Rhode trips Spring is a great time to explore all that the Ocean State has to offer BY BETH SCHWARTZAPFEL
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IN "RHODE ISLAND is famous for you," Howard Dietz’s classic ode, the lyric proclaims, in part, "pencils come from Pennsylvania, vests from Vest Virginia, tents from Tennessee." Following this logic, roads would be from Rhode Island. Instead, we get the somewhat anticlimactic line of the song’s title. Well, it’s springtime, and we’re out to revise Howard’s take on what exactly Rhode Island is famous for: roads, for one, in various incarnations; bike paths, hiking trails, and city streets; quirky shops, organic farms, fresh seafood, and state parks. And, of course, the beaches. We’re not called the Ocean State for nothing. So, whether you’re an urban dweller looking to explore the country, or an outdoor enthusiast searching for new expeditionary ideas, this list has something for everyone.

1) Go bouldering at Lincoln Woods. The term "rock climbing" conjures images of ropes, clips, and fancy footwork. It can include all this, of course, but as noted by Lary Norin of the Rhode Island Rock Gym (www.rhodeislandrockgym.com, 401-727-1704), it can also be simpler. He suggests that first-time climbers try bouldering — basically, picking a formidable looking boulder, dispensing with all the equipment, and scrambling your way up. "Lincoln Woods is by far the best bouldering on the East Coast," Norin says, "and the most undiscovered treasure in Rhode Island." He suggests bringing climbing shoes and a "crash pad" to place on the ground, in case you fall. More ambitious climbers can take a climbing lesson at a rock gym, and then have a go at an indoor climbing wall.

2) Go for a stroll and a picnic at Chase Farm. Chase Farm in Lincoln was a dairy farm in its heyday, but it has been a 118-acre Blackstone River Valley Heritage site since 1965, with rolling hills, expansive fields, a small pond, and a butterfly garden complete with waterfall. It’s a beautiful place for a picnic or a leisurely walk. It’s also a little bit of dog heaven. Your dog will thank you for the copious running, fetching, swimming, and doggie-socializing opportunities. Signs warn that "leash laws are strictly enforced," but we’ve never seen anyone enforcing them. Check www.lincolnri.org/historicsites for more info.

3) Explore Rhode Island waters by kayak. Take a paddling tour of Narragansett Bay with a guide, or bring a friend and head out in a double kayak. Pack a picnic and eat it on the water. The Kayak Centre (401-295-4400, www.kayakcentre.com), with locations in Wickford, Westerly, and Charleston, is one of the local shops that can provide the kayaks, paddles, life vests, and instructors. If you’re feeling adventurous, take a full-day class. Beginners learn about boats, technique, and safety; participants in advanced classes kayak on the open ocean. In the summer, the centre offers sunset and moonlight paddles.

4) Be a farmer. A 300-acre organic farm on Narragansett Bay, Saunderstown’s Casey Farm (401-295-1030) is home to fields, pastures, hayfields, forests, wetlands, and even a wild cranberry bog. Springtime volunteers help with planting and maintaining the farm’s many types of vegetables, flowers, herbs, and small fruit. If you’re not in the farming mood, you can take a stroll any Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m., when the staff is on hand to answer questions and lead tours. Casey Farm runs other activities through the warmer months, including a stone wall building workshop (April 24) and an annual plant sale and open house (May 8 and 9). For those looking for a more urban farming experience, the Southside Community Land Trust (401-273-9419) runs two organic farms: City Farm, almost an acre on Dudley Street in the heart of Providence’s South Side, and Urban Edge, 50 acres on Pippin Orchard Road in Cranston. Volunteers are welcome to work on any number of seasonal tasks at the farm, including planting, weeding, and harvesting crops. Prospective volunteers at Casey or the SCLT should call a day in advance to let them know you’re coming.

5) Take a hike. Rhode Island may not have much in the way of mountains, but there’s no shortage of beautiful hiking. The North-South Trail, 77 miles long, meanders along the western edge of the state, starting at the Atlantic Ocean in Charlestown and ending by the Massachusetts border in Burrillville. It is intended for use by hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders, and you’ll see all three on beautiful spring days. The trail crosses rivers, ponds, forests, and waterfalls (Stepstone Falls in West Greenwich is a favorite spot of mine). Many places along the Trail are accessible by car or public transport if you feel like driving in for a picnic. The North South Trail: A Guide for Traveling Across Rhode Island for Hikers, Equestrians, and Mountain Bikers (Great Swamp Press, 2002) by Cliff Vanover, gives turn-by-turn descriptions and maps. Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island: 40 Trails for Birders and Nature Lovers (Countryman Press, 1999) by Ken Weber is also a good resource for hikers.

6) A combination of hiking, scavenger hunting, and artistic exchange, letterboxing is a quirky pastime that originated in England and has since made its way across the pond. You’ll need two props: a rubber stamp that becomes your "trademark," and a small notebook or journal. You print clues off the Internet (visit www.letterboxing.org), which direct you toward hidden boxes on various paths, trails, and wooded places. Each box contains a rubber stamp specific to that box, and a notebook. You stamp your stamp in the letterbox’s notebook, and then you stamp the letterbox’s stamp in your notebook. Over time, your journal becomes a cool little scrapbook full of pretty stamps and collected memories of nice walks. The letterbox’s log becomes a colorful compendium of all the travelers that have passed through. The letterboxing Web site has lots of clues to choose from – 14 just in Providence County, ranging from "an easy five minute walk" to "challenging."

