The Top Five Local Places That I’m Dying To Check Out

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top five local places Rhode Island Connecticut Providence Moms BlogAh, self-care. So important, yet so hard for us moms to prioritize. When we get some free time, we unload the dishwasher for the umpteenth time that week, try to chip away at our mountain of laundry, or just pass out on the couch as our iPhone falls from our hand. With that being said, there are so many cool places for shopping, dining, or general merriment that I’ve noticed recently, and they’re all just begging for a trip. Since I haven’t even seen a movie in a theater in six months, it’ll probably be a while before I get to any of these places, but hey, a mom can dream, right?

Tumblesalts Cafe/The Hopscotch Roomtop five local places Rhode Island Connecticut Providence Moms Blog

This cute little ‘village’ in North Providence has shopping and dining all wrapped up in one. The restaurant is located in an old Victorian house and they have different dining areas throughout the home including a rooftop bar in the summer! The adjacent shopping area offers household items and gifts. I’m not sure who named these places but just hearing what they’re called makes me think they must be a cute and cozy place to spend time with some friends. Plus I’m a sucker for vintage houses and breakfast food, so I don’t see how I could go wrong.

Old Mistick Village

Continuing on the theme of shopping is Olde Mistick Village. Located just over the border in Mystic, Connecticut, (‘honorary Rhode Island’), this is a group of 40+ shops and restaurants set up to look like an old New England village. They aren’t chain stores; they’re cute little local places that sell items of all different themes – Christmas, pets, and the beach. There’s a coffee shop, homemade ice cream parlor, and – wait for it – an Alice in Wonderland themed tea room. I know this place isn’t new, but it’s caught my eye on my way to my usual Mystic destination, the aquarium. Now I’m just itching to meander through the cobblestone streets and support some local businesses.

Point Street Dueling Pianos

This Providence hot spot has been on my list of places to check out for YEARS I tell you! A dueling piano bar sounds like such a fun and different way to have girls’ night out. It seems like dancing, comedy, and special requests are all part of the fun in addition to live music. Who wants to visit a regular old bar when you could go to a place with all of that going on? Alas, I’m usually in bed before this place opens for the night, but maybe someday I’ll have an occasion for a wild night on the town!

Alex and Ani Center Bumper Cars

The bumper cars were all over the social media world when they first arrived in downtown PVD, and for good reason. These things look awesome! They are basically big inner tubes that you steer around the rink, bashing into other cars for fun. I’m pretty much the most uncoordinated person you’ll ever meet, so skating on ice is a definite no for me, but bumper cars on ice? Minimal motor skills required! Not too many things inspire me to go outside in the winter, but this might  be just the ticket.

Sugar Factory

Have a sweet tooth? Then you might consider venturing just over the Connecticut border to Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard to check this place out. They have everything you could want here. My usual treat of choice is chocolate, but hey, I don’t discriminate. Their massive cocktails look like something the Oompa Loompas would drink after a hard day at the factory. The desserts range from the typical (chocolate cake, turtle cheesecake) to the zany (the bacon cheeseburger milkshake has an actual bacon cheeseburger on the top) to the outrageous (thousand dollar chocolate gold fondue that has to be ordered 24 hours in advance). Hot chocolate, sweet pizzas, homemade ice cream sandwiches, fancy coffees – it’s all there. They have real food too, but really, who wants to fill up on that when there are all these desserts to enjoy? Everything on the menu is completely decadent, which we all know is something that motherhood, although lovely, is NOT.

My goal for 2018 is to try at least a couple of these places out. Where have you been recently that I should add to my list? Food, shopping, pampering, fun… What do you think the best local places for some ‘me time’ are?

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