Family-Friendly Stops to Make While Leaf-Peeping Through Rhode Island

Leaf-peeping is something of a fall tradition in America. When Mother Nature turns on the charm and transforms much of the country into a canvas of color, driving through regions where the leaves change colors can be an amazing experience for family travelers. Rhode Island, home to some of America’s most beautiful landscapes, is the perfect place to head each fall to see nature at its best.

Although a leaf-peeping road trip with the family can let you spend some great quality time together, the kids will go stir crazy if you don’t pepper in plenty of stops with kid-friendly activities for them to enjoy. Read on to discover some of the best places throughout the state to make sure they enjoy some out-of-the-car fun.

If your route takes you near the city of Warwick, be sure to visit the East Greenwich area to pay a visit to Clouds Hill Museum. This original Victorian mansion offers guided tours and a chance to introduce the family to a bygone era. The estate is a piece of living history where the last surviving member of the family that built it still resides.

The sprawling grounds are beautifully landscaped, but it’s the treasures inside the house and the secrets it holds that make it a true hidden gem. The house is packed with tens of thousands of items belonging to the family, from Ming Dynasty vases gifted from the King of Siam to Middle Eastern and Native American textiles. The house itself features fascinating design features that were prominent in the Victorian era, such as etched glass door panels, decorative cover plates hiding door hinges and a call-system of discreet buttons throughout the house for the owners to call for assistance.

Originally lit with natural gas, you won’t see a light switch anywhere in the house, a touch carefully maintained throughout the years as the house was modernized. You can visit the property during one of the pre-scheduled events throughout the year or schedule a guided tour for any day of the week. During the holidays, the property is decorated in beautiful Victorian style, which brings an added touch of fun for little ones.

The whole family will enjoy a stop at Wright’s Dairy Farm in North Smithfield, where some of Rhode Island’s happiest cows live. You can spend some time viewing cows and learning all about the process of dairy farming through a trail of posted signs that weaves through the farm. While you’re there you won’t want to miss the shop where you can buy fresh-baked treats, fresh-made ice cream and fresh milk in a variety of flavors including a Rhode Island icon, coffee milk.

© Eugenia Lazaris

If your kids are older, be sure to stop in at Glass Station Studio and Gallery in Wakefield for a glass-blowing class to create your own unique ornament. Glass artists like Eben Horton and Jennifer Nauck, whose work is on display in the showroom, lead classes on Saturday afternoons and can teach you how to create a beautiful piece of art safely with absolutely zero glass-blowing experience.

One thing that can make or break a family road trip is food, and at Wrights Farm Restaurant in Harrisville (not connected to Wright’s Dairy Farm) you’ll be able to order up a meal that will fill everyone’s bellies without breaking the bank. This eatery is a local institution, and everyone in town is likely to recommend it if you ask around.

The menu is simple — roasted chicken, fries, pasta with marinara sauce, salad and rolls, and its all served family style. Each person pays a flat rate (less than $20 for adults and less than $10 for kids) and you can eat as much as you want without any additional charge, so everyone goes on their way happy and full.