Things to Do in Cumberland

Ann and Michael Martini have long shared a love and familiarity with Rhode Island's culinary landscape. Ann left her post at Rhode Island Monthly to work with chefs, restaurants, and food events, and Michael, a professional chef, has let his knives fly at upscale Rhode Island eateries for more than 25 years. Together, they bring outsiders into New England's culinary gems to sample signature dishes, tour kitchens, meet chefs, and get lucky guests’ tongues autographed. Ann coordinates each tour, then sends Michael off with up to a dozen people to receive insider access to restaurants, gourmet shops, and other palate-pleasing stops. For two hours, groups cover about 2 miles of ground at a leisurely pace. There are treats to sample at each stop—although, according to the Sun Chronicle, "What's almost as good as the food is the fact that the chefs welcome tour guests into their kitchens, which in many cases have sous chefs and other personnel beginning to prepare for dinner service."

Awarded Best Comedy Club in Rhode Island in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the Providence Phoenix, Comedy Connection lives up to its accolades by populating its stage with a slew of both burgeoning and established comedians. Throughout shows, bartenders sling domestic and imported brews while mixing both basic drinks with Jack Daniels and dessert substitutes, such as s'mores and caramel-apple martinis. Aside from regular shows, Comedy Connection’s fundraising program helps members of the community host charitable events that benefit non-profit organizations, youth sports teams, and families in need.

Lombardi's Hillside Country Club's nine-hole, par 36 layout caters to players of all abilities with its relatively short length of 2,956 yards. The recently renovated course takes golfers careening across tree-lined fairways and past burbling water hazards that come into play on five holes. Yardage markers once used for golf-cart-jousting tournaments are stationed throughout the course and are measured with the precision of a laser, allowing clubbers to swing with confidence in pinpoint approaches to the greens.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par 36 course
• Length of 2,956 yards from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Link to scorecard

It takes a village to plan a wedding. Engaged couples need a lot of help planning their nuptials, a quest which can include finding a hairstylist that can mold the perfect pin curl or reserving a reception space that can accommodate an enormous guest list. Rhode Island Wedding Group streamlines the wedding research process by allying 38 local wedding-industry vendors into one unstoppable wedding taskforce. Brides- and grooms-to-be can call upon their assistance via email or by tossing a bouquet into the night sky to act as a homing beacon. Couples only need to fill out a brief request form to get a steady stream of information on vendors that meet the couples' nuptial needs.

Ritual and ceremony are a big part of horseback riding, according to Jessica Martinelli, the owner and head instructor at J.L.M. Equestrian. "It's more than just getting on and going," she says. "There's a lot of care involved too." Jessica, who's been riding since the age of 6, teaches students how to properly brush, tack, and saddle a horse during lessons.

Once their steeds are prepped, students climb aboard one of the farm's team of 11 horses, which includes Rodney, a dark-brown gelding who flips his friendly tail during most of a week's 35 lessons. In the saddle, beginners learn balance and control under staff supervision. They’ll learn to take the reins in the 100'x200' outdoor riding arena, where they practice using their legs and feet to control and communicate with the horse. More advanced riders practice jumps.

Sometimes the first few lessons snowball into a genuine passion. Jessica herself saw her initial interest blossom into a lifelong love highlighted by competitions with the US equestrian team and an appearance at Madison Square Garden during the National Horse Show. For those students looking to get more involved, Jessica offers camps, and some students go on to compete in regional competitions or the state's interscholastic riding program.

Fresh air fills kids’ lungs as they race through the myriad outdoor activities at Funway Foxboro, powering them through afternoon marathons of inflatable castles and miniature greens. A waterfall cascades over the mini-golf course, which overlooks a pool churning in the wake of bumper boats bouncing off each other as they collide. Conversely, go-karters try to avoid impact with their fellow drivers as they speed along, and pitching machines vainly attempt to sneak baseballs past sluggers at the batting cages. At both the rock-climbing wall and inflatable moon bounce, visitors can conquer gravity without traveling back in time to hand Isaac Newton a hard hat. Everything from Dippin’ Dots to pizza refuels guests at the concession hut, where Funway Foxboro also hosts birthday parties featuring surprise appearances from its mascot, Funway Fox.