Destination: Labor Day Weekend
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Earl's gone, and it's back to sunny, blue skies. If you haven’t enjoyed all that Li'l Rhody has to offer this summer, there’s still time to fit in a visit to a few of the places that have been on your perennial to-do list. Visit one or more of these half-dozen locales and send off the season in style.
1. Block Island
Block Island is a no brainer, and while locals will tell you September is the island’s best kept secret, those looking for a last hurrah should head on over to The Block before bars and restaurants start to shutter (which can begin as early as Labor Day Monday). Suggestion: Make ferry reservations in advance or you may find yourself landlocked all weekend.
2. Newport
Sure, Newport’s a gem anytime of year, but Labor Day weekend is chock full of things to do in the City-by-the-Sea, including the annual Waterfront Irish Festival and the Museum of Yachting’s 31st Annual Classic Yacht Regatta and Parade, plus its your last chance to see the Surf Island exhibit at the Newport Art Museum, or you can kick back and check out Ballard Park’s outdoor screening Twilight: New Moon. Visit www.gonewport.com for a complete event calendar.
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Watch the surfers vying to hang 10 in hurricane-affected seas. They’ll be just about everywhere, but we recommend grabbing some doughboys from Iggy’s or Aunt Carrie’s (we’ll let you battle it out) and rolling down Ocean Road to the parking lot parallel the Point Judith Lighthouse. Landlubbers, however, can shake their tail feathers at the 13th Annual Rhythm & Roots Festival featuring cajun, zydeco, blues, country and swing and music.
4. Portsmouth
We’ve covered Newport Polo, played at Portsmouth’s Glen Park (note: start time for September matches, starting this weekend, are changed to 4pm), throughout the summer, and it’s still one of the most celebrated Saturdays state-wide, but Portsmouth is more than just ponies. The serenity of Prudence Island is ideal for a day-trip as peaceful trails and wide expanses of beach welcome an enviable calm. Ferries depart from Bristol daily, reservations recommended for vehicles, but save time and money by exploring the island by foot or bicycle. Other options: Check out Teddy’s Beach in Island Park, and don’t forget to savor clam cakes from Flo’s, or enjoy live jazz during your wine tasting at Greenvale Vineyards.
5. Wickford
Wickford Village, dating back to 1709, is as rich in charm as it is in history. The Rockwellian waterfront streets are lined with unique shops and locally-owned eateries, including favorites like the Beach Rose Café and the Wickford Diner.
6. Little Compton/Tiverton
While most people behind the wheel are trying to get places fast, a trip down bucolic Rt. 77 is a reminder to take things slow. Stop to enjoy the shops at Tiverton Four Corners, savoring the local flavor at Milk & Honey Bazaar and Gray’s Ice Cream, go wine tasting a bit down the road at Sakonnet Vineyards, some lunch at The Last Stand, and bring home locally-grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from Walker’s Roadside Stand.
Image of Block Island courtsey of Block Island Tourism Council
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