Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence - Arguably the best zoo in New England, the drive to Roger Williams Park Zoo is well worth the trip for those who don’t live in Rhode Island. The zoo is exceedingly well laid out and easy to navigate. The zoo is divided into six distinct areas: the Fabric of Africa, North America, Tropical America, Australasia, Marco Polo Trail, and the Wetlands Trail. These exhibits include over 100 species from around the world. Particularly memorable are the zebras, Masai giraffes, moon bears, snow leopards, Tamarin monkeys, and wildebeest. Kid Comment - The Harbor Seals were my favorite. Did you know they have claws? www.rwpzoo.org
International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport - If your little one is a tennis fan at all, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum is a must see. The museum provides a history of the sport dating back to the 12th century. Kids will be drawn into the exhibits through displays including memoriabilia, early tennis “costumes,” tennis-related ads, matches played on an old black and white TV, video of seminal matches, and an interactive scavenger hunt. The grounds themselves are a must see too. The Tennis Hall of Fame was the birthplace of the US Open, where the famed tournament was once held on grass. These beautiful grass courts are host to the only professional tournament in the US still played on grass. www.tennisfame.com
Newport Mansions - What little girl doesn’t dream of living in a castle? How about a Newport Mansion? You might not think it, but the Newport Mansion tour can be fun for kids. There are 11 mansions in all covering 80 acres, but you might want to focus on The Breakers for optimum fun. They have a new family audio tour, which allows your child to imagine what it was like to be a Vanderbilt child. As you listen to the audio tour, take an imaginary slide down the grand staircase or discover the dragons in the dining room. Also kid-friendly is the Green Animals Topiary Garden. The garden's 80 pieces of topiary include sculpted animals, birds, as well as other designs. www.newportmansions.org
International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Newport - If your little one is a tennis fan at all, the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum is a must see. The museum provides a history of the sport dating back to the 12th century. Kids will be drawn into the exhibits through displays including memoriabilia, early tennis “costumes,” tennis-related ads, matches played on an old black and white TV, video of seminal matches, and an interactive scavenger hunt. The grounds themselves are a must see too. The Tennis Hall of Fame was the birthplace of the US Open, where the famed tournament was once held on grass. These beautiful grass courts are host to the only professional tournament in the US still played on grass. www.tennisfame.com
Newport Mansions - What little girl doesn’t dream of living in a castle? How about a Newport Mansion? You might not think it, but the Newport Mansion tour can be fun for kids. There are 11 mansions in all covering 80 acres, but you might want to focus on The Breakers for optimum fun. They have a new family audio tour, which allows your child to imagine what it was like to be a Vanderbilt child. As you listen to the audio tour, take an imaginary slide down the grand staircase or discover the dragons in the dining room. Also kid-friendly is the Green Animals Topiary Garden. The garden's 80 pieces of topiary include sculpted animals, birds, as well as other designs. www.newportmansions.org
Rhode Island with Kids
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