Roger Williams Park, Rhode Island
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Most major American cities were designed with a large park to serve as a tranquil getaway from city life for urban residents, but few can compare with Roger Williams Park in Rhode Island. Covering hundreds of acres of hiking trails, lakes, sports facilities, historic buildings, monuments, and museums, Roger Williams Park is worthy of an entire vacation. Its location in Providence puts it in the heart of New England—a diverse coastal region filled with natural landscapes, quaint waterfront villages, and beautiful cities. Spread throughout this region are some of the country’s most luxurious RV parks and resorts, which means a vacation in a rented RV might just be the perfect way to explore Roger Williams Park and everything else the Providence area has to offer. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your incredible vacation behind the wheel of a comfortable recreational vehicle.
Roger Williams Park covers 427 acres of beautifully landscaped public grounds filled to the brim with activities and sights for you to enjoy on your visit. Popular places for a stroll include the park’s Japanese Garden with its beautiful cherry blossom trees and the Rose Gardens, a meticulously maintained Victorian garden located near the Casino: the park’s beautiful manor. The Temple to Music stands like an ancient Greek temple over the landscape, and the city of Providence’s Mounted Command horses graze on the lands near the Botanical Center.
To really make sure you see everything on your walks through the park (because one walk isn’t enough to see it all), download a free self-guided tour map. It’ll point out the many statues and monuments dotted throughout the grounds, including the Williams family cemetery and the classic Betsey Williams Cottage. For more information about everything to see in Roger Williams Park, click here.
There’s more to do than just walk through the grounds of Roger Williams Park. The facilities in the park also include some great outdoor activities the whole family will love. If your family is big into bicycling, be sure to bring your bikes along to enjoy the bike park, which includes a well-maintained pump track for BMX enthusiasts, plus an off-road bike trail. Little ones will love the park’s excellent playground and the little free libraries spread throughout the park where they can grab a book and a spot under a tree for a relaxing read. Learn more about these attractions on the park’s website.
The park is also home to expansive waterways, and the facilities here are designed to help visitors make the most of the water with boat tours and rentals. Rent some kayaks for a contemplative paddle, or an electric boat to fit the whole family. The park’s famous swan boats are a romantic activity for two. For the kids, a tour of the park’s lakes on Captain Jack’s pirate boats will surely make for an unforgettable experience.
Get up close and personal with the sloths and other residents of Roger Williams Park Zoo and Carousel Village, a world-class zoo located within the park. The zoo is home to dozens of animal species, including green anacondas, giant anteaters, bison, giraffes, cheetahs, and the rare endangered snow leopard. The animals are grouped in excellent exhibits designed to educate visitors on a variety of habitats, like the familiar North America exhibit to more exotic exhibits like Marco Polo’s Adventure Trek, Faces of the Rainforest, and Fabric of Africa.
An extension of the zoo just a quarter mile away; Carousel Village is a family-favorite destination worth a visit in its own right. The highlight is the massive boundless playground where little ones can play to their heart’s content. Other attractions include train rides, pony rides, a bounce house, and a ride on the park’s titular carousel. Depending on when you’re visiting, there are regular and seasonal events worth planning around, including Food Truck Fridays which give a taste of the city of Providence in one convenient spot.
The state of Rhode Island’s only natural history museum is located inside Roger Williams Park. The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium is a can’t miss destination in the park worth an entire day’s visit to explore everything on display. Circles of the Sea captures both the anthropology and natural history of Oceania, with a close look at seafaring life on the Pacific as well as a diverse collection of birds, mollusks, and coral from the ocean. Natural Selections celebrates the museum’s Victorian roots, showcasing not only the many taxidermized specimens of the museum’s growing collection, but also the work and scholarship that go into maintaining such a collection.
A big part of the museum is about looking beyond earth, as well. The Planetarium is a fan favorite that offers enlightening shows about the night sky, astrophysics, and everything humanity has learned about our place among the stars. There’s also a special exhibit: Many Inspired Steps, which explores the Apollo 11 mission and all of the ingenuity and hard work that went into that historic voyage to the moon. For more information about visiting the museum, as well as these and other exhibits, visit the official museum website.
Roger Williams Park’s Botanical Center is a seriously impressive monument to the wonder of our planet’s plant life. Comprised of two massive greenhouses (The Conservatory and the Mediterranean Room), two smaller but still impressive greenhouses, and a sprawling outdoor garden, the Botanical Center is home to hundreds of different plant species all on beautiful display.
Keep in mind that the Botanical Center is only open on the weekends, from Friday through Sunday. Advanced reservations are a must, as they only let a certain number of guests into the facilities on any given day to maintain the center’s peaceful, reflective mood. Learn more about the Botanical Center and reserve your tickets here.
Circle CG Farm Campground is an RV resort with a fantastic country-western theme in Bellingham, Massachusetts. With 150 full hookup RV sites plus two pools, shuffleboard, mini-golf, horseshoes, bocci, and a fishing pond, Circle CG Farm has everything a family needs to make for a memorable getaway right in the heart of the Golden Triangle.
Sitting right on the state line between Rhode Island and Connecticut in East Killingly, Connecticut, Stateline Campresort & Cabins is a quaint but active resort perfect for families. Grab one of their 200 full hookup RV sites, each one in the shade of the forest, and enjoy the private lake with canoe and kayak rentals, plus plenty of planned activities for all ages.
Earning a coveted perfect 10/10/10 score from the Good Sam Club, Normandy Farms Family Camping Resort in Foxboro, Massachusetts has a reputation as one of the most luxurious RV resorts in New England. The beautiful lodge and pool area are the highlight here, offering comfort and all the amenities you’d expect from a world-class resort in a beautiful wooded campground setting.
Ginny-B Campground in Foster, Rhode Island is another great family camping destination in the Providence area with 200 electric/water hookup sites, many of which also offer sewage hookups. Guests love the eight modern shower facilities, the fishing pond, swimming, and many outdoor sporting courts. There’s also a great recreation hall and game room for a rainy day.
Meadowlark RV Park in Middleton, Rhode Island offers spacious back-in RV sites, many with full 30-amp hookup service and WiFi available throughout the park. Its close proximity to the city of Newport on the sea makes this a great spot for a combined vacation to Providence’s Roger Williams Park and the Atlantic coast.
For dining inside Roger Williams Park, the Zoo is your best bet for a snack or a full meal. The Zoo offers three dining options, including Tuskers Café, Nourish 401, and Slice (where, fittingly, you can buy pizza by the slice). For more information on the concessions at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, click here.
Providence’s claim to culinary fame is the city’s Little Italy neighborhood, where you can enjoy incredible Italian meals or grab a simple deli sandwich from an Italian market. Locals love spots like Andino’s Italian Restaurant, Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen Italian Restaurant, and Angelo’s Restaurant. Don’t miss excellent delis like Tony’s Colonial Food, where you can grab a capicola sandwich or a refreshing Italian soda.
For a complete list of restaurants in the Providence area, including more Italian options in Little Italy, visit the city’s tourism website.