By Katy Killilea

After a night of fireworks, why not spend a day on the East Bay bike path? If your kids have outgrown their bikes, co-pilot seats, enclosed trailers, or trail-a-bikes, good used equipment can be found at tag sales, Craigslist, or with friends who have slightly older kids. Everyone seems to be shedding equipment at this time of year.

East Bay Bike Path highlights for Kido cyclists include:

• The view of Providence—especially if you live in Providence—from the causeway.
• Waving to other kids going in the opposite direction, and spotting sleeping babies.
• A stop at Del’s in Warren for frozen lemonade, Fruity Cow in Warren for palatas (Mexican popsicles,) or DariB in East Providence for an ice cream cone. All are located right along the bike path.
• A visit to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island Environmental Education Center in Bristol. For cyclists, this is an ideal pit stop. It’s right on the path, and offers plenty of bicycle parking. Step into the cool building, enjoy the exhibits, get a drink at the bubbler, and use the rest room.

This April, a huge fire destroyed the wooden walkway leading from the bike path out into the marsh, so it is closed. But the rest of the center’s property is open for exploration, and some kids may be very interested to see if they can spot lingering effects of the fire. Admission is FREE this Saturday (Free admission the first Saturday of the month).

If you head out for a ride, pack plenty of water and a picnic. Get ideas from Katy or Anisa’s picnic basket. Bike path picnic spots: Haines Park in East Providence, on the giant rocks along Brick Yard Pond in Barrington, or in Colt State Park in Bristol. All have shade and ample room for pulling over with a family’s worth of bicycles.

Details:
DariB - 240 Bullocks Point Avenue, Riverside, RI
Phone: (401) 433-1931

The Fruity Cow - 7 Turner Street (corner of Child Street), Warren, RI 02885
Phone: (401) 289-2089

Del’s Lemonade - 65 Child St., Warren, RI 02885
Phone: (401) 247-2210

Audubon Society - 1401 Hope Street (Rte 114), Bristol, RI 02809
Phone: (401) 245-7500
Website

If you head out for a ride, pack plenty of water and a picnic. Read what Katy and Anisa pack in their picnic basket.

Bike path picnic spots: Haines Park in East Providence, on the giant rocks along Brick Yard Pond in Barrington, or in Colt State Park in Bristol. All have shade and ample room for pulling over with a family’s worth of bicycles. Email us and tell us what’s in your picnic basket.

Photo credits: DariB by Douglas Itkin for Kidoinfo, Map from RI Department of Transportation

By Katy Killilea

Drive time from Providence, RI: @ 38 minutes (@ 28 miles) (directions)

Tiverton is home to some of Rhode Island’s best sandwiches and cookies (at Provender) cheese (at Milk and Honey Bazaar) and ice cream (at Gray’s), all of which make going for a family hike there a brilliant idea.

There are many enticing options for hikes in Tiverton. Weetamoo Woods is just half a mile from Tiverton Four Corners (located at the intersection of routes 77 and 179, and the home of the above-referenced delicacies) and makes for an exciting hike for a wide age range. Our group was comprised of two moms and four kids (ages 5, 5, 6, and 7.) We saw a family with young teenagers and a twelve-year-old who seemed equally well-matched for the hike.

Other than proximity to high-quality snacks, what’s so special about Weetamoo Woods? The hiking trail is what was once Rhode Island’s only highway. (History!) Stone walls and stone slab bridges are regular features, as mighty as the days they were built centuries ago. (Architecture!) As we ventured through the woods, we found princess pines, holly trees, onion grasses, and skunk cabbages. (Botany!) The stone bridges cross brooks of various depths and speeds. (Water to throw sticks into!) And then, at last, we reached High Rock.

