Things to Do in Middletown

Accredited by the National Surf Schools & Instructors Association, Peter Pan Surfing Academy helps beachgoers wade into the world of surfing and standup paddleboarding. Seven days a week throughout the year, instructors equip both children and adults with wetsuit rentals and a wide selection of hard, soft, epoxy, fiberglass, and battery-powered surfboards. The company also holds surf and skimboard camps for intensive study.

The land surrounding the Narrow River is a prime example of Rhode Island's varied natural splendor, which includes sandy beaches, lush forests, green fields, marshland, and sand banks. Narrow River Kayaks puts it all within reach, equipping locals and visitors with a variety of vessels, including canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.

Once boated up, you can paddle your way across the Pettaquamscutt Watershed area for a relaxed day of fishing, picnicking, spotting wildlife, or making kissy faces at your own reflection in the river. With outdoor showers, changing tents, and portable restrooms onsite, Narrow River Kayaks assures aquatic adventurers a comfortable time in the great outdoors. The shop also sells new and used kayaks, and can set up all boaters with items such as dry bags, waterproof containers, and personal flotation devices for jaunts past the John H. Chafee Wildlife Refuge and the Kettle Ponds.

Bikes & Kites rents and sells a wide variety of outdoorsy goodies and gear, including bikes, kites, Frisbees, sunglasses, beach accessories, and refreshments. With today's side deal, you and a friend will get to take a three-hour, self-guided tour of the seaside atop your choice of bike (the Easton's Beach concession offers 21-speed hybrid bikes or cozy beach cruisers). From Bikes & Kites, take your two-wheeler down the back roads on a leisurely ride to Sachuest Point, or glide through downtown Newport, taking in the town's best views. For a more removed roundabout, pack your rented pedals in your car and unload in Bristol to ride the scenic West Bay Trail, winding through towns along the bay, woodlands, and marshes.

With a sea of bent-grass greens, picturesque ponds, and strategically placed hazards, Rose Hill provides championship-level challenges for all skill levels, from putting pilgrims to golfing veterans. The professionally designed par 3 golf course features 1,250 yards of well-manicured bent-grass greens, providing a true roll unparalleled by the lesser establishments blanketed by blowing tumbleweeds and mischievous moles.

Since he was 14 years old, Matt Gineo has heard the sea’s siren call. As a youth he joined the Sea Scouts, where he learned how to sail, tow, and safely traverse the water. Now the owner of Oldport Marine Services, he maintains a fleet of boats that tour Newport’s rocky coastline daily, showing off the area’s sparkling waters and natural beauty.

Harbor tours work their way up the shoreline, dotted with lighthouses, historical mansions, and bottles containing unread pirate grocery lists. As boats pass by sights such as the Newport Bridge, Jamestown, and the early-19th-century Fort Adams, guides share facts and anecdotes about Newport’s historical role in the pirate world and the slave trade. As tours travel back down the coast, the narrative returns to the present, with tales about the America's Cup and the city’s success as a fishing center.

Oldport Marine Services diversifies itself by offering a number of other aquatic services. Staffers build and repair boats, install engines, and run a water taxi that zips customers across the city faster than riding on the back of a sea serpent.

Norman Bird Sanctuary spans more than 300 acres and seven miles of hiking trails where binoculared bird lovers can spy on local and migratory birds. Hikers can explore the woods or climb Hanging Rock to feast on views of the ocean. In addition, the Sanctuary organizes public programs such as hands-on educational events for children and evening lectures for adults.