Have to drop them to 3. Had been on a few trips with them that went well, but after this past…read moreFriday they lost me. The 'Friday Funday' Mystic trip was cancelled. Ok. I get it trips get cancelled when there aren't enough people signed up for it. But in this case, they didn't even bother to tell me/us. Even got the confirmation/reminder email the day before. So being at the pickup point and its 5 minutes after we're supposed to leave, I call them to see what's going on and then they tell me it got cancelled and I should've been told Tuesday, but obviously wasn't and again, even got the confirmation/reminder email the day before. As someone that doesn't get a lot of time out work to burn a day off with nothing to show for it is extremely frustrating, and honestly, I just can't risk getting burned again. The owner Ted called later that day offering to make it right and I was refunded the money for the trip and the other trip I cancelled but I can't risk burning another day off with nothing to show for it. The people have always been nice, so I won't completely knock them, but beware even getting a confirmation email the day doesn't mean the trip is happening.

I joined Experience Rhode Island Tours on their A Day on Martha's Vineyard tour. There were three…read moredeparture locations: Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI, Visitor information Center at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI, and the main entrance of Hampton Inn New Bedford in Fairhaven, MA. Ted picked us up from the Visitor information Center two minutes prior to 7:00am. The mini coach bus was pretty full from the first pickup location. We then went on our way to the third pickup location. After our mini coach bus was full, we crossed Bourne Bridge to Woods Hole Terminal in Cape Cod to take a 45 minute Steamship Authority's ferry ride to Oak Bluffs. The ferry ride was smooth. When we got to Oak Bluffs, Ted told us about the history of Martha's Vineyard and gave us a map. First, we went to the fishing village of Menemsha for lunch and I walked to Menemsha Public Beach. Stanley Larsen, owner of Menemsha Fish Market, came on board the bus and showed us the jaws of a great white shark he caught in 1983 while swordfishing. Next, we went to the Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook to admire the beautiful cliffs of Aquinnah and Gay Head Light. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. Then, we explored the lovely harbor of shops and homes in Edgartown. I walked to the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, which is very close to Harbor View Hotel. Ted talked to us about the Chappaquiddick incident that occurred sometime around midnight, between July 18 and 19, 1969, while standing in front of the Harbor View Hotel looking out at the Poucha Pond. On the way to Oak Bluffs, we stopped at the "Jaws Bridge," a popular spot for jumping into the water despite signs prohibiting it. Lastly, we saw the gingerbread cottages and the tabernacle of Oak Bluffs. We then took the Steamship Authority's ferry ride from Vineyard Haven back to Woods Hole Terminal. We returned to Visitor information Center at the Rhode Island Convention Center about 7:30pm. Everyone on the trip were very respectful of the time Ted told us to return to the bus and were very friendly. This was a wonderful, fun, informational day trip to New England's most popular island and I am so glad I got to explore Martha's Vineyard for the first time with Experience Rhode Island Tours. Ted took us on a tour of the entire island, exploring its six towns. The tour included admission to Martha's Vineyard ferry, narrated tour, and round-trip transportation to and from the ferry, and transportation throughout the day on the Vineyard. Experience Rhode Island Tours always does a great job with their tours and I am looking forward to what other tours they plan in the future!

The house is beautiful and full of original furniture. Our guide Elizabeth was very professional,…read moreknowledgeable and friendly. She loves history and answered all our questions. Enjoyed the tour immensely! I would recommend this tour as a DONT MISS!

Last Friday, we had the pleasure of touring the historic Lippitt House in Providence--and it was…read moreabsolutely amazing! What made the experience truly unforgettable was our guide, Elizabeth Gilbert (not the author of Eat, Pray, Love, but THE Elizabeth Gilbert who brings history to life). Her tour was informative, engaging, and full of fascinating details that transported us straight into the elegance of Victorian times. If you're visiting magical Providence, don't miss this gem. It's a beautiful step back in time, guided by someone who clearly loves what she does.

The RISD Museum in Providence is one of those places that catches you off guard with how much it…read morehas to offer, especially if you are not already familiar with it going in. I found the building spanning six floors, and the spaces were well organized throughout, giving each piece enough room to be appreciated properly without the galleries ever feeling sparse or rushed. It is the kind of museum where I could spend a couple of hours moving through it and still feel like I left things unexplored. The collection is the main reason to visit, and it covers a genuinely impressive range, from ancient artifacts and historical portraits all the way through to modern and contemporary works. The curation does a good job of making those transitions between periods feel intentional rather than disjointed, and the rotating exhibits add a reason to come back beyond what is already on permanent display. The Liz Collins exhibit drew a lot of attention during its run and was a strong example of how well the museum handles contemporary work alongside its more classical holdings. Staff were present and approachable throughout the floors, and coat lockers near the entrance were available, a small but appreciated detail on a longer visit. The building was easy to navigate even on a first trip, and the overall experience felt well managed without being overly structured. One thing worth knowing before planning a trip is that Sundays offer free admission to all visitors, which makes it an easy addition to a Providence weekend without having to think twice. Weekday visits run quieter if you prefer more space and a slower pace through the galleries. For a museum connected to an art school, it holds up as one of the stronger art museums in the region and is well worth the time.