High Rock is indeed a very large rock. When you reach the top of it, you find yourself up above the treetops. Our kids were flabbergasted by their achievement. (”This is the highest mountain in the world!” and “This is the awesomest place I’ve ever seen!”) The adults in our group ruled out a High Rock game of hide-and-seek that was percolating. It did feel slightly treacherous, and a younger child or someone uncoordinated could easily fall quite a distance and get hurt. However, my perception of danger may have been skewed by my poor choice of footwear (boiled wool clogs). Next time I’ll wear sneakers or hiking boots. Reaching and climbing High Rock was a reasonable goal for our group of moderately experienced child hikers.

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By Katy Killilea

When expert fisher-friends invited us to join them at one of their hot family fishing spots this weekend, we were ready. We had just acquired fine rods and reels from a tag sale, the sun was shining, and we had half a box of peanut butter crackers already tucked into our beach bag—we were ready to go! And so we went on our way, for the very first time, to fish at Sabin Point Park in East Providence.

The kids’ ages were (a strapping, fearless) three years to (a patient, nurturing) seven-and-a-half, and casting off the tiny beach at Sabin Point suited them perfectly. The bait was clams. The expert family provided this bait, as well as hooks and bobbins. There were a few brief, harrowing moments when the inexperienced children waggled their rods and hooks a little too close to their mom’s face. Many lines got tangled in many Crocs. But the good times far outweighed the bad. And we didn’t even catch a fish!

The children stood so patiently in the water, casting over and over and reeling in seaweed. The knowledgeable parents instructed the rest of us on the art of casting, maintaining a line-unsnagging posture, and everything else we needed to know. Sabin Point is a beautiful part of Rhode Island. We spent most of our time on the beach fishing, but there is also a playground with tons of swings, little slides, and even those low basketball hoops with real backboards that are so hard to find. Ducks and minnows were easy to spot, as were jolly men smoking cigars. Lovely sea glass as well as ordinary sharp shards of glass are plentiful (so use caution where you walk or sit) . There are big rocks perfect for balancing and clambering and there’s even a two-hundred-meter track paved for tricycle and beginning bicycle riders.

Overcome with hunger for fish after two hours spent fishing at the beach, our group headed to Blount’s Clam Shack on Water Street in Warren. The Clam Shack is open for the 2008 season and is as brilliant as last year with a new trailer that serves Wildberry Frozen Yogurt and Gelato. On a sunny day, there is no better place to be. Many diners arrive by boat, so there is plenty to watch on the water. The sun feels more intensely bright there–the crushed white shell ground cover and the proximity to water are unbearable without sunglasses– so every table has an umbrella, and there are big white tents set up for extra shade.
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Drive time from Providence, RI: @1 hour 45 minutes (@ 90 miles) (directions)

Details:
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - 869 Route 6A, Brewster, MA 02631
Open February through December
Admission: Adults - $8 (Seniors - $7), Ages 3-12 - $3.50, Under 3 - free. Free for members.
508-896-3867

Indoors: Kids can see everything from woolly mammoth tusks and whale baleen to a real beehive and learn about fish weirs and coastal changes. In the bird viewing room, kids watch birds outside a large picture window (with or without the binoculars) or see the osprey nest via video cam. Lots of hands-on activities keep children of all ages engaged—from a sandbox to crayon rubbings to studying shells under microscopes. Spend some time in the library or head downstairs to visit the aquarium. It was quiet the day we were there and we were lucky enough to get a personal guide who told us about the sea life. We learned fun facts like all turtles have thirteen scoots (the patterns on the top of their shells), no matter what their size, and the blood from horseshoe crabs is used in many of today’s pharmaceuticals.
Outdoors: Choose from several great nature walks – around a salt mash, through a wildflower and butterfly garden, or through a wooded path down to the beach. There are lots of picnic tables out front for having lunch or pausing for a snack.

