5 Spots To Explore This Fall That Have Nothing To Do With Apple Picking OR PSL's

We asked this local author about her Rhody favorites, including her go-to's for exploring, strolling, and just being outdoorsy. Here are her top 5 picks, and you're definitely going to want to co-opt them this month and beyond. (Yes, they are THAT good!)

1. Gaspee Point Beach: We go here year-­round for walks, paddle boarding, and the occasional swim. There are lots of sea treasures to find and it's never crowded. 

2. Still House Cove: This beautiful historic cove is a great place to visit. There is a boat ramp (but not much parking) and a small beach to explore. Around the corner at the public beach access end of Ocean Ave, to the right of the RI Yacht Club, you can find an enormous amount of the best sea glass!

3. Pawtuxet River Trail: This place is magical. We walk through here to get to the heart of the Village from our house and it's always breathtaking. There is an abundance of wildlife (frogs, fisher cats, egrets, herons), trails, interesting plants and trees, and friendly people out and about. The year-­round walking/running trails are accessible behind Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

4. Salter Grove: At low tide, walk along the jetty and gain access to the islands along the shore. This is another beautiful place to walk or just sit and look at Narragansett Bay. There are always an amazing amount of birds to watch and treasures to find along the shoreline. We stay on the jetty and hop on the rocks. It's also a great place to kayak or paddle board because it's a sheltered cove. 

5: Roger Williams Park: It's not all about the zoo. I like to think of it as our own Golden Gate Park. I detour through here as much as possible on my drive to and from Pawtuxet Village. The landscape is constantly changing and it is always beautiful. The Botanical Garden is a fun place to visit in the spring and fall and so is the Natural History Museum. Did you know there is a beehive in the upper window? Or that you can go to the planetarium on Saturdays? The Temple of Music is a great sledding place in winter and a wonderful picnic/be lazy and read a book in the sun/spot in warmer seasons. We also ride our bikes here and enjoy watching the annual Cyclocross Events in October. 

More About Author, Artist & Underwater Fire Breather Heather Rigney

Born in Johnston, then raised in Burrillville, I went on to RISD, then taught art in the Warwick Public School system for twelve years. In 2011, I left teaching to care for my seven year ­old daughter and spin stories full time in our home in historic Pawtuxet Village. As for my art, I still create from time to time, and I only breathe fire underwater when bribed with donuts. 

I'd love to hear what you think of my books (Waking The Merrow & Hunting The Merrow), so feel free to connect with me on any of these fine social media sites:

*Photo Credits: All photos above courtesy of Heather Rigney

**This post originally appeared as part of a My RI Life in Feb of 2016.

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