It ended up being a lovely Rhode Island day, but since rain was forecasted, we planned things for inside or out. No matter the weather, it is always a good day for exploring South County Rhode Island.
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The Fantastic Umbrella Factory in South Kingstown, Rhode Island
First, we headed to The Fantastic Umbrella Factory in South Kingstown. Contrary to the name, not an umbrella was seen, but it is a lovely place to spend a few hours with or without kids. On this day, we were joined by another three boys about my son’s ages. There are six shops on the property that have a Bohemian vibe.
My kids love to look through them, but parents of little ones might have a lot of stress keeping little hands off all the unique finds. They have decorations from all cultures- Great, hippyish clothing, modestly priced jewelry.
They have a great little cafe on the property with healthier sorts of offerings- smoothies, freshly brewed ice tea, salads, wraps. We had yummy blueberry and peach pielets and a strawberry smoothie for a snack. The cafe offers almond milk and gluten-free options.

Be sure to bring cash as there is a $10 credit card minimum, and In front of the store, you can buy chicken feed to take to the animals in the back. So, that is where we headed next.
There were also pens of ducklings with their mom and a partridge.

Then on to the Piece De Resistance- The Inside Scoop in North Kingstown. Having lived and traveled around this country, this is my favorite ice cream.
All their ice creams are homemade. My favorite flavors are the Coffee Oreo and Chocolate Brownie. They also have good sorbet and ice cream cakes — another great day of adventure in RI.
For more information on exploring Rhode Island, read 24 Hours in Newport, Newport’s Cliff Walk, or A Local’s Guide to 48 Hours in Rhode Island.