Things we brought along for our hike:
• Magnifying glass to look at bugs and other treasures (My boys each have their own — $1.49 each from Ocean State Job Lot)
• Rhodia graph pad to record discoveries (fits perfectly into a six-year old’s pants pocket)
• Bottle of water
• Snacks (unfortunately I left ours in the car)
• Bird book
• A great walking stick (we actually didn’t bring one but found several to choose from along the way)

By Katy Killilea

The Capron Park Zoo is just a few exits outside Providence on 95 North, but it was a complete mystery to me. Luckily, I have a friend who goes everywhere and does everything, and she invited me to join her and two of her kids for a short daytrip to Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Most people I know have mixed feelings about zoos. Whether we feel bad for the animals in mock habitats or feel bad watching our fellow humans act like imbeciles as they try to get the animals’ attention, there can be plenty of anxiety. But Capron Park Zoo manages to create an atmosphere of calm.

According to the friend who was guiding me around, the sunny January day we visited was the busiest she had ever seen there. Maybe, but it was not at all crowded. The animals were enchanting: meerkats lined up on a rock, watching us, turning their little heads in unison this way and that; sleek otters doing backflips; lions looking just as majestic as a stereotype of a lion; all kinds of monkeys; a big, dozing sloth bear. The kids (ages two to almost five) loved it.

In addition, there is a very enticing playground with new equipment (a sign stated the equipment is suitable for kids up to age twelve), plenty of picnic tables and bathrooms (all clean), and periodically brightly colored placards, behind which your child can stand, to be photographed as a meerkat or bat. Our kids found this hilarious. Sometimes these old-fashioned pleasures strike the funny bone in just the right place.

Capron Park Zoo
201 County Street, Attleboro, MA 02703
phone: 508-222-6202
For directions, hours, and rates, visit www.capronparkzoo.com

Summer is winding down. Make it special. Here is our list of things to do with your kids to make the transition fun and a little easier. I know I will miss the long summer days myself. Click comments below to share your favorite ways to celebrate. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

1. Go to your favorite ice cream place. Our family loves Three Sisters at 1074 Hope Street in Providence. We take ours to go and enjoy them at Lippitt Park (corner of Blackstone Boulevard and Hope Street). Like Soft serve ice cream? Check Katy’s list of local places that serve it up.

2. Build a sand castle. Read basic instructions at Ehow.com. Check Rag & Bone for a post about sand castle creations. See more castle designs at Sandcastle Central.

3. See a Paw Sox Game – home games all weekend.

4. Have a cookout and make S’mores.

5. Visit your favorite park or discover one you’ve never been to before.

6. Help your kids run a lemonade stand. Find clever ideas from the Inc.com “Best Lemonade Stand in America Contest”.

7. Take a ferry to Newport or Prudence Island. Want other Daytrip ideas ideas? Visit the Daytrippers Guide to Rhode Island website.

8. Stay up and catch fireflies. Find out more.

9. Go for a bike ride on the East Bay Bike path. Have a yummy snack at the The Fruity Cow located on the Bike Path & Child Street in Warren, RI.

10. Read books about the water and its inhabitants - Stella, Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay, Dory Story by Jerry Pallotta and illustrated by David Biedrzycki or Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On by Lois Ehlert,

by Katy Killilea

After the high seas adventure we had this spring, riding the ferry from Bristol to Prudence Island, I was eager to try the ferry trip from Providence to Newport with my kids. For a number of reasons and with my specific family circumstances (namely, a companion who can barely sit still), the seatless Prudence Island Ferry was a more enjoyable daytrip. But I still highly recommend the ferry to Newport. Here’s why.

While you wait in line along the dock to board, you can see crabs and minnows in the water below the dock. There is quite a lot of marine life activity to observe. Should interest in that wear thin, you should know that the ferry is a magnet for raucous, older ladies in revealing blouses who loudly recall getting drunk on limoncellos, thus forgetting to reapply sunscreen. This provides a nice alternative entertainment.

On the ride, you will get to see ships—big ships—a lot of them, and close up. The ships’ crew members seem generally eager to wave to ferry passengers and even blow their incredibly loud horns. The views are great from up above in the open air, and it was very windy. You will probably need a jacket.