The RISD Museum is worth a visit. I'm sharing photos of the pieces that stood out to me most. I…read morestarted in the RISD student galleries, which were full of impressive work. my favorite was a floor installation that looks like a woven rug but is actually made entirely of salt. So many pieces made you stop and think, "How did they do that?!" I visited the whole museum, but my favorites were the Costume & Textile galleries, the exhibit on kingfishers in art and poetry, the European Grand Gallery with its oil paintings and the 18th/19th‑century American rooms in Pendleton House. I also loved how the museum's architecture fits together like a puzzle across several older buildings and street entrances. That was a surprising add-on to the visit. Extra tip: street parking is nearly impossible. Check their website for the free weekend parking lots (within walking distance) they make the visit much easier.

This local art piece is part of the Avenue concept art tour of downtown Providence…read more Erminio Pinque, aka MinioMindWarp, is the author of this piece. He is an educator, Illustrator and creature fabricator, well known in Rhode Island. He is also the Editor of the Comics Page in the free, widely distributed Motif Magazine. In his "Space Transformation Stationary" strip, Minio MindWarp integrates improvised doodle reactions to imagery revealed in his mail art envelope windows. All of them fun and whimsical. As a result of the encouragement by the Avenue Concept to expand public impact beyond the printed page, five creature characters representing abstract & subconscious concepts in corporeal form now exist as large murals framed within the sealed former windows of a demolished building's steel beam supported facade....if you are in this area of downtown Providence, it's fun to look a these colorful pieces.

Recently, I took part of the Providence Ghost Tour. It was great…read more Courtney, our tour guide and owner was full of information, stories and tidbits regarding the history of Providence and some of its famous ghosts who actively still make themselves visible in the area. The tour starts and ends at Prospect Terrace Park, right by the Roger Williams statue. It is about 90 minutes long and it does take you around several sites around College Hill where you will hear stories about lovers, soldiers, poets and many other who have died and have stayed behind as ghosts. Check it out next time you have a few free hours during the evening. Tours run daily.

Did the ghost tour from Prospect Park on Tuesday night with my newly graduated kid. Was a fabulous…read moreexperience and Courtney is so knowledgeable, funny, personable, organized and prepared! You can tell how much she cares about Providence and the world of life and death :) It was a terrific experience and I felt very important following my guide in her gorgeous period dress, too. Thank you!

This food and historical tour usually takes place on Saturdays during the warm season in…read moreProvidence's Federal Hill area. This year the tour will run until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The focus of the tour is to learn about the mafia personalities of the 20th century in the Italian section of Providence (Federal Hill). Pat was our guide and she gave a great summary of the highlights related to Raymond Petrarca and his relationship with the crime lords in the country, not only New England but also along the East Coast, Midwest and West Coast. Another personality that was highlighted was Buddy Cianci, two times mayor of Providence and larger-than-life figure in Rhode Island history. The tour made a stop at five restaurants for a culinary taste of the Hill...highlighting homemade fresh pasta dishes, meatballs, pizza, eggplant appetizers, mortadella and cheese rolls and dessert. All delicious. The tour runs for about 3.5 hours and it costs $70 for the historical and gastronomical experience. Very nice for those into history, mafia and crime.

This was a fun afternoon out. Katherine was our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and easy to…read moretalk with. The food was excellent!

Vasanzio 'Troy' is a modern stainless steel art piece that consists of five steel beams caught in a…read moremomentary state of equilibrium. Their various sizes and tapered edges play with the viewer's sense of perspective and the artwork's overall sense of balance and composition. By "drawing" the form of the sculpture in tandem with its surrounding space, artist Steven Buduo explores a variety of hidden synchronicities and meanings--equilibrium versus instability, stasis versus movement, order versus chaos. Buduo, the artist uses a language of art-making informed equally by the surrounding architecture, the human condition, and the unyielding laws of the natural sciences. Buduo sees art as a way to bring to the forefront the limits of our perspectives, and his hope is that viewers find themselves intellectually challenged and hooked into a moment of contemplation and reflection. When I saw this piece for the first time, I thought, oh...just some pieces of metal put together, but as I walked around it, I could see the different angles and perspectives...and many of them provide a different feel for the art piece. Many flowers surround it, making the visual impact different from different points of sight.

The art club is so cool! The building itself is amazing and I love that they occasionally open it…read moreup to the public! I have been before and got a tour of the space from the former president of the club. This space is truly amazing! I went last night for an opening. The art is beautiful and they have a bar (credit card only). I had a nice glass of wine and spent some time with friends.

We go every year around the holidays to see the Little Picture Show. All the artwork in the show is…read moresmall format original works by local artists and the pieces are priced under $350. There's a good variety of different styles and mediums (jewelry, photos, paintings). A great spot to get a unique holiday gift and also support a local artist! The club itself is located in a very cool historic building. The period details are beautiful. You can get a drink in the lounge/bar area and hang out by the fireplace. They also offer art classes to the community which I haven't taken yet, so I can't comment on that. Definitely a unique spot to check out and a true gem of Providence history!