There's A Carousel Trail In Rhode Island And It's Everything You've Ever Dreamed Of
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Natalie Clunan
Author
Taking a ride on a carousel is nothing short of magical. Once you are seated and the music begins, you’ll find yourself transported to a different time. The waves of nostalgia will bring back your own childhood memories of amusement parks long gone. In Rhode Island, there are seven carousels still in operation and for a truly enchanting day, you should embark on this carousel trail and take a spin on each one for old time’s sake.
You can view the interactive Google Map for this trail here.
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The carousel at Slate Park dates back to 1895 and was built by Charles I.D. Looff, a famous carousel artist. This is a stationary carousel with no up and down or jumping movement, however, this is considered to be the fastest Looff carousel, so hang on tight. This three-row carousel has 42 horses, three dogs, one camel, one giraffe, one lion and two chariots, so you just may have to ride more than once with all of these choices. Slater Memorial Park can be found at 426 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860.
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The Carousel Village at Roger Williams Park houses a modern carousel with ornate animals to ride. The menagerie includes a lion, rabbit, dragon, and giraffe along with the usual assortment of beautiful ponies. Jump on and take a spin on the carousel at 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI 02907.
The Crescent Park Carousel was built in 1895 by Charles I.D. Looff as a showcase for prospective carousel buyers. It is one of Looff's more ornate works featuring decorative panels, beveled mirrors, faceted glass jewels, electric lights, and colored sandwich glass windows. There are 56 hand-carved moving animals, 6 non-moving, 4 chariots, and a camel. The Wurlitzer military band organ accompanies this historic ride. You can find this incredible carousel at 700 Bullocks Point Blvd., Riverside, RI 02915.
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Enjoy beach views and ocean breezes from your spot on the Easton Beach Carousel. This four-row carousel has been in operation since 1958 and has been spinning around ever since. Enjoy the seaside amusement at 175 Memorial Blvd., Newport, RI 02840.
The well-maintained carousel at Adventureland is a whimsical place to take a horse ride. With its clear music and sparkling lights, you can't help but enjoy this modern carousel ride. The seasonal family fun park can be found at 112 Point Judith Rd., Narragansett, RI 02882.
The Flying Horse Carousel is the most unique on the carousel trail. The horses are suspended from the center frame instead of being mounted to the floor. Riders have the sense of flying on horseback as they are seated atop the wooden horses at this amusement. The 22 horses have leather saddles and horsehair tails and manes. The Flying Horse Carousel is believed to be the oldest continuously running carousel in the country. Due to the carousel's age, adult riders are not permitted. Sorry, this one is just for the kids. You can find this historical ride at 151 Bay St., Westerly, RI 02891.
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The carousel at Atlantic Beach is the most eclectic of the bunch. It was rescued from the Rocky Point Amusement Park when it closed. The carousel is constructed on a two-level 1915 Herschell-Spillman platform. The horses had been sold off and replaced with modern aluminum ponies, but some have been retrieved and reinstalled. Some of the horses and two lions were rescued from a different carousel. Although the menagerie may be a jumble of age and style, the amusement is a quirky spot to take a good old-fashioned spin. You can find this carousel at 321 Atlantic Ave., Westerly, RI 02891.
This is a nostalgic adventure not to be missed. Are you ready to embark on this carousel trail? Who is going with you on this fun-filled road trip?
Another enchanting trip that will bring out the kid in anyone is a visit to this Rhode Island tulip field.
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