My family and I were hosted for the afternoon as part of a media visit provided by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. All writing and opinions are 100% my own.
Although we lived in Rhode Island for years, we haven’t getting back as much lately. Last week was April vacation for the boys, and we were invited to spend the afternoon in Rhode Island as part of a media visit. We had a blast taking the boys back to their home state!
How we Spent Our Afternoon in Rhode Island
We enjoyed a fun-filled day at the BIOMES Marine Biology Center, the Roger Williams Park Zoo and a PawSox game at McCoy stadium in Pawtucket. I was exhausted at the end of the afternoon, but the entire family had SO MUCH fun!
BIOMES Marine Biology Center
We started the afternoon at the BIOMES Marine Biology Center, and it had been on my list of things I wanted to do with the kids in Rhode Island! Located on a commercial strip on Post Rd, the building is covered in beautiful marine murals. When you enter BIOMES, you see rows and rows of aquaria and touch tanks full of local marine life.
In addition to the many interactive activities, there is a play area for smaller children and a gift shop. There is also an area set up with tables for visiting classes, groups and parties. We enjoyed a box lunch there before we started exploring! I recommend bringing an extra shirt if you have young ones– William had so much fun playing in the touch tanks that he got soaked!
The BIOMES Marine Biology Center is open daily from 12pm to 5pm (closed Easter,Thanksgiving and Christmas). Admission to the center is $11 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-12. Children 2 and under are free and seniors are $9. You can read more about the center and membership HERE.
Roger Williams Park Zoo
We used to spend at least a day each week at the zoo when we lived in Providence– the Roger Williams Park Zoo is such a great place to take kids. It’s the perfect size– not too large to be overwhelming, but not too small either! It takes about an hour and a half to walk through the whole zoo, and you will find a wide variety of animals and exhibits to keep both adults and kids entertained!
The elephants and giraffes are always a big hit with the boys, but we were so excited to see some new additions like the cheetahs! You can also take camel rides and feed birds at the Birds From Down Under exhibit (open from April 16- September 5). You can discover new animals and enjoy a Del’s lemonade along the way.
The zoo is open year-round from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm (October – March) and 10:00am to 5:00 pm (April – September). Admission is $14.95 for adults, $9.95 for children (ages 2 through 12) and $12.95 for seniors (ages 62+). Find out more about the zoo and seasonal programs HERE (they have great summer camps too!).
PawSox at McCoy Stadium
Our last stop on our whirlwind afternoon in Rhode Island was a PawSox game at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket. For those of you who haven’t been to the PawSox, it’s definitely worth a visit with the kids. Red Sox games can be very costly for families, so the PawSox is a great family friendly and cost-effective alternative!
Right after we arrived at McCoy stadium, we got a little behind the scenes tour. My favorite part was the wall of fame with all of the past players that spent time with the PawSox! After the tour, we enjoyed a BBQ under the tent behind the outfield, and it was the perfect place for the kids to run around and grab dinner before the game started.
We even got to take a family photo on the field. One of the things I love most about the PawSox games is the family friendly atmosphere. You can bring the kids out for some great baseball without having to worry about raucous, drunk fans shouting inappropriate things in the stands! 😉 There’s also a great area off the third base line that is grassy and perfect for the kids to run around if they are getting restless.
Added bonus: you can also afford to feed a family of five and still get a beer! I can’t say enough good things about the caliber of baseball you can see at McCoy at a very reasonable price. I would definitely put it on your summer list for a fun family outing! Click HERE to learn about how to purchase tickets.
What did you do during April vacation (if you had one!)??
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