Been to the “People’s Park” — Roger Williams’ great-great-GREAT granddaughter Betsey left the original 100 acres to the capital city with the intention that current and future Providence residents have access to green space — lately?

Well, Betsey would have been pretty jazzed to see all the folks walking dogs, picnic-ing and just out having a great time at Roger Williams Park recently.

After some foot dragging on my husband’s part, we ended up having a swell time paddling one of their two-seater swan boats across Willow Lake.

For around $20 (the rates are $10 for adults and $5 for kiddos and yes, they do take credit cards because how many people carry cash around nowadays), you get about 30 minutes on that man-made lake which tbh is only going to get prettier as we get closer to the summer months. (See photos above that were taken during the summer at the RWP.)

If you haven’t been in a while, it’s an affordable and fun-tastic way to get in some cardio (peddling the paddle boat) and a dose of Vitamin D (good day sunshine), not to mention enjoying a splendid public space with plenty of local history.

Heading to RWP with more than 1 other person?

Well, for an additional $15, you can rent one of their little electric boats that seat 4.

And I hear you can also rent a kayak if you’re so inclined.

Map Quest

Another thing you’ll want to peruse, or even full on print out, before you go?

The download-able maps on their site that are part of a whole self-guided tour situation, and are quite helpful.

A more fomal type of guided tour is certainly on my personal wish list. (Wouldn’t it be nice…)

For now, though, these tools do shine a light all the fantastic buildings (helloooo Dalrymple Boathouse), monuments and sculptures (50K people were in attendance for the opening day of the Temple to Music back in the day), walking paths, and the different kinds of trees that this now-435-acre wonderland has to offer.

For more details, bop on over to their site.

Photo Credits: All photos courtesy of PattyJ.com.