Providence Outdoor Activities

Jeffrey Hall will never toss a wrapper out the car window again. That’s because he knows that every piece of trash strewing the highway’s meridian attracts mice. And mice attract hungry hawks, who can’t always dodge oncoming trucks. Not everyone is so aware of the potential far-reaching implications of a single fast-food wrapper, but the Audubon Society director learned such lessons long ago, seeing first-hand the victims of those circumstances in injured hawks and falcons on just such a rescue.

Now, Jeffrey hopes to spark a similar awareness in his fellow Rhode Islanders. “When people learn about plants and animals, they appreciate them. And once they appreciate them, they want to save them,” says Mr. Hall. As no one in Rhode Island lives more than 20 minutes from an Audubon Society wildlife refuge, he's certain they can find ample opportunities to do so. In addition to conserving land for hikes and staring contest with owls, the Society boasts an Environmental Education Center, which hosts events, programs, and interactive exhibits year-round. For the Audubon Society to thrive, Jeffrey knows the organization's programs must inspire young stewards. “They’ll grow up to be the voters who want to protect this land,” he says. That's why, among the many programs guests can partake in, the society's also offers a summer camp and kid-friendly classes.

At Shelalara Vineyards and Winery, vintners work with modern equipment to produce more than 20 different wines. Using grapes and fruit imported from California and other sun-soaked regions, the enophiles fill tanks with sweet elixirs including their in-house specialty wine slush. The glacier wines, fruit essences, and vintage wines run a colorful gamut from the off purple of the sky just after sunset to the hue of warm honey. Shelalara’s winemaking process, including fermentation, bottling, and 21-gun salutes following spills, all takes place in Rhode Island.

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

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.

To make every game as exciting, safe, and enjoyable as possible, Randolph Paintball personnel conduct a safety orientation before grouping each game's 15 to 25 players into teams based on age and ability. The center also employs professional referees to oversee every 10- to 15-minute bout, as players target their rivals with semiautomatic, air-powered marking guns during scenarios such as capture the flag and elimination. Rounds unfold across the two outdoor location's eight fields, where participants duck into foxholes or overtake the Lord of the Rings–inspired Helms Deep fortress. Games are played rain or shine, though during the frigid winter months the action relocates to Randolph Paintball's 1,000-square-foot indoor astroturf speedball field.

Indoor and outdoor Paintball playing fields. 3 locations: Randolph indoor field, Holbrook outdoor field, Plainville outdoor fields.