When it comes to winter recreation in Rhode Island, skiing and snow tubing might not be the first things that come to mind. Luckily, Rhody is home to the Yawgoo Valley Ski Area and Water Park, a year-round destination that takes advantage of both the sun and the snow. And while the opening of the snow tubing hill has been a bit delayed this season, that gives us something to look forward to in the weeks to come.
The Yawgoo Valley Ski Area and Water Park is located in Exeter.
Since its 1965 opening, it has been known as Rhode Island's only year-round destination for family fun as well as Rhody's first chairlift served ski area.
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If you're thinking that Rhode Island usually doesn't get enough snow for something like this... you're right.
Typically, the park is open from mid-December to mid-March. However, the company website announced that opening day would likely be after New Year's Day this season.
This year's snow tuning rates have not been released yet, but the cost is usually quite affordable for the experience.
Growing up in Rhode Island, fall was always my favorite time of the year. After a hot, sweaty, humid summer, I was always ready to enjoy the cooler, crisp air along with the changing foliage, apple picking, farm visits, and hiking. There's nothing quite like fall in any of the New England states, is there? If you enjoy this season as much as I do, here are some of the best things to do in Rhode Island in the fall:
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Rhode Island Fall Foliage: Where To Go In Rhode Island For Fall Foliage
The Ocean State should be renamed the "Fall Foliage State" this time of year. With vibrant hues, your eyes will dazzle anytime you see the colorful leaves. For some of the best foliage, here are the best places to visit in Rhode Island in the fall:
Wow factor: This is one of my favorite spots in Providence. It's utterly spectacular, especially in the fall.
Need To Know: Visiting the park is free. However, admission is charged to visit the zoo.
Roger Williams Park is more than just a zoo. Surrounding the zoo is a gorgeous park filled with thousands of trees all ablaze with colorful foliage. Take a camera with you in order to document your visit. And do yourself a favor and take a photo of The Iron Bridge surrounded by fall foliage. It's absolutely dreamy!
Wow factor: One of the most beautiful parks to visit in the state, especially during fall. Make sure you walk around and check out the park's buildings against the backdrop of fall colors.
Need To Know: There are three hiking trails and no admission fee to visit.
In the autumn months, Goddard Memorial State Park turns into picture-perfect destination for visitors to enjoy a hike and the cooler weather. The vibrant fall colors make the park look like a painting and with fewer crowds than in summer, you'll find peace and quiet this time of the year. And with 62 species of deciduous trees, you'll have quite a variety of colors to look at.
Wow factor: This park is absolutely dreamy as you walk through the woods under a canopy of colorful leaves.
Need To Know: Not only can you hike but go horseback riding and mountain biking here.
This state recreation area is 14,000 acres and is a prime place to go hiking throughout the year. And if you feel like going for a hike this fall, at Arcadia State Management Area, there's no better trail than the Arcadia Trail Loop. This 10.7-mile trail meanders through the forest on an epic (and colorful!) fall adventure. Make sure you are prepared with the proper hiking gear for this trail and download the AllTrails+ app to use on the hike.
Best Pumpkin Patches In Rhode Island
If one of your favorite Rhode Island fall activities is visiting a pumpkin patch for the perfect gourd, well, there are several farms where you can do just that! Here are some of the best pumpkin patches in RI:
Location: 158 Burnt Swamp Rd, Cumberland, RI 02864
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Wow factor: This is such a festive farm to visit with the whole family, and there's more here to enjoy in addition to the pumpkin patch.
Need To Know: During the fall, tickets will be available on the Adam's Farm website.
Founded in 1924, Adam's Farm is a fourth-generation farm best-known for its pumpkin patch. If you're searching for "fall activities near me," this Cumberland-based farm is a must-visit! In fact, it's been voted "Best Pumpkin Picking In Rhode Island." Not only can you pick pumpkins but there is a corn maze, animals, hayrides (on weekends only), and a variety of fun activities. What a great way to celebrate fall.
Location: 2279 Plainfield Pike, Johnston, RI 02919
Wow factor: This is a lovely farm that sells plants and has farm animals you can visit. Oh, and it has a wonderful pumpkin patch!
Need To Know: For over 75 years, Pezza Farm has been the go-to place for garden plants in the state.
