Have you ever thought you could easily do something that turned out to be far more difficult than…read moreyou expected. Ever attempt to do something in a group and you wind up being the ONLY one who can't get it right? Well, I have never lived in that world! I've never even visited the land of 'NoCanDo', but today I got a first class ticket. THE SCENE My family and I have been looking forward to our New England visit for months, and NUMBER ONE on our must do list was kayaking with Brian S. Seriously, how hard can it be? Well, let me just say that dagnabbit yak kicked my arse so bad even my children were making fun of me. After a few minutes of basic instructions they were off and yaking like pro's. Even worse, my wife (who didn't want to do it in the first place, but was being a good sport) jumped on and had no problems. But me... not so much. It was an epic fail. EXCUSES, EXCUSES I'm telling you, that kayak was against me! Damn thing must have been rigged because I've never sucked so bad at anything in all my life. Brian said a man's center of gravity is higher than a woman's or a child, so it was natural that I would have the most difficult time. But of my 4 or 5 attempts (I lost count), each ended with a face plant in the water as my wife hysterically laughed from the shore and continually snapped pics of me sinking like the titanic! I was doing okay on my third attempt until my kids said they spotted a jelly fish and I just could not focus on anything but the water around me. Bad move. Most of my time today felt like I was in a rap video, because my favorite position seemed to be "Face down, butt up!" Yes, it's true... I TOTALLY SUCK at kayaking, but Narragansett Bay had something to do with it. I kept loosing focus due to the beauty of the bay views. Yeah, that's it, it was the Bay views and those dang winds! The water current didn't help either. I was so horribly bad Brian offered to take me to a public pool where maybe I could yak on calm waters. Can you imagine the shame of sitting in the middle of a pool with little children wondering what I'm doing... and why I can't seem to stay upright? LOL FINAL THOUGHTS In this episode of man verses yak, the yak won. But, I will be back. Why? Because I can't let my wife continue to wake up from her sleep laughing at the expression on my face as I was "going down" as she enthusiastically likes to put it. She needs her sleep and I need to get this Band-Aid off my ego. Until then Longmeadow @ Narragansett Bay, I have you in my sights. PS Local news reports say the fishing is so good here that some guy on a kayak kept trying to catch fish with his face. Wonder who that could've been? If you need further details, please feel free to ask my wife if you happen to see her. She will be more than happy to recap the entire experience! GRRRRR

I really really love the lake it is so cool i go. Sking and I am very excited to get back there to…read morego swing sking and tubing their

Yes, it's purportedly the largest natural lake in southern New England, but that's not saying much!…read moreMeasuring in at a modest 2.3 square miles, it pales in comparison to its large lake neighbors to the north like Moosehead Lake (117 sq. miles) Lake Winnipesaukee (72 sq. miles), or the gigantic Lake Champlain (490 sq. miles). That said, Lake Webster is well maintained, and offers sufficient area for skiing, tubing, sailing, or swimming. On a hot day, it's a great spot to cool off with a dip, and it has three restaurants, all with accessible docks on the lake. Samuel Slater's Restaurant is the best restaurant on the lake and offers great views from their deck. It's located on a small beach at Indian Ranch. Indian Ranch is an RV park and entertainment venue and owns a small paddlewheel boat called the Indian Princess that offers sunset cruises during the summer months. There is a nice beach on the lake, at least two boat launches, three marinas, kayak rentals and unfortunately only one recently closed gas station. Considering the modest size, it may surprise fellow Yelpers that the lake boasts one of the longest names in the world, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. Some say the actual name isn't the 45-letter behemoth above, that it's really Lake Chaubunagungamaug. Regardless, since I can now pronounce the long version, I'm sticking with that one!

I love India Point Park & I love that they've been doing more work to make it nicer and more…read moreinviting. The swings are a great addition, and I use the bike path and walking paths there frequently. As the weather gets better, I'm looking forward to spending more time there. It's always nice to grab a coffee from somewhere on Wickenden and set up in the park for a bit to enjoy the water and the people.

