Fun activities to do during the winter in Rhode Island

Cold weather making you retreat indoors and for food delivery and bingeable TV every night? While that seems desirable sometimes, enjoying the perks of winter living in Rhode Island can be just as thrilling.

Have a spa day 
The winter is a great time to treat yourself. A massage, facial, or hair treatment can be a bright pick-me-up on a gloomy winter day. Day spas like Blue Sky Spaworks offer a variety of treatments to pamper yourself in a safe, clean environment. Call and schedule your appointment today!
https://www.blueskyspaworks.com/

Ice Skating
Indoor or outdoor, bundle up and head to the skating rink for a trip down memory lane. Hone your skills on the ice, whether you can do a double axle, or you need to hold the wall to get around! Ice skating is a great family outing. Skates are available to rent during public skating hours at the Cranston Veterans’ Memorial Skating Rink. They even offer lessons on how to skate! Come by on a Friday night for Rock’n Skate!
https://www.cvmrink.com/

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Ice Bumper Cars 
The outdoor Providence Ice Rink also offers ice skating, but with pre-purchased tickets, they also have Ice Bumper Cars! You read that correctly; the same bumper car attraction you love, ON ICE! You control the buggy as you slide across the ice, bumping others, sending you and them into a 360 spin.  You’ll move forward, backwards, and sideways on the slippery surface. Guaranteed laughs for all! Check their website for times and availability! 
https://theprovidencerink.com/bumper-cars

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Outdoor shopping in Garden City
Take advantage of a sunny winter day to get some fresh air and retail therapy! The ever-changing array of shops, restaurants, and boutiques keeps the atmosphere fun and exciting. Check out the stores and then grab lunch! With all Garden City Center has to offer, there are hours of fun for everyone. 
https://gardencitycenter.com/

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Yoga- Raffa Yoga
With the start of a new year, it is a good time for a physical and mental reset. Raffa Yoga offers over 75 yoga classes a week, for all levels and in all styles. They even offer antigravity yoga. The Urban Sweat healing and restorative experience includes several hours of relaxation in unique steam rooms and saunas. Other services include massage therapy, and a plant-based, vegan cafe.
https://raffalife.com/

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Visit the beach! Yes, in the winter!
Grab some hot coffee (or iced, for those die-hard Rhode Islanders!) and head to the beach. Whether it’s to sit in your heated car and watch the waves from the parking lot, or to go for a walk on the near-empty shore, the beach can be a relaxing place to visit in the winter.

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RISD Museum
The RISD Museum features art representing diverse cultures and multiple centuries. The museum has over 100,000 pieces of art in their archive, and currently displays over 2200 objects in the museum. The exhibits include paintings, sculptures, furniture, costumes, and textiles. Check their website for information regarding their current exhibitions, and see the pieces always on display.
https://risdmuseum.org/

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Seal Tours and Aquarium
New England has a variety of sea life institutions, and the Ocean State is no exception. The Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown or the Save The Bay Aquarium in Newport offer an up close look at sea life. The winter is the best time to see migratory harbor seals. Book a tour of Newport Harbor to see these creatures in nature.
https://www.savebay.org/family-fun/seals/

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A restaurant “tour” 
Tired of eating the same old thing for dinner every night? Create your own “restaurant tour”. Select three restaurants locally and visit each one for a different course. Drinks and appetizers? Start off with outdoor dining at Constantino’s Ristorante, and take in the sights and sounds of Federal Hill. Then head to Providence Oyster Bar for your entrees, a change of pace from the traditional Italian food of most restaurants in the area. Finish the night at Massimo for dessert. Enjoy some Italian pastry, or indulge in a dessert martini. Keep it exciting! Plus, walking to your next destination allows you time to digest to be able to enjoy your next course!

If you’re in the Johnston area and you find yourself wanting to hunt down a new pair of prescription eyewear or sunglasses, make a quick trip to us at OPTX Rhode Island! We are right on Hartford Avenue. Come see our opticians and frame stylists to get hooked up with some new shades for your next outing. If you have questions, call us at (401)521-6789 and check out our website at www.optxrhodeisland.com for more details and services offered.