Wanderlust World Wanderlust World In Narragansett, you can take the kids to play in the batting cages or mini-golf, and ride the go-karts, bumper boats and carousel in Adventureland. (adventurelandri.com). Kids can learn through an interactive science exhibit and buy books in the bookstore at the University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute Visitor Center (omp.gso.uri.edu).
In Westerly, kids can enjoy kiddie rides, the antique 1915 carousel, batting cages, bumper boats, go-karts, miniature golf, a game room and water slides in Atlantic Beach Park (atlanticbeachpark.com), and the waterslides at Water Wizz (waterwizzri.com).
Take the kids to the beach at the 3,100-acre Burlingame State Park (riparks.com), and swimming in the freshwater pond and for a picnic in the 227-acre Ninigret Park (charlestownri.org) in Charlestown.
In Exeter, children can go skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing during the winter, and ride water slides and play in the swimming pool and wading pool during the summer at the Yawgoo Valley Ski Area and Sports Park (yawgoo.com).
Take the kids to Fort Adams (fortadams.org), the largest coastal fortification in the country. Here the kids will learn where the soldiers lived, and see the casemates from which guns were fired and the tunnel system.
The interactive marine science learning center, Save the Bay Exploration Center and Aquarium (savebay.org), features exhibits where children can learn about the different habitats and sea life of Narragansett Bay.
Blackstone River State Park (riparks.com) in Lincoln is a riverfront park where children will enjoy outdoor activities such as biking, walking along trails, canoeing and fishing. From April to October, you can view exhibits about canals, railroads and highways in the park's Captain Wilbur Kelly House Museum.
The entire family can take a bike tour and learn about the historic Blackstone River Valley with Bicycle Blackstone (cycleblackstone.com) in Pawtucket. A two-and-a-half-hour bike tour, offered from May to October, will take you through communities while you hear facts and stories about the area.
For hours of fun, take the kids to the Bank of America City Center Providence (providenceskating.com), where everyone can enjoy ice skating in the 14,000 square-foot rink year-round.
Children will learn about natural and cultural history through exhibits, family programs such as bird walks, and children's programs such as "Space Camp" and "Astronaut Academy," in the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (providenceri.com/museum).
The Providence Children's Museum (childrenmuseum.org) is a hands-on museum for people of all ages. Some of the things you'll see are exhibits on multicultural history, a human skeleton exhibit and a children's garden of plants native to the state. Daily programs for kids are also offered.
Children will enjoy riding the Crescent Park Carousel (no website; 700 Bullocks Point Ave.; E. Providence; 401-435-7518), a National Historic Landmark built in 1895 by Charles I.D. Looff.
In Bristol, take the kids to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island Environmental Education Center (asri.org), a natural history museum and aquarium with interactive environmental exhibits featuring a tide-pool tank, walking trails and a life-size model of a Right Whale. Kids will enjoy picnicking, fishing, horseback riding and water (riparks.com).
See theater, music, poetry, comedy, literature and visual arts exhibits in the Warwick Museum of Art (warwickmuseum.org). New art exhibits and stage performances are presented each month by local, regional and national contemporary artists. Additionally, the museum offers different educational classes and camps for all ages throughout the year, including a summer art camp and beginner's print making, drawing and basics of paper mache classes.