Pezza Farm has been voted "Best Farm and Garden Center in Rhode Island." I can absolutely see why, too. My mom would take my sister and me here throughout our childhood to pick out the most beautiful flowers and plants to put in her gardens. When fall arrives, the farm transforms into a festive place with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and a "Scarecrow Zone" where you can build your very own scarecrow. Sounds like fun to me.
Wow factor: This is the perfect destination for families to create fall memories.
Need To Know: The fall season is from mid-September to late October on the weekends.
Located in Western Rhode Island' Moosup Valley, Cucumber Hill Farm is the place to be come fall. Come here on the weekends in the fall and pick your own pumpkins. It's so fun finding the best ones for home decor or carving a jack-o'lantern. In addition to pumpkins, you can try your hand at axe throwing, go for a fun tractor hay ride or a pony ride, and make your way through a corn maze. And if you get hungry, there will be food trucks.
Best Fall Festivals In Rhode Island
Let's celebrate the fall season, shall we? This is such an incredible time of the year and I remember attending fall festivals while growing up in RI. The Scituate Art Festival was among my favorites. Aside from the art festival, here are the best fall festivals in Rhode Island:
Wow factor: The name says it all — Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular! It is, indeed, spectacular.
Need To Know: The pumpkin trail is open nightly from late September through early November. Purchase tickets online once they become available.
The annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is a much-anticipated event that features intricately carved pumpkins all aglow once the sun goes down. It's spooky, it's mesmerizing, and it's impressive, to say the least. Take a stroll through the glowing trail of pumpkins and notice what characters, faces, and scenes you see along the way.
Wow factor: This is one of my favorite fall festivals in Rhode Island!
Need To Know: This festival is a free event in downtown Scituate. Parking is available along the street.
When I was growing up, attending the Scituate Art Festival was, by far, my favorite thing to do. Not only was it fun to see the art and craft vendors but there was always great food (I would always get a doughboy) and entertainment. Not only that, but the scenery in Scituate is downright charming and quintessential New England.
Location: Fort Adams State Park, 80 Fort Adams Dr, Newport, RI 02840
Wow factor: For a good time plus beer, this is a must-attend event this fall!
Need To Know: This fall event is held one day in late September and serves as an annual fundraiser for the Fort Adams Trust. Tickets are available on the Newport Oktoberfest website. Not only does your ticket guarantee entry but you get a souvenir stein glass. as well. This event is 21+.
Fort Adams State Park hosts plenty of events throughout the year, namely the Newport Jazz Fest and the Newport Folk Fest. But there's one other event that calls this historic fort home — the Newport Oktoberfest. Hosted by The Fort Adams Trust and Rugged Island Brewing Co., it's a taste of Bavaria right here in our own backyard. Enjoy live German music as you drink beer or wine and eat authentic Bavarian foods.
Wow factor: If you're someone who enjoys fresh and delicious seafood from local vendors, this is the best event of the year to attend.
Need To Know: This festival is held on a weekend in mid-October. Admission is free and food and drinks are for purchase.
It's no secret that Rhode Island is home to some incredible seafood. It's the Ocean State, after all! If you want to try a variety of seafood dishes from a number of vendors, you should plan on attending the Bowen's Wharf Seafood Festival. For over 30 years, this event has gathered crowds of seafood lovers from all over for food, music, and festive fall fun.
Free & Cheap Rhode Island Fall Activities
Not everything you want to do this fall costs a lot. In fact, there are plenty of free and cheap activities you can partake in around the state. Here are some of the most affordable activities in Rhode Island in the fall.
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11. Ride your bike along the Blackstone River Bikeway
Location: Blackstone River Bikeway, Cumberland, RI 02864
Wow factor: This bike path and the river are striking with fall foliage surrounding them as you ride.
Need To Know: There is no fee to use the bike path. It runs through the Blackstone Valley of RI for over 18 miles.
For one of the best "fall activities near me," surround yourself with both history and scenery while riding along the Blackstone River Bikeway. While over 18 miles running between Providence and the Massachusetts border, this bike path is considered easy. Do the whole thing or just a portion of the path as you take in the views of the Blackstone River, the historic mills, and the trees all ripe with fall colors.
