Parker Woodland
Saturday, May 12, 2012
10:00am
1670 Maple Valley Road, Coventry, 401-295-8283
Audubon’s George B. Parker Woodland is an 860-acre refuge extending into Foster, with majestic old forests, meadows and brooks, and mysterious piles of delicately balanced stones called cairns.
This hike is about 2 miles long and moderately challenging for children. Maps will be available for families and there is ample opportunity to extend your hike.
We will meet in the parking lot at 10:00am and start our hike promptly at 10:15am. Dress in long pants and long socks and be sure to bring bug spray as well as snacks and water. Click here for a list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
Click here for more information about Parker Woodland, including directions.
Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge
Sunday, April 15, 2012
1:30pm
Touisset Road, Warren, 508-761-8230
At 66 acres, Touisset Marsh is one of the smaller wildlife refuges in the state. But the salt marshes, hardwood forests, meadows and Kickemuit River pack quite a punch!
This easy hike is about 1.5 miles. Maps will be available for families so you can explore at your own pace.
We will meet in the parking lot at 1:30pm and start our hike promptly at 1:45pm. Dress in long pants and long socks and be sure to bring bug spray as well as snacks and water. Click here for a list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
Click here to get directions.
Click here to learn more about the Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge.
John H. Chafee Nature Preserve
Saturday, March 17, 2012
1:30pm
Boston Neck Road (Route 1A), North Kingstown, 401-884-2010
Known to many simply as Rome Point, the Chafee Nature Preserve is one of the few natural spaces in RI that may be more popular in winter than any other season. Harbor seals migrate into this area in October and stay through the spring.
This hike is 2.5 miles and can be challenging for young children. Hopefully we’ll catch a glimpse of some seals!
We will meet in the parking lot at 1:30pm and start our hike promptly at 1:45pm. Dress for the weather and be sure to bring binoculars as well as snacks and water. Click here for a list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
Click here to get directions.
Click here to learn more about the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve.
Ninigret NWR/Kettle Pond
Saturday, February 11, 2012
10:30am
50 Bend Road, Charlestown, 401-364-9124
The trails in the northern section of the Ninigret NWR are flat and easy to navigate through beautiful pine and oak trees, blueberry shrubs and ferns. Explore the interactive exhibits, displays, and activities at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center; it’s open daily from 10-4 and free!
We will be taking the Ocean View Trail to a spectacular view of Ninigret Pond and Block Island. This hike is about 0.5 miles and very easy. For older, more experienced, or highly motivated (i.e. energetic!) kids, as well as families with children in backpacks or baby carriers, there is definitely opportunity to extend your hike.
We will meet in front of the Visitor Center at 10:30am and start our hike promptly at 10:45am. Dress for the weather and bring snacks and water. You can also pack a lunch to enjoy after the hike. We’ve been offered some space inside the Visitor Center to eat (and there’s always outside, of course!). Click here for a list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
Click here to get directions.
To learn more about Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge and Kettle Pond Visitor Center, visit their website.
Fort Nature Refuge
Sunday, January 15, 2012
10:30am
1445 Providence Pike (Route 5), North Smithfield, 401-949-5454
This 235 acre Audubon refuge indludes three ponds and a diverse variety of wildlife habitat.
We will hike for about 1 mile to a pond overlook and back. This hike is moderate for children and there is ample opportunity to extend your hike. Dress for the weather and bring plenty of snacks and water – and maybe some hot cocoa for when we finish! Click here for a list of guidelines for hiking with kids.
We will meet in the parking lot at 10:30am and start our hike promptly at 10:45am.
Click here to get directions.
To learn more about the Fort Nature Refuge, visit their website.
Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge
Saturday, December 3, 2011
10:30am
2082 Victory Highway, Coventry, 401-949-5454
The newest of the Audubon refuges, this one is named after Maxwell Mays, a folk artist best known for his paintings of historic Rhode Island. Mays donated 295 acres of land as part of his life estate and, in October 2011, it opened as the Mawell Mays Wildlife Refuge.
