You don’t have to stay cooped up indoors during a cold Rhode Island winter. Take some advice from your mom and go outside and play! There are some amazing things here in the Ocean State that make winter the best season. We’ve compiled a list of a few of our favorite ideas for winter recreation in Rhode Island.

1. Snow Tubing at Yawgoo Valley - Exeter
160 Yawgoo Valley Rd, Exeter, RI 02822, USA
Yawgoo Valley Ski Area and Water Park/Facebook
There's nothing like the thrill of zooming down a snow-covered hill on a giant tube at the only ski resort in Rhode Island. Book a 90-minute tubing session for a thrill this season. All riders must be at least 42 inches tall. Learn more about snow tubing at Yawgoo Valley Ski Area in this post.

Address: 220 Yawgoo Valley Road, Exeter, RI 02822
2. Save The Bay Seal Watch Tours - Westerly
Bowens Wharf, Newport, RI 02840, USA
Save The Bay
From December through April, Save The Bay hosts seal watching cruises out of Newport. These educational tours get you up close and personal with seals visiting Narragansett Bay, and are great family fun. Read our previous article to learn more.

Address: Bowens Wharf, Newport, RI 02840
3. The Providence Bruins
Amica Mutual Pavilion, 1 La Salle Square, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Flickr/ Justin Florek
The excitement and thrills of AHL Hockey are right in our backyard! Be sure to catch a P Bruins game at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence this winter. You can find great ticket specials on their website.
4. The Providence Children's Film Festival - Providence
Providence, RI, USA
Providence Children's Film Festival
Every February, The Providence Children's Film Festival brings people together to discuss independent and international films. It's a lot more than movies for kids and a great activity if you're looking for family-friendly things to do in winter in Rhode Island. Visit The Providence Children's Film Festival website and Facebook page for more information and updates. The event is held in multiple venues around downtown Providence.

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5. Biomes Marine Biology Center - North Kingstown
6640 Post Rd, North Kingstown, RI 02852, USA
Biomes Marine Biology Center
Another great indoor activity in the winter in Rhode Island is a visit to Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown. It's New England's only private marine education facility, and is incredibly hands-on and interactive. Learn all about the marine animals in Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic every day from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. You can read more about Biomes Marine Biology Center in this post.

Address: 6640 Post Road, North Kingstown, RI
6. Ice Skating in Downtown Providence
2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Facebook/BankNewport City Center
Move over New York, we've got our own city ice skating rink in Providence at the BankNewport City Center in Kennedy Plaza. Skate rentals are available. You can also find ice bumper cars here from November until early March. This outdoor skating rink is the place to visit for winter recreation in Rhode Island. Learn more about ice skating and ice bumper cars in downtown Providence on the website.

Address: 2 Kennedy Plaza, Providence, RI 02903
7. College Basketball
Wikimedia/ Wesley Skies
Rhode Island boasts three amazing college basketball teams. Be sure to check out a Providence College Friars, URI Rams, or Rhode Island College Anchormen men's or women's game for unbeatable excitement!
8. Free Days at RISD Museum - Providence
20 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903, USA
Facebook/ RISD Museum
Winter is a great time to explore our local museums. The Rhode Island School of Design is known for producing some of the best artists in the world, and the RISD Museum is a hidden gem in Providence. Take advantage of free days every Sunday all winter from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and also on Thursday and Friday evenings from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. For more information, visit the RISD website.

Address: 20 North Main Street, Providence, RI

These are just eight of the awesome places to visit for winter recreation in Rhode Island. We know there are many more; what are some of your favorite winter activities? Tell us in the comments!

 

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More to Explore

Winter Recreation In Rhode Island

Melissa M. | January 12, 2022

What other winter recreational activities are offered around Rhode Island?

Whether you want to spend time indoors or outdoors, there are plenty of activities and things to see around the Ocean State in the winter months. You can always go hiking in the winter. While cold, you’ll find a certain peace and quiet that’s hard to find at other times of the year. Likewise, you can take a winter horseback ride at Sunset Stables in Lincoln. If you prefer the great indoors, how about a tour of any one of the Newport Mansions, visit Slater Mill in Pawtucket, or try out some of the fantastic restaurants around the state?

What are some of the best sled riding hills in Rhode Island?

Sledding is a favorite pastime for kids and adults alike and the Ocean State has quite a few epic hills you could visit in the winter. In Central Falls, you can sled in Jenks Park. There’s also India Point Park in Providence and Fort Adams State Park in Newport, just to name a few.

What is one of the worst winter storms that hit Rhode Island?

Ask just about anyone in the state about the worst winter storm in Rhode Island’s history and you’ll probably hear “The Blizzard of ‘78” as a response. You can read more about this devastating blizzard in this post. 

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