This Nighttime Rail Bike Adventure, Illuminated By Lanterns, Belongs On Your Rhode Island Bucket List
By Beth Price-Williams|Published April 27, 2024
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
As a lifelong night owl who rarely sees the morning hours, I’m probably a bit biased when I say there’s no better time for an adventure than after the sun goes down. Very little can compare to the quiet beauty of the darkened sky as the stars glitter and the moon shines. Even if you’re more of a morning person, you’ll likely find this nighttime rail bike adventure in Portsmouth, Rhode Island is simply enchanting. It’s an amazing way to see the landscape of Rhode Island like never before.
Gear up for an evening under the stars with Rail Explorers USA, which offers rail bike tours from Portsmouth from late April through mid-November each year.
Rail Explorers USA has two lines - the Northern Circuit and the Southern Circuit. The lantern ride follows the Southern Circuit and runs from the Portsmouth Grove Station to the Bayside Station (and back).
The two-hour ride, illuminated by shimmering lanterns, will take you on a six-mile roundtrip scenic journey under the moonlight.
Rail Explorers features an assortment of tours throughout the season, including the Sunday Morning Brunch Tour (with mimosas) and the Sunset Tour.
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Bring along an evening picnic or tasty snacks, like marshmallows to roast over a roaring fire, for your stop at the Bayside picnic area, nestled along the bluffs overlooking Narragansett Bay.
Before you book your tour online, decide which type of explorer (the rail bike) you'll need. The quad explorer seats four riders while the tandem is for two.
Have you gone riding with Rail Explorers USA? Did you go on the lantern tour? If so, what did you think of this nighttime rail bike adventure in Portsmouth, Rhode Island? Let us know in the comments! Then take a peek at why Portsmouth exudes peak New England vibes.
Ready to get out and explore more of Portsmouth? Slip on your hiking shoes, and follow one of the best hiking trails in Rhode Island. You can find them all, including maps and photos, on All Trails.