We will follow the easy 1.3 mile trail to Carr’s Pond, a beautiful 11-acre pond which is home to river otters and beavers, as well as many types of fish and invertebrates.
We will meet in the parking lot at 10:30am and start our hike promptly at 10:45am.
Click here to get directions.
To learn more about the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, visit their website.
Wilcox Park
Sunday, November 20, 2011
1:00pm
44 Broad Street, Westerly, 401-596-2877 ext. 334
Owned and maintained by the Memorial & Library Association of Westerly, this 14-acre park has an arboretum-quality collection of tree species, monuments, perennial gardens, paved paths, and more – all nestled in the heart of downtown Westerly.
We will wander along the paved paths for a total of about 1 mile. This is a very easy hike for kids and the paths are stroller- and wheelchair-friendly.
We’ll meet at the fountain next to the library at 1:00pm and begin our hike promptly at 1:15pm.
Click here to get directions.
To learn more about Wilcox Park, please visit their website.
Diamond Hill Park
Monday, October 10, 2011
10:30am
Route 114, Cumberland, 401-728-2400
Once a former ski slope, Diamond Hill offers spectacular views and a fairly gradual climb to the summit for young ones and older kids to enjoy.
We will take the wooded path from the paved road to get to the summit (easily identified by the old ski lift footings) for a total of about 1.5miles. This is a moderately challenging hike for kids.
We’ll meet in the parking lot at 10:30am and begin our hike promptly at 10:45am.
Get directions or use ours: From Route 295 North, take exit 11 for Route 114 North. At the end of the exit ramp, make a left and follow Rte. 114N about 4 miles. The park will be on your right.
To learn more about Diamond Hill, please visit this website.
Ballard Park
Saturday, September 17, 2011
11:00am
corner of Hazard & Wickham Rds, Newport, 401-619-3377
Newport’s only nature preserve seems much larger than its 13 acres, partly because of its location next to a wildlife refuge. There are easy to navigate trails, gorgeous views, and a huge meadow just right for resting or a picnic, as well as many wonderful events for the whole family.
We will meander through the easy trails for a total of about 1-1.5 miles. Click here for a map.
We’ll meet at the entrance across from Rogers High School and begin our hike promptly at 11:15am. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the Quarry Meadow towards the end of our hike.
Directions: From Route 1, take Route 138 East across Newport Pell Bridge. Take your first exit for Scenic Newport. Make a right at the end of the ramp and continue until America’s Cup Ave. Make a right and travel 0.8 miles. Bear right at Thames Street and follow all the way. It will turn into Carroll Avenue. At the fork in the road, bear right onto Old Fort Road. You will pass the back of Rogers High School on your right and the Fire Station on your left. At the end of the road take a right onto Wickham Road and proceed up the hill. Ballard Park is on the left. Parking is available across the street in the Rogers High School parking lot.
To learn more about Ballard Park, please visit their website.
Sachuest Point NWR
Saturday, August 13, 2011
10:15am
769 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown, 401-847-5511
Because Sachuest Point NWR sits on a small peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Sakonnet River, and Sachuest Bay, it’s an ideal place to cool off in the summer. The 40 acres include salt marsh lands, steep rocky shorelines, observation platforms for year-round birdwatching, and easy, flat, stroller-friendly trails.
We will take the flat, 1.5 mile Ocean View Loop. If you wish to extend your hike, you can also walk the 1.2 mile Flint Point Loop. Click here for a map.
We’ll meet in front of the Visitors Center at 10:15am and begin our hike promptly at 10:30am. Please give yourself enough time to navigate through beach traffic!
Directions: From Route 1, take Route 138 East across Newport Pell Bridge. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Fall River/Cape Cod, and merge onto Route 138 East. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto Admiral Kalbfus Rd. Follow for 2.3 miles (road will change to Miantonomi Ave. and then Green End Ave.). Turn right onto Paradise Ave. and follow 1.3 miles to end. Turn left onto Hanging Rock Rd. Keep right at the fork to continue onto Sachuest Point Rd. which will lead you into the Refuge. Please give yourself enough time to navigate through beach traffic!
For more information, please visit the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge website.