Wow factor: If you grew up in Rhode Island and went to Rocky Point when it was an amusement park, this place is a dose of nostalgia. It's also quite a unique place filled with remnants of old rides that look so fascinating with foliage surrounding them.
Need To Know: This park is free to visit.
Do you remember when Rocky Point was an amusement park? Well, I do. And while I was sad to see it close when I was in high school, its memory remains in the amusement park-turned-state park, Rocky Point State Park. Sitting on the coast with views galore, you'll see remnants of old rides throughout the park. It's certainly a dose of nostalgia for those of us who used to ride those rides when they were operational back in the day. But now it's a wonderfully scenic park worth exploring in the fall.
Wow factor: This is one of the most memorable events held in the state no matter the time of year.
Need To Know: While the event is free, you will most likely have to pay for parking whether in a private lot or at Providence Place Mall.
I remember when WaterFire first started. It was a big deal then and, over time, it continued to grow. More and more people would show up over the years to see the curiously beautiful display of bonfires along the river in downtown Providence. More bonfires have been added and gondola rides are even given for those who want to spend the money for an extra special night out. WaterFire is held throughout the year, with several dates scheduled for the fall.
Location: 585 Blackstone Blvd, Providence, RI 02906
Wow factor: This is another favorite place of mine in Providence. It's absolutely gorgeous, especially in autumn.
Need To Know: This "garden cemetery" spans 200 acres and is a popular, yet quiet spot, for walking and birdwatching.
Swan Point Cemetery is such a fascinating place. With headstones throughout its acreage, it's also a place that's rife with birds and other wildlife. It's actually quite a popular spot for birdwatchers. And yes, it's a cemetery but fall is also spooky season, right? Swan Point is the final resting place for H.P. Lovecraft, an author of horror fiction, as well as members of the Aldrich and Lippitt families. You can certainly get a bit of a history hike accomplished here as well.
15. Spend an afternoon at Lincoln Woods State Park
Location: 2 Manchester Print Works Rd, Lincoln, RI
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Wow factor: Quiet, peaceful, and oh-so-pretty, Lincoln Woods is a picturesque spot to enjoy a fall afternoon.
Need To Know: There is no entry fee for the park.
Growing up in Northern Rhode Island, Lincoln Woods State Park was the closest park to my childhood home. While it gets pretty crowded in the summer with those who want to go swimming in the lake, fall takes on a more peaceful feel. With fewer crowds, you'll find solitude as you take a hike through the forest under a canopy of red, yellow, and orange hues. This is an ideal place for a picnic, practicing your fall photography skills, and taking in the scenery.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Rhode Island in the fall? Is this your favorite time of year, too? Let us know!
As a lifelong night owl who rarely sees the morning hours, I'm probably a bit biased when I say there's no better time for an adventure than after the sun goes down. Very little can compare to the quiet beauty of the darkened sky as the stars glitter and the moon shines. Even if you're more of a morning person, you'll likely find this nighttime rail bike adventure in Portsmouth, Rhode Island is simply enchanting. It's an amazing way to see the landscape of Rhode Island like never before.
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Gear up for an evening under the stars with Rail Explorers USA, which offers rail bike tours from Portsmouth from late April through mid-November each year.
Rail Explorers USA has two lines - the Northern Circuit and the Southern Circuit. The lantern ride follows the Southern Circuit and runs from the Portsmouth Grove Station to the Bayside Station (and back).
The two-hour ride, illuminated by shimmering lanterns, will take you on a six-mile roundtrip scenic journey under the moonlight.
Rail Explorers features an assortment of tours throughout the season, including the Sunday Morning Brunch Tour (with mimosas) and the Sunset Tour.
Bring along an evening picnic or tasty snacks, like marshmallows to roast over a roaring fire, for your stop at the Bayside picnic area, nestled along the bluffs overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Before you book your tour online, decide which type of explorer (the rail bike) you'll need. The quad explorer seats four riders while the tandem is for two.
Have you gone riding with Rail Explorers USA? Did you go on the lantern tour? If so, what did you think of this nighttime rail bike adventure in Portsmouth, Rhode Island? Let us know in the comments! Then take a peek at why Portsmouth exudes peak New England vibes.
Ready to get out and explore more of Portsmouth? Slip on your hiking shoes, and follow one of the best hiking trails in Rhode Island. You can find them all, including maps and photos, on All Trails.