7) Explore Colt State Park. The RI Parks Department Web site calls Colt State Park "the ‘gem’ of the state parks system," and it’s easy to see why. There are four miles of bike paths, two miles of bridle paths, 400 picnic tables at 45 sites (including some with barbeque pits; call 401-253-7482 for a reservation), sweeping views of Narragansett Bay, and a saltwater marsh. There are opportunities for just about every kind outdoor activity. Beyond biking, walking, and horseback riding, there’s jogging (even a jogging warm up station), boating (bring your boat, there’s a launch ramp), and fishing. It’s accessible by car or bike via the East Bay Bike Path. Colt can get crowded on a sunny weekend day, so don’t choose this spot if you’re looking for outdoor solitude. But if you enjoy salsa music on portable boom boxes, hordes of happy kids, and a barbeque by the Bay, Colt on a Sunday might be just the place for you. Adjacent to the park is Coggeshall Farm Museum (401-253-9062), an 18th-century working farm with early breeds of farm animals, including short-horned oxen and Tamworth pigs, wandering amongst the visitors (the annual sheep-shearing days are May 8 and 15). And while you’re in Bristol, park yourself on an antique loveseat for high tea at the Basically British Tea Room (401-253-5722), about a mile down the road.

8) South Shore Beach in Little Compton is just about my favorite beach in Rhode Island. The bottom is sandy, not rocky. The swimming is divine. Following the dunes along the beach makes for a nice walk, and the dunes open up to a big salt pond that connects with the ocean at high tide. And if you’re willing to walk a ways, you can always find a nice quiet spot, even on a crowded day. On your way home, stop off at Evelyn’s Nanaquaket Drive-In in Tiverton (2335 Main Rd., Route 77, 401-624-3100, www.evelynsdrivein.com) for a post-beach dinner of fried fish, shrimp, or clams, and wash it all down with a cabinet at Gray’s Ice Cream (401-624-3576, www.graysicecream.com) at Tiverton Four Corners. For those transplants wondering just what a cabinet is, Gray’s employee Shelli Cleary says, "It depends on what age you are — if you were born years ago, they were called cabinets. When I was born, they were called frappes."

9) "Come sit, and listen to the fountain gurgle" at the Fantastic Umbrella Factory in Charlestown (4820 Old Post Rd., 401-364-6616). This is what founder Robert Bankel says is the best thing to do at this spot in the springtime. Contrary to what its name might suggest, the Umbrella Factory is actually a farm, with colorful sprawling gardens, greenhouses, an art gallery, a café, and several shops. Founded as an artists’ colony in 1968, the farm "was named the Umbrella Factory," a sign informs visitors, "because." The factory is a favorite spot for children, because you never know when you might spot an emu munching on lunch or see a waddling pheasant. The main store has penny candy, some of which really costs a penny, and the café boasts outdoor seating and reasonably priced, solid fare. Browse the shops’ hand-blown glass, wood-oven fired ceramics, and instruments and clothes from around the world. Those who can overlook the surfeit of Bob Marley T-shirts, and some of the more kitschy wares, will stumble upon some very cool, and surprisingly affordable, gifts. While in Charlestown, there’s also walking and bird watching at the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. East Beach is adjacent to the refuge, and has some lovely swimming, though parking in the summer can be quite a challenge.

10) Adopt a dog. What better way to enjoy springtime than to bring home an adoring four-legged buddy who requires you — it would be neglectful and mean if you didn’t! — to take several brisk constitutionals a day? A dog’s enthusiasm for running all over creation provides inspiration to explore new trails, parks, and beaches. There are shelters all over the state, but larger shelters, such as those operated by the Providence Animal Rescue League (401-421-1399, www.parl.org) and the Robert Potter League for Animals in Middletown (401-846-8276, www.potterleague.org), are good options since adoptable dogs are spayed or neutered and fully vaccinated, and many have received some obedience training. However, adopting is a big responsibility, and many shelter dogs have already been through trauma and abandonment, so people should pursue this only if they’re truly ready to make a commitment. If you’re unsure, or don’t have the time or energy for a dog of your own, volunteer at a shelter. Both the PARL and the Potter League have extensive outdoor volunteer opportunities, from dog walking and cat socializing, to assisting with obedience training. PARL’s annual Spring Fling Pet Adoptathon and Fair is slated for May 1 and 2, with pets for adoption, a bake sale, pony rides, dog and cat agility courses, and general animal- and kid-friendly outdoor merriment.

These suggestions are deliberately short on specific directions. It is your job, hardy springtime explorer, to begin here and go where you will. Make sure to pack plenty of water, copious sunscreen, and yummy snacks. Happy trails, and as the old Irish proverb says, may the Rhode rise up to meet you.