3 Places You Might Be Missing Out On This Week During School Vacation In RI

Sure, you could go to the movies. Or the mall. The next logical question of course would be, "Then what?" Don't feel too badly if February vacation has you stressing (It used to happen to me all the time back when I worked in retail and the store would suddenly be filled with tweens and teens.) and you're scrambling to come up with an itinerary to keep everyone entertained. Here's a short (but mighty) list of three affordable, funtastic, and quite possibly hidden gem-esque places to take your little ones this week in the OS.

1. How about getting up close with dogfish sharks, spider crabs, and sea stars via special touch tanks? Check out Save The Bay's Exploration Center & Aquarium at Easton's Beach on Memorial Blvd in Newport. It's where sanctuary meets petting zoo, and it boasts 40 species from Narragansett Bay including seahorses and rare lobsters. Also, February's theme is “Sensational Seals”, with an extensive schedule of activities celebrating them. Admission is $8 per person, and it's open daily this week from 10am to 4pm.

*Regular winter hours are actually Friday thru Sunday, 10-4pm. 

2. Did you follow the recent Elon Musk and Space X Falcon Heavy rocket - and red Tesla with a faux astronaut in the driver's seat, and Bowie on a continuous loop - launch? Then, why not motor over to RI's only Natural History Museum and public Planetarian (I feel like so many ppl are unaware!) for two amazing shows everyday this week at 1 & 2pm, including today on the Holiday - NASA's Journey To Mars and Great Space Adventure respectively. Admission fee is an incredibly inexpensive $3 per person (What a deal!). Seats are limited though, so plan accordingly.

*Planetarium shows are for kids 4 and older. 

3. Finally, take the kiddos over to the old time-y soda fountain, dating back to 1940's Chicago, at Green Line Apothecary in Wakefield and you'll score big points. They won't care that the ice cream's organic, but it's nice to know, right? It's bright and cheery, and menu options include shakes, ice cream sodas, sundaes, and the always classic, hot chocolate. A practically perfect way to while away the time, rain or shine.

Photo Credits: Aquarium and ice cream photos courtesy of their respective social media accounts.