Wickford Village - where to begin? Wickford represents what a real village should be – small but not confined, accessible and not limiting, quaint but not, well, out of range of conveniences that we’re accustomed to. (But this can also apply to Rhode Island given its size and multi-faceted population, proximity to the ocean and populous hot-spots such as Providence and then NYC - The Big Apple, and Bean town - Boston.)
But we digress. There is so much to say about Wickford, this small village overlooking Wickford Harbor which is on the western shore of Narragansett Bay. It has homes of 1700’s vintage showcasing early American history along tree-lined streets for visitors and shoppers. Though these groups overlap, you say? We know. And so do the shop owners with their charming store fronts and multi-faceted wares – over 70 to date.
Or take time to stop at an outdoor café, let the kids feed the ducks, and watch boats testing the waters or fisherman returning with their day’s catch. Wickford also has seasonal enticements to entertain such as the annual Wickford Art Festival in July, the Festival of Lights in December, and Daffodil Days in the spring. Be sure to double check the town calendar for other events. More to do? Try booking a sightseeing cruise on the Brandaris, a restored Dutch fishing vessel.
Or forsake the shoreline altogether and rent a kayak at Wickford's own Kayak Center. Weekend workshops are available to develop your paddle energies.
Don’t stop at the shopping, dining, coffee-sipping and boating since the entire area of historical Wickford Village includes many sightseeing opportunities.
There is the Haddie Pierce House, a Yankee Magazine Travel Guide to New England "Editors' Pick" and selected as a "Best of New England" winner in the annual Best of BedandBreakfast.com Awards, 2008-2009. This 1906 American Foursquare clapboard house was built by Haddie and Christopher Pierce and is located on a busy street corner in the village. During those bygone days, Wickford acquired a reputation as a summer resort thanks to the Seaview Railroad and steamships that sailed into the Harbor. These train and ships are no more but the Haddie Pierce House welcomes you to enjoy its well-earned charm.
And for golfing paradise you must drive to the Quidnessett Country Club, overlooking beautiful Narragansett Bay developed by the Jan Companies. Of course this exquisitely beautiful golf course and country club also provides a superb banquet and function facility for those special family or corporate events. For us history buffs, the area that comprises Quidnessett property once was part of Narragansett Indian Tribe land. It was deeded, appropriateness aside, in 1659 to a colonial buyer, a Major Humphry Atherton of Plymouth.
Lastly, let’s point out the presence of South County’s Historic Trail which begins in Wickford and encompasses:
>Casey Farm - a mid 18th-century homestead in the midst of a plantation and overlooking Narragansett Bay in Saunderstown. The area was converted in 1992 to a working family farm managed according to an alternative marketing system known as Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Today the farm has over two hundred shareholders and feeds more than a thousand people.
>Drive on over to the Gilbert Stuart House, 815 Gilbert Stuart Road, Saunderstown - the 1755 birthplace museum of 18th century portrait painter of then-General George Washington. Stuart studied his art in Europe and returned to become one of America 's master portrait artists. As you spend your U.S. dollar bill, see Stuart’s best known portrait of our founding father, George Washington.
>Then find Smith's Castle - built in 1678 and a house museum on Cocumscussoc State Park. It is one of the oldest houses in the state and a National Historic Landmark.
>Be sure to adventure to the Old Narragansett Church, one of the oldest Episcopal Churches in America. The congregation itself dates back to 1706 and the building was constructed in 1707. It contains an organ built in 1680 by Bernard Smith, the 17th century, German-born master organ maker. It is one of the oldest organs still in use in this country.
>And a nearby drive takes you and the family to the Quonset Air Museum prized for its vintage aircraft. It is housed in North Kingstown on 3 acres of the original Naval Air Station Quonset Point (NASQP) hangar. The 28 aircraft currently on display or under restoration include civilian, military and prototype aircraft dating from 1944 (Hellcat) to 1983 (F-14 Tomcat).
>Don’t forget to see the Point Judith Lighthouse, erected in 1816. Its location was used for a tower beacon during the American Revolution. The last German U-Boat sunk in World War II was two miles off the light.
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Deb Grimaldi
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980 Reservoir Avenue
Cranston, RI 02910
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Spring in Maryland
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