 |
| Kitsch at the Fantastic Umbrella Factory. (photo by Jess N.) |
With more rain coming this afternoon, visitors and seasonal residents are probably wondering what there is to do here in town other than go to the beach.
If you haven't yet found your way to the Fantastic Umbrella Factory, which is not a factory and doesn't even sell umbrellas, and which cannot be described, only experienced, now might be the time to visit the shops. If you're there at mealtime, consider eating at the Small Axe Café, which has been favorably reviewed here on Progressive Charlestown. Though it will warrant a return visit when the sun is shining to see the outdoor gardens and let the kids try the "treasure hunt" put together by a Yelp reviewer. It's on Old Post Road near the entrance to Ninigret Park (map).
If you haven't yet found your way to the Fantastic Umbrella Factory, which is not a factory and doesn't even sell umbrellas, and which cannot be described, only experienced, now might be the time to visit the shops. If you're there at mealtime, consider eating at the Small Axe Café, which has been favorably reviewed here on Progressive Charlestown. Though it will warrant a return visit when the sun is shining to see the outdoor gardens and let the kids try the "treasure hunt" put together by a Yelp reviewer. It's on Old Post Road near the entrance to Ninigret Park (map).
Speaking of the kids, give them some pre-Halloween thrills and chills by taking a ride east on Matunuck Schoolhouse Road into South Kingstown to see the house with the scary wind turbine on the roof that's illegal in Charlestown.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't tell anyone to drive around aimlessly burning fossil fuels, but Charlestown is very pleasant to drive around on the back roads. Folks might want to consider taking a scenic driving tour of the town and its historic villages. Here's my suggestion for a little farm and historic village tour:
Cross Route 1 at Narrow Lane, proceed north past General Stanton Lane, and take a right on Old Coach Road. One way we keep our taxes low here in Charlestown is by not spending a lot of money on street signs, so you won't see one that says Old Coach Road, but you'll see the sign for the Animal Shelter. That's the turn.
Old Coach Road is fun to drive along because it's got a lot of twists and turns and dips and rises. Along the way, you'll see Old Coach Farm (map), which is a horse farm—stop by and visit the farm stand next door—and South Farm Preserve, which is a historic farm now owned by the town as open space.
Farther north on Old Coach, you'll also pass by the Nordic Lodge on East Pasquiset Trail. If you're really, really hungry, really, really love seafood, and don't mind dropping some serious dough, try the all-you-can-eat lobster buffet. A friend of mine saw someone eat nine lobsters there, topped off with Jell-O. Definitely something to tell your friends about back home.
Old Coach Road ends at Shannock Road, where if you take a left you'll find another of the farm stands I wrote about recently, Briarfield Farm.
 |
| Seedling plants grown at Moonstone Gardens. |
Then take a right on Worden's Pond Road to continue the tour. Worden's Pond takes you to Biscuit City Road, which takes you to Country Drive, home of Earth Care Farm, Rhode Island's oldest operating compost farm, and Moonstone Gardens. You'll want to make sure to bring along some bread so the kids can feed the goats if it's not raining too hard.
When you're done at Earth Care Farm, go back out Country Drive and take a left on Biscuit City Road (heading south) back to Worden's Pond Road. Take a right on Worden's Pond and another right on Shannock, which takes you past Shannock Organic Farm, another of the farm stands I wrote about recently.
At the corner of Shannock Road and South County Trail (Route 2) is the Habitat for Humanity Restore, where you can find funky little household tsotchkes like brass salt-and-pepper shakers shaped like trumpets. Well, you won't find those exact ones there anymore because my husband and I bought them. Whatever you do buy, you'll be helping a good cause as well as helping the environment by reusing items that might otherwise be thrown away. They're open from 9-5 Tuesday through Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).
 |
| Historic mill cottages, Shannock Village. (image by Marc N. Belanger) |
When you're done shopping at the Restore, continue along Shannock Road, which takes you through the historic village of Shannock. Unfortunately, the dam at Horseshoe Falls is currently under construction to install fish ladders, but you can visit the Shannock Post Office and buy a stamp to send a postcard to your elderly grandparents who you haven't managed to persuade to get a computer and marvel at the fact that despite being so small you have to step outside to change your mind, the post office has so far managed to escape closure in the latest round of Post Office budget cuts.
Continue along Shannock Road, which is designated as a scenic road, until it ends at Carolina Back Road (Route 112). If you're hungry and have not yet eaten at any of the other places I've suggested along the way, take a right (heading north) on Carolina Back Road till you reach Route 91 and K & S Pizza, which has been favorably reviewed here on Progressive Charlestown. Pizza toppings include locally grown ingredients from neighboring farms, as well as locally caught seafood literally fresh off the boat. Take it from me, a native Rhode Islander with family in Naples, this is the best pizza you'll find outside of Naples. Enjoy!