Hidden gem and a nice walk down a private road surrounded by a much of homes I probably won't be…read moreable to afford until I'm in my 60s. Makes you feel really poor alright. You can also see Taylor Swift's mansion from the lighthouse. The views are phenomenal and there's also a really nice lawn area to just lay down and hang out.

Some lighthouses are super convenient. Some are not. This one falls into the latter category as…read moreit's a pretty good 20 minutes from where US-1 passes through Westerly. Lighthouses are on the coast, of course. And this one is on a small spit of land that juts out a bit into the Block Island Sound. There has been a lighthouse here since 1745 that goes back to the Rhode Island colonial government. The original structure was destroyed by a storm in 1781 and was replaced at least once. The current structure was completed in 1856. There is no vehicle access to the lighthouse other than those with handicapped placards. You'll need to find parking near Watch Hill Beach and walk down. It's an easy and pleasant walk. [Review 18662 overall - 81 in Rhode Island - 2184 of 2022.]

Charming and peaceful. Enjoyed the complementary seeds for the garden. Great local spotread more

A library that…read more feels like a home Way back in the year 1888 a generous and benevolent fellow named Joseph Langworthy decided he wanted to leave something to the town of Hope Valley to remember him by. He threw around some ideas with family members and came up with the inspiration of a library. So he donated five thousand dollars and started the Joseph Langworthy Public Library. In the beginning the library had a whopping 800 books but quickly grew. In fact it grew so much that they town officials had to keep finding new places to put the library. Finally in 1934 they decided to build a new structure that would have enough room for future improvements. Although a new wing was completed in 1957 the building looks pretty much the way it did when it was built. That's part of the huge charm of the library, it feels and looks more like someones house rather than a stuffy old library. A very pleasant and friendly young lady was working inside and she answered my stupid questions and told me to look around. This library is exceptionally cozy, with a fireplace, fish tank and lots of very cool pictures on the walls. You go down some steep wooden steps and you end up in the children's department. When I was there some kids were playing on the floor and there were toys all over the place. Obvious a place for doing more than just reading. The library has an archives room with lots of local history, genealogy and civil war and colonel records. It's usually staffed by volunteers so you either have to make arraignments or be lucky to use it. The library also has knitting and craft groups, book clubs and tons of books on plants and gardening. I guess being out in the boonies puts an emphasis on botany and agronomy literature. A very cool library that has a relaxed and homey feel to it. It even has a great view of a nice pond out the back. A great place to learn or experience the feel of a small New England town.

The South County Art Association is a nonprofit that offers both a fine art gallery with a small…read moregift shop and classes in painting, printmaking, stone carving, and pottery. The studio classes are not well advertised and are sort of a "best-kept secret" of the South County art scene. Not many commercial studios have the resources that the SCAA has. The pottery studio (or "Pot Shop") in particular is fabulous. Small but well-stocked, with frequent firings in both gas and electric kilns, as well as on-demand raku firings (for the price of labor and gas), there isn't a better place to do pottery. Classes allow unlimited studio access, and the usual Pottery I and II are usually augmented with specialty class or two and workshops that bring in well-regarded potters from all over New England to demonstrate personal techniques. The members are convivial, too -- Monday morning coffees for work and socializing are generally well-attended. All SCAA members get to participate in the juried member shows and the Holiday Sale, as well as other annual events like The Great Art Heist.

South County Art Association is a very well run organization…read more The folks are really welcoming and friendly. The exhibitions are hung to perfection. Its a great place to be a member.

This place is a staple to Charlestown. Coffee, breakfast, organic produce, plants, pick your own…read moreflowers, ice cream... not just regular ice cream, all the toppings too. Fun for the kids! Candy, chocolate, items for charcuterie boards. Candles, garden items and more. Amazing place to pick up a gift for a loved one. We go here weekly!

Very nice atmosphere.. a lil pricey .. but quality products..!! Enjoyed the staff ... plenty of…read moreparking .. easy access ..

I love the vintage classic look of theaters like this. I imagine it was originally built as a old…read moretheater in the 40s or 50s and has been renovated over the years. I enjoyed the seating and setup while watching our movie. I do with the seats leaned back, but that wasn't a big deal. The sound system was very good! I'd definitely recommend coming here for new releases.

