6 Ways to Celebrate Spring Break in Rhode Island
Friday, March 16, 2012
We'd all love to run off to Miami or Cancun or Europe for spring break, but let's face it: most of us can't afford it. Or maybe your boss won't let you off work. Either way, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a spring-break style staycation right here at home. We’ve rounded up six of them, so you can get in the vacation mindset without leaving the state.
Beach-Worthy Drinks
Sipping tropical drinks on the beach is what vacation is all about. But who says you need the beach for the drinks? The Red Parrot Restaurant in Newport has a huge list of fruity, delicious cocktails and frozen drinks for you to enjoy. Exeter’s Celestial Café offers specialty martinis (many of them tropical), plus different kinds of margaritas and sangria. And speaking of margaritas, Lola’s Cantina in Providence makes $4 traditional margaritas, plus some more fun and interesting varieties as well. And with $2 Taco Tuesdays, you can enjoy your own Mexican fiesta on the water cheaply and easily. Red Parrot, 348 Thames St, Newport, 847-3800. Celestial Café, 567 South County Trail (Rt 2), Exeter, 295-5559. Lola’s, 525 South Water St, Providence, 383-0220.
Tropical spa treatments
So you're not staying at a five star hotel. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy a resort-style five star spa experience. Spa Mosaic in South Kingstown offers a Caribbean Spa manicure and pedicure, using a unique exfoliating blend and warm seaweed masque. They also have a similar Caribbean Therapy Body Treatment to exfoliate your skin and relax you. The Island Bliss Manicure Spa and Pedicure at the Spa at the Providence Biltmore uses the scents of coconut
milk, star fruit, and island flowers to transport you to the beautiful island of Fiji. And for a full-body experience, the Pure Fiji Hydrating Body Treatment combines raw cane sugar, exotic oils, and coconut milk to help you forget that you're only a few minutes from home. Spa Mosaic, South County Commons, 25 Village Square Drive, South Kingstown, 792-3030. Spa at the Providence Biltmore, 11 Dorrance St, Providence, 800-294-7709.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
Tanning
One of the best parts of going on vacation is coming back with a sun-kissed golden brown complexion. But there are some places in Rhode Island that can help you tan without the sun. Flawless Airbrush Tanning in Cranston can tan your whole body, lower half, upper half, or just face and neck with great service. They also have an express option for those who can’t wait 8 hours to shower afterwards. Sunsational Tanning in Rumford, Rhode Island’s largest salon under one roof, has many options for sunless tanning as well (they have beds too, although we prefer the less harmful spray). Everyone will be asking where you went for vacation, and no one has to know the truth. Flawless, 49 Shirley Blvd, Cranston, 824-4611. Sunsational, 202 Newport Ave, Rumford, 438-8266.
Concerts
They may not be outdoors, but there are plenty of great concerts coming up right here. On March 26 glam rock band Foxy Shazam is coming to The Met in Pawtucket, while Cloud Nothings, one of Pitchfork.com’s designated “best new music” bands, plays at Fete in Olneyville. On March 28, Band of Skulls, whose music you may have heard on Gossip Girl, True Blood, and many video games and commercials, are going to electrify Lupo’s, and for something a little heavier, The Devil Wears Prada (band, not movie), are playing at the same place on March 30. In addition, Third Eye Blind and Matisyahu are playing together at the Ryan Center at URI on April 1. MTV won’t be there, but then again, would you really want them to be? The Met, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket, 729-1005. Fete, 103 Dike St, Providence, 383-112. Lupo’s, 79 Washington St, Providence, 331-LUPO.
Hot Yoga
New England weather is such a tease--one day it will be 60 degrees, the next day it’s snowing. But you can enjoy the benefits of warm weather no matter how it feels outside with heated yoga. Raffa Yoga in Cranston offers many different types of yoga classes from beginner to advanced, with most of them in a well-heated room up to 90 degrees. They also have an Urban Sweat relaxation area with heated rooms of all types, from steam to charcoal to salt grotto, all designed to allow you to kick back and forget about the stresses of daily life. Ocean State Bikram Yoga in Pawtucket specializes in, well, Bikram Yoga. The hot rooms helps muscles stretch and rejuvenate your system, and it’s a great workout, too! So lower your heating bill and try out a healthy way to get warm. Raffa, 19 Sharpe Drive, Cranston, 463-3335. Ocean State, 560 Mineral Spring Ave #104, Pawtucket, 743-5405.
Heated Golf
For the guys (and girl golfers), Mulligan’s Island in Cranston is fun even if the weather isn’t so spring-like yet. They have a driving range with 20 covered and heated stalls, so you can stay warm while practicing your swing. And if it isn’t so cold, they have two mini-golf courses and a 9 hole-course as well. If you don’t mind it being a bit chilly, North Kingstown Golf Course is one of the best courses in the state. You play right off the Narragansett Bay, so you’ll get those nice nautical breezes, and you’ll probably get to see some beautiful spring foliage in bloom. Heated or not, you can feel like a yuppie in Bermuda while enjoying some good old Rhode Island sun. Mulligan’s, 1000 New London Ave, Cranston, 464-8855. North Kingstown Golf Course, 615 Callahan Rd, North Kingstown (Davisville), 294-0684 (Pro Shop) or 294-4051(Tee Times).
For more seasonal fun and games, don't miss GoLocalTV, fresh every day at 4pm and on demand 24/7, here.
