Apple Sauce, Apple Pie, Apple Crisp, Apple Cider ...

We had a blast apple picking at Jaswell's Orchard in Smithfield! We picked several different kids of apples, sampled a few along the way, enjoyed a free hayride before stopping by the yummy food store at the end of the afternoon! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!

Splashing at Spring Lake!

One Sunday in July, our Young Family small group headed out to enjoy some sun and sand at Spring Lake in Burriville, RI. We spent the afternoon slashing in the water, slipping down the water slides, digging in the sand, and enjoying some amazing fellowship time!

Spring Lake is a calm lake with a great sandy beach. It was awesome for families with young children, with convenient parking, an affordable snack bar, and nearby bathrooms. It was clean and kid-friendly!

The day was such a hit that two of the families even returned later that week for a second visit!

Goddard Memorial State Park

Goddard Memorial State Park is located in East Greenwich, RI. It is roughly 480 acres, on the water with 18 miles of bridle/hiking trails, plenty of expansive green space to run/play Frisbee/chase your dog, and 355 picnic tables. There are no entrance fees in RI parks, but you do have to pay and reserve picnic table areas. the costs for rentals are:

Picnic Sites - $2.00 per table
Portable Stove Area (tables only, no fireplaces) - $2.00 per table

Gazebo (includes 3 tables & 2 grills) - $35.00 per day

Picnic Shelter (includes 8 tables and no fireplaces) - $35.00 per day

Fields - $8.00 per day

Picnic season is from April 1st to October 31st, but there is also plenty of space to just put down a blanket and have an old fashion picnic.

There is a beach with a lifeguard on duty 10am-6pm seasonally. There is no parking fee, so this is a great place to take the kids to the beach. There are summer concerts and ice skating in the winter.

Verdict: This is a great place to go with kids, with a friend, spouse, or just by yourself for the whole day or just for a few hours. There are plenty of trails to go hiking on, just watch for the horse poop!

(This review was submitted by Dana Dertien - Thanks, Dana!)

We Went to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo!

I spent the afternoon with my family at a great little zoo! We have been members at the Roger Williams Zoo for the best three years and love to go frequently - from early spring right through those occasionally warm days in early November. But today I was in the mood for something a bit different and perhaps a bit less crowded! So on the recommendations of several "mommy" friends, we set off to explore Capron Park Zoo and were pleasantly surprised. It was about a twenty minute drive and easy to find off exit 3 of 95 in Massachusetts. Parking was a bit tight but there was a fairly quick turn-around so we didn't have to wait too long. Admission was reasonable ($5.50 for adults, $3 for children ages 3+) and the park was extremely stroller friendly. It was relatively small - we easily finished the entire zoo in under an hour - and there were no crowds to compete with. We could easily let the children walk around and explore the animals on their own. The exhibits were very well-kept and child-friendly. Each animal habitat had a place where the children could get close to the glass and get a direct view of the animals - no fighting with fences that are in the children's direct line of vision! Also, the zoo-keepers were very friendly and loved to share about the animals. All in all, it was a great day!

Tips
* Bring cash if you plan to eat at the snack bar - no credit cards accepted!
* Wear sunscreen and hats - shade was hard to come by
* Splash Pad is slated to open June 1st
* Amazing playground right outside the fence
* There is a sandbox located inside the zoo

* Bring a camera - great photo ops!

*Be prepared - the entrance is through the gift shop

The ocelot

We saw white lions and bears...but no tigers!