This theater delighted and surprised me when I went to hear a world renowned guitar legend. I had…read morenever been before and was expecting a much smaller venue. Very well-maintained with a small bar and snacks stand; the gallery portion featured unusual prints and artwork. The area in which the band played was comfortable and roomy and although the seats were fold up style there was plenty of space to stretch out. The executive director of the organization was on hand to greet people when they came and when they left, showing the dedication of the staff. I will definitely be back for another show.

This Sculpture park is a unique and hidden gem located on Green Hill Beach rd on the border of…read moreSouth Kingstown and Charlestown. There are 23 sculptures nestled amongst the trees and trails. Bring bug spray during peak season. Even though the walk is short, there is quite a bit of vegetation and amazing art on display. My favorite was the HUGE bull as you first walk in. This thing is massive and a fun way to enter the park. More info: The South Kingstown Land Trust Sculpture Trail is a short .4 mile walk that mingles nature with art. Enter the trail at the midpoint and notice the large map indicating the location of each sculpture. Walkers may turn right or left to explore the 3 acres of easy trails and diverse sculptures. Look for dream catchers and crystals, poetry boxes and a giant red cow. The Sculpture Trail is a great place for a slow walk through the woods or a visit with children who will love to find each sculpture. Be sure to stop at the final sculptures and turn around, as the property and trails come very close to private property.

A truly different experience from the exemplary SKLT, the Sculpture Trail is whimsical and charming…read morewhile taking full advantage of the natural beauty inherent. Kudos to those who made this possible and the artists who contributed their work! If visiting in the fall, the brilliant foliage colors and drifting leaves complement the artworks nicely. My only quibble is that I wish there were informational tags attached to the sculptures so that you knew what the piece was called and the artist (apparently, there's supposed to be an informational placard at the trail entrance, but this was missing at the time of our visit; the SKLT trail map brochure, however, does list the pieces' name/artist, but we didn't have one on us). Upon entrance to the trail, you are greeted by a massive bull made from, of course, a barbeque grill ("Sir Loin Barbeque Bull" by Sean Harrington) - and from there, you're off to follow the meandering trails to discovery. There's also a Fairy Village for visitors to build their own fairy houses, so would also be a fun place for the kids.

I'm challenging myself to visit all public libraries in the state of Rhode Island this year. This…read morelibrary was the fifth one I visited. The first thing I noticed that made this library unique was the park in the backyard of the library. It's huge and beautiful, especially in the summer when the plants and trees bloom (I imagine), and there are statues and fountains. I walked around the park before heading inside to check out the library. There are so many nooks and crannies in this library, it's like everywhere you turn there's a cozy spot to do homework or read a good book. There was a book club in session while we were there. They also had a maritime museum, where they had artwork on sale and it was pretty cool. One other thing that caught my attention was these plants they had growing in little glass tubes in their plant library section. Downstairs by the entrance they also have a healthy variety of plants that look well taken care of. I really enjoyed my time here.

A grand old…read more library Westerly Public Library was opened way back in 1894 to commemorate the volunteers that fought in the civil war. It was built on land donated by Stephen Wilcox and originally held about 5,000 books. Actually a pretty large number for the time. Since then it has changed and grew and doubled in size with the additions in 1992. It now has 170,000 items including audio books, cd's and of course computers. However, even with all the modern additions and conveniences, it has never lost the cool, old feel and ambiance. The outside of the library is impressive. Like some grand old Victorian home or mansion. I have heard that when the library first opened it held a bowling alley and gymnasium. They are now long gone but it's easy to see how they could have fit because this library is huge, with all kinds of spaces, hallways and cool little study and meeting rooms. The library is a very efficient place to work and the librarians are helpful and friendly. However the real charm of the library is the building itself. Such a cool place just to walk around and look at the architecture and cool decor. Lots of places to sit by yourself and read of just look out a window. If you get tired of being inside you can stroll around the grounds or sit outside on a bench and admire the grand old building from the outside. There are lots of libraries in the world. Most are friendly and efficient places to work or get information. However few I have seen have the impressive grandeur and sense of history of the Westerly Public Library. It would be a very cool place even without the books and computers.

A beautifully landscaped and aesthetically pleasing educational venue. Focusing on Rhode Island…read moreindigenous species of butterflies and moths...you will get swept away amidst the soft fluttering wings of the butterflies and the giant leave eating machines of the caterpillars. The Farmer's Daughter Garden Center is home to the pavilion and is beautiful in its own right.