Since we did not think we could manage to entertain ourselves on my remaining $2 in Newport until 4:00 PM (when the next ferry departed), we rode out and right back to Providence, not even setting foot in Newport. On the trip back, we snagged a table inside (there are two tables and each seats six) and spread out our snacks. There is a snack bar with everything from Swedish fish to mixed vodka cocktails. The snack bar crew refused to accept my kids’ dollar for candy. The views from inside are very clear and exciting, and the place was spic and span. One crew member patrolled with a dustbuster, looking in vain for dust to bust.
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One of my favorite places to vacation is Cape Cod. My husband and I used to live in Chatham, MA, before we had kids and now when we go back with them, we visit our favorite places with a fresh perspective and explore new places that are fun for kids.

When we’re not at the beaches, here are some of our favorite spots on the lower Cape:

Main Street in Chatham:

Mermaids on Main:
410 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 505-945-3179
Tell Tara I sent you. She has stocked her shop with everything having to do with the ocean. For kids there’s a tantalizing collection of sea life, pirates, and mermaids in books, activity sets, games, dolls, and toys. For us big kids, she sells stationery, jewelry, soaps, home decor, and more.

Chatham Village Cafe:
400 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 508-945-2525
Yummy place for coffee, bagels, and sandwiches while you’re in town. Free parking in back for customers. No public bathrooms.

Where the Sidewalk Ends:
432 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 508-945-0499
Great bookstore for kids and adults.

Mark August:
490 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 508-945-4545
I am partial to this store because it used to carry my line of jewelry, clocks, and home accessories. Corinne and Liz run the shop and keep it filled with contemporary jewelry, watches, and home decor.

Kate Gould Park: Main Street, Chatham, MA.
A great place for the kids to run around. Public bathrooms are located in the back of the park. Friday night is band concert night in the summer. Free concert starts at 8 pm (a little late for many kids but worth bending the rules). The band plays show tunes mixed in with the bunny hop for the first half of the evening before moving on to classic big band music for the latter part. Arrive early to find a good spot for your blanket. Pack a picnic supper or bring a pizza. Popcorn, balloons, and light sticks for sale at the park. We usually stop at the Chatham Candy Manor and load up a bag full of treats.

Chatham Candy Manor:
484 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 800-221-6497
My favorite candy store ever. As a kid I loved the fudge and the penny candy. As an adult I go straight for the hand-dipped dark chocolate truffles. Sometimes you can watch them making the fudge in the front window.

The Squire:
487 Main Street, Chatham, MA. 508-945-0945
One of the oldest places in town. Since 1968 they have been serving seafood and drinks to locals and tourists year-round. We prefer the bar side with its picnic tables and license plates covering the walls. It tends to be fairly loud, so people won’t mind the noise of your kids.

Chatham/Harwich Line:

The Corner Store:
1403 Old Queen Anne Rd. Chatham, MA. 508-432-1077
“Fresh, fast, and fun” is their motto. Fantastic breakfast egg burritos, lunch burritos, delicious sandwiches, and fresh coffee all day. Everything is made fresh to order. Chuck and Steve run the place with the help of their friendly staff. Tell them I sent you and ask them about the dancing.

Harwich:

Bud’s Go-Karts:
9 Sisson Road (off Rte 28) Harwich Port, MA. 508-432-4964
No frills, just cars. Wait in line behind the brick wall and then it’s race time. My husband would go here whether or not he has the kids with him. Single cars and double cars available so little kids can race around the track with an adult. Head down Rte 28 towards Dennis and check out the Batting Cages (322 Main Street, Harwichport, MA) or the Trampoline Center (296 Main Street, Harwichport, MA) as well.