One of my favorite parks in Rhode Island!…read more So well maintained & full of nature (bugs, birds, squirrels, & more) despite being very much in the middle of the city. It connects Wickenden to the water in such a pleasant way. I also swear the plants & trees cut down the traffic noise from the evil Washington Bridge - which is much appreciated. Whoever was on the civil engineering team for designing this park deserves major props. Big fan.

A short hike brings you to a beautiful waterfall surrounded by large boulders perfect for…read moresunbathing. The area is posted "no swimming", but there were people in the water. It is also posted "no picnicking". The Willimantic River is not known for it's purity, so bathe at your own risk. Although the hike is short and easy, it is rocky and tree roots are staggered throughout. If you're careful you could probably get away with flip flops. There is also a

Beautiful!!! This little spot is amazing. The water is so beautiful. Definitely be mindful of the…read moreweather.

Went on a squid fishing trip on their boat and it was an awesome experience. And this is coming…read morefrom someone who gets seasick. ***In a rush? Skip to the end for my tips.*** The squid fishing excursion was from 7pm to 1am, which started with a nice sunset view while we moved towards our destination. When we finally anchored, we were instructed to start by lowering our lines. And from that point, it was so much fun being able to haul up 1 or 2 or even 3 squids at a time. There were definitely moments where we had to be patient, but success rate was 80% of the time. It was a great, positive first time experience squid fishing. We did relocate to a second location before the night ended and we caught a lot there, too. Our group of 6 (one of them a 10 year old) caught about 160 squids! The kid caught the most out of all of us, one squid after another, almost nonstop. The crew was awesome. AWESOME! They were so courteous, helpful, patient, kind, and thoughtful. They were constantly going around and giving people tips, helping us unhook squids or untangle our lines, and were constantly cleaning. They were so helpful, so tipping was a must! Once we started squid fishing, everyone on the boat was very helpful and friendly to each other. So, even if it's your first time or going by yourself, there will always be someone nearby who can give you advice or help you out. COVID safety - When we were in the inside area, we had to wear masks, but when we were out on the deck, that was a personal choice. Tips for Squid Fishing (from a total newbie - wish someone gave me this kind of advice beforehand) - Wear layers because it gets colder at night and it can get windier and even colder on the water. Take a look at the night time temperature and wind speed beforehand. - Arrive earlier so that you have time to claim your spot and set up your equipment. It seemed that the spots where they had the bright lights were hotspots for successful squid catching. - I saw that people who had 3 jigs on their lines tend to catch more. Also, I heard that the color of your jigs matter. Supposedly white was an attractive color. And, everyone had a weight on their lines. I suggest researching more about this. If you need equipment, I believe you can rent them for a fee. - Make sure to bring something to transport your catch, like a cooler or an insulated bag. And, make sure to bring ice to keep your catch cool. Don't forget to take into consideration that you have to carry that cooler off the boat after it is filled with your catch. They do have buckets on the boat that they let you use, but you can't take them. - You could bring your own food and alcohol. - Be aware that you will be standing close to each other, so there might be water or ink spraying from squids, hooks getting caught in your clothes, and sometimes your lines do get tangled. - There's a section of the deck where you could rinse your buckets and your catch. They also give you some bags to pack your catch. - Towards the end of the trip, as we made our way back to shore, the crew started cleaning and mopping the deck. So, most people packed ahead of time - cleaning up their lines, packing away their jigs, packing their catch - so when the boat docked, they were able to leave right away. - A lot of people brought towels or paper towels to clean up the squid water or ink that gets sprayed on them or the area around them. - If you get seasick easily, definitely take medicine and don't have a big meal beforehand. The boat does get rocky because of the waves, but it wasn't too bad, thanks to the medicine. - There are bathrooms on each side of the deck, one for men and one for women. They are simple bathrooms with basic functions in a tight space. The floors were wet from the ocean water (I think?!).

