area and close by.

In the Ocean state of Rhode Island, the beach should come to mind.  is on Narragansett Bay and has calm waves making it perfect for little kids to play in the surf and on its soft, powder-like sand. Other nice nearby beaches are R and in Narragansett.

Narragansett itself is home to famous historic towers. can be found at 1460 Ocean Road. The Narragansett Pier Marketplace, located across from and Narragansett Town Beach, includes an old-fashioned candy shop, , , , and .  An amusement center called at 112 Pt. Judith Road has bumper boats, mini golf, go karts, a batting cage and a carousel. 

If you have the time, other wonderful experiences around Narragansett include a 4 1/2-hour whale-watching boat trip out of Port of Galilee in Narragansett and a lighthouse cruise aboard the Millennium Ferry out of Quonset Point in North Kingston. Highlights of this 95-minute, 30 mile cruise include spectacular views of 10 lighthouses, 10 islands, bridges, a beautiful coastline and various historic sites.

Outside of Narragansett, there are many interesting attractions and quaint towns to explore in the area. I know that the Newport scenic drive is legendary. One could really spend weeks exploring the area, and there are plenty of nooks and crannies for children to discover with you.

Watch Hill in nearby Westerly has The Flying Horse Merry-Go-Round, the oldest carousel in the United States. The horses hang from the top of the carousel by chains instead of on poles so that they both look and feel like they are flying. This amazing experience is only $1 per ride.

The Fantastic Umbrella Factory at 4820 Old Post Rod in Charlestown is a very unique shopping experience. The factory includes a bunch of hippie shops, farm animals grazing, beautiful, rustic gardens, and fountains. Mary’s daughter loved the hens and baby chicks walking the grounds. It is a definite must-see!

Jamestown is a cute village to explore on the way to Newport. It has the Jamestown Windmill on the Main Road off of Route 138 and the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum on Beavertail Road. You can also take a ferry from Jamestown or Newport to Rose Island and tour the . You can even book an overnight stay in this lighthouse!

Middletown has the at 583 Third Beach.  And Purgatory Chasm on Purgatory Road at Tuckerman in Middletown has a beautiful scenic overlook of Narragansett Bay.

Portsmouth is a town north of Newport, past Middletown. It is home to the , on Cory's Lane, which is about 30 minutes from Newport's Bellevue Ave.  

You will find in Mystic, CT just off Exit 90 on I-95, about 10 miles east of New London along Connecticut's southeastern shore.

Providence has both the Roger Williams Park Zoo at 1000 Elmwood Ave. and the Providence Children’s Museum at 100 South St.

The Scenic Drive in Newport is 10 miles of historic landmarks and stunning coastal views of the Atlantic Ocean. This scenic drive, also known as Ten Mile Drive, encompasses most of the southern coastline of Aquidneck Island. This area was once farmland, but is now home of many popular Newport attractions, including:

• Ida Lewis Yacht Club
• —home of the legendary Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, the , , and
• Hammersmith Farm (President Kennedy's wedding reception was held here in 1953).
• a station
• Castle Hill Inn & Resort (a great place for Sunday Brunch)
• —You can park in the Brenton Park lot and then cross the street and take one of the paths down to the rocks. (See Mary’s photo)
• , , and . Note: Hazard's and Bailey's are private beaches. Gooseberry is open to the public, but only members may use the beach club facilities.
• The Newport mansions. If you can only tour one, see .  However, this is not necessarily a little-kid activity due to all the priceless treasures!

For the drive, you'll need to know where to start. If you are closer to downtown Newport, start at the intersection of Thames Street and Wellington Avenue If you're closer to Bellevue Avenue and the Newport mansions, start at the very end of Bellevue Avenue, at the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Coggeshall Avenue. Begin by going down Bellevue Avenue past the amazing gilded-age mansions and continue onto Ocean Avenue.

Don’t you want to hop in the car, drive to Rhode Island, and start one of these many relaxing adventures today? Thank you again to Mary and her family for sharing! I can’t wait to investigate Narragansett and beyond.

Please share your favorite destinations, travel secrets, and comments.  And wherever you wander, enjoy your trip, have a great time, and be safe!

¡Buen viaje!