Noble House Hibachi Grille & Sushi Lounge:
21 Route 28, West Harwich, MA. 508-432-8855
Great entertainment for the kids. The chef comes to your table and juggles utensils, lights a giant fire, transforms onions into an erupting volcano, and does egg tricks. I chose not to try and catch the flying food in my mouth. While your kids are entertained and well fed, you and your husband can enjoy a drink and conversation. Portions are large and yummy. Two kids can split the child-sized Hibachi plate. My hibachi chicken came with rice, soup, a shrimp appetizer, and a mound of vegetables. Delicious. Be warned: your kids may want to juggle your kitchen utensils when they get home.

Orleans:

Weekend:
217 Main Street, Orleans, MA, 02653. 508-255-9300
Located in a historic country store on the road to Nauset Beach, this shop has an eclectic and ever-changing selection of women’s and children’s clothing, unique gifts, books, jewelry, home accents, art glass, and more.

Pirate Adventures:
Town Cove in Orleans, behind the Goose Hummock Shop, Orleans, MA. 508-255-8811
Sail aboard the Sea Gypsy for a swashbuckling adventure! Your kids get sworn in as pirates for an hour-long trip of treasure hunting while parents sit in the back of the ship and take a break. Lots of fun but may be a bit scary for young ones as the crew hunts for a pirate out at sea. (The entire trip is in town cove.)

Taking the Prudence Island Ferry roundtrip from Bristol makes a delightful daytrip. Off-season (September-June) the ferry makes several trips a day from the wharf in Bristol.
We took the 10:00 ferry out and back, spending just a few minutes on the island throwing rocks into the water and purchasing M&Ms in the funky general store, which is well-stocked with penny candy and beverages. Prudence Island is home to about 88 people. The island is rural, most of the roads are unpaved, many homes are rental properties and the only business on the island is the general store.

We were delighted with the view from the boat and the speed, and we even saw seals! As you can imagine, it was a very breezy trip, so bring a jacket.

In the summer the ferry will run more frequently but for now the ferry crossing is just the right length for those of us with young children, 20-30 minutes each way. An adult’s round-trip ticket is $6.50 and children under 5 ride for free. Reservations are not needed unless you are bringing your car. Bringing a bicycle costs about $1.00 more. And the ferry captain and personnel are very friendly to children!

Complete schedule information can be found at the Prudence Island Ferry website or by calling the ferry office at (401) 253-9808.

Daytrip is an occasional post about local family adventures. Click comments below and share your daytrip adventure with us. This post was contributed by Katy Killilea.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is turning FIVE this year! This wonderful museum was created by the amazing children’s book author Eric Carle to inspire kids of all ages and enhance our appreciation for and an understanding of the art of the picture book. If you have not had a chance to visit, it is worth the day trip. Check the museum calendar for gallery events, movies, classes, storytelling and more. The first Friday of every month is free from 4 pm-7 pm.

To celebrate their birthday, the museum is collecting stories about being five. They will use these stories to create a BIG BOOK OF FIVE. Seems appropriate.

Here is how you and your kids can participate:
Are you or were you or will you soon be FIVE YEARS OLD?
What about being five is really fun?
• Draw or write your favorite thing about being five on an 8.5”x 11” piece of paper and send (or bring) it to the museum. It can be short or it can be long — whatever you find fun about being FIVE!
• Submit your Big Book of Five contribution to:
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
Attention: Big Book of Five
125 West Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002

Contributions for the Big Book of Five will be on display until November 17, 2007, in the Great Hall. Be sure to sign your work and mark “Big Book of Five” on your envelope!

Visit the museum to see your work on display:
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002
Distance from Providence - 90 miles (Driving Time - @ 2 hours)

Museum Hours
10 am – 4 pm Tuesday through Friday
10 am – 5 pm Saturday
12 – 5 pm Sundays

Admission Prices
$7 - Adults, $5 - Seniors 65+, $5 - Youth 1-18, $5 - Student (w/ ID), $5 - Teacher (w/ ID)
$20 Family (up to 2 Adults, 2 Youths)
Free for Members. Free for Children under 1
Free parking for cars and buses at the Museum.
The cafe now allows you to bring in your own food in addition to offering a great selection of food to buy.