We just got back from a little summer vacation in Narragansett, RI, and boy were we glad we made a…read morefishing trip on Seven B'S V part of the trip. It was a fun and affordable trip, and we caught enough sea bass to bring back to the campsite for a meal so large we could barely finish it. I'll break down the key highlights of our morning fishing trip on this ship: -Service: The crew could not have been more courteous and professional. They moved quickly and readily to help unhook fish, untangle lines and provide advice. The also filet the fish you catch at the end of the trip. The ship was also clean and well kept, and it is just obvious they want to put their best foot forward for the passengers. -Value: Compared to the egregious cost of private charters, this trip was a very fair deal, especially for casual fisherpeople who don't have much equipment or boat access.. Rods and bait are provided, and you are allowed to bring two beers per person and snacks in a cooler. -Fish: There were plenty of fish to be caught. At times there was a fish coming up every minute on someone's pole. The ship knew where to go for fish, and when to move on to the next spot when things got quiet. -Fun: We had a blast, and will make this a regular part of visits to this area.

I thought that the staff was extremely knowledgeable and I learned quite a bit on the whale watch…read morethis week. I appreciated the care that the team took to give the whales some space while they were doing their essential feeding. I do recommend bringing some anti-nausea measures with you.

Our whale watching experience here was absolutely fantastic! The crew on the boat were a pleasure…read moreto be around and they made the experience educational and fun. Our reservation time got changed due to the location of the whales, but they informed us early enough to make reasonable accommodations and it worked out even better for us. We got to see so many animals, and we even saw a fin whale and her calf. The food on board was surprisingly good as well, although if you want to save a couple bucks, you can always bring snacks with you. I highly recommend giving Captain John Boats a shot if you're interested in seeing whales

Stopped by on my way to last resort. Nice little place. Small parking lot, which always prevented…read moreme from stopping sooner. Great views, looks like a resevoir.

Peaceful place for meditation or contemplation! It is fairly quiet and located across the street…read morefrom Wesco Oil. The place is nicely maintained and what you take in, you will have to take out. Parking is easy. There are classes offered for paddleboarding.

What a lovely space just a few miles out of Providence. Picturesque and lots of picnic tables…read more Playground and beach. There are walking trails that lead into the quiet of the trees. The parking lot off the main road is small, however their are many more spaces available down Govenor Notte Parkway. Bathrooms open during Summer, portapotty in the fall.

Nice park, tennis court nearby with a bigger section to park if you walk down the street. Kayakers…read moreand fisherman can be seen off the side of the road. Swimming and small beach for the kids and a Playground, also benches. Benches can be quite dirty tho as well as the bridge rails full of spiderwebs and bugs. There's Also a baseball field. Beautiful sunset over the water at the right time but mosquitos can eat you up. There's events here for many occasions too.

One of the most beautiful parks in Rhode Island. I love to visit at dawn or early in the morning…read morewhen you pretty much have the entire park to yourself and the deer. Be ready to take plenty of photos. It's a photographers dream in every season, any time of day.

One of my favorite parks ever, truly a beautiful, happy place for me. Here's everything I love…read moreabout it: 1. Easy access to/from Boston, I've never run into bad traffic the way the Cape is perpetually backlogged. Also a convenient location where, if you're coming from the north, you drive through the cute downtown stretch of Bristol by the water filled with cafes and shops. 2. Free entry and parking. I love the state parks in Massachusetts but I don't love the ever-increasing cost of accessing a green space, especially if you're coming from out-of-state. 3. There's so much to do - walk the paved path along the water, bike, check out the small beach, picnic, etc. My favorite spot to park is by the playground/skateboard area and then do a loop around. There's also a forested hiking trail if you want to wander around a forest without any serious elevation gain. 4. The whole place is spotless and lovingly maintained. If you're swinging through Providence and want your fill of nature, definitely recommend this park.

What a fantastic day!!…read more My friend and I just had an amazing day with Captain Rene off the shore of Newport, with his On the Rocks Charter. He's such a knowledgeable and fun guide. My friend and I caught many stripe bass and blue fish, even on a sub-optimal weather day. He just knows where to go. He's also really great with helping us improving our fishing techniques and entertain us with great fish stories. He far exceeded all my expectations. We highly recommend him.