Got kids for the day?

/Jewish Alliance

6 favorite fall activities for young and old

When there are children around and it’s time to have some fun, we’ve got the list for you. Are the grandkids in town? Do your kids have some free time? Fall is a perfect time for outdoor activities. Then, the weather turns and what do you do? Our area has a wealth of things that can be enjoyed by all ages. You may want to try a few of these on your own – no children needed!

1 Come on down to the Dwares JCC

Now I know The Voice has its offices here, but have you visited the Dwares JCC recently?

• There’s a lot to do here for every age group. Check out the pool; it’s great fun. And don’t forget J-Fitness for a workout with the older kids. 
• For the younger set, a PJ Library Story time is a great shared experience as is one of the periodic crafting programs.
• Camps for a wide range of ages meet on school vacation days and during the summer.

                 Check out the program guides inserted in The Voice several times a year, or go online to jewishallianceri.org and look at the community calendar. For hours, check jewishallianceri.org/alliance-jcc/fitness-aquatics.

2 See the stars

With all the brouhaha about our recent lunar eclipse, maybe the youngsters would like to do a little stargazing. If you haven’t ever paid a visit to the Ladd Observatory, opened in 1891, at Brown University, you’ll enjoy this even more than they will.

• In addition to getting a chance to climb up and take a peek through the giant telescope, you can gaze through a variety of small telescopes around the outside of the building (weather permitting) and wonder at how anyone ever figured out anything about the stars while you look at the collection of historic tools on the first floor. Open from 8-10 p.m. every Tuesday, weather permitting. Information, 401-863-2323. 210 Doyle Ave., Providence.

3 Fall at the beach

You don’t need a bathing suit to enjoy the area’s beaches. The lifeguards have gone home, but so have the crowds.

• Take a warm day and walk on the beach. Wiggle those toes in the sand. Wade in the ocean; it’s still warm you know. Collect a few shells. They are great for winter crafts. And the best part? You don’t have to worry about opening and closing hours.

4 I scream…

Does anyone NOT like ice cream?  From Westerly to Cumberland and out to Somerset, we have our share of places to get the cold delicious stuff.

• How about a taste tour? Now I’m not going to advocate any one place, but I can tell you that through the end of October there are plenty of outdoor places still open. And many offer a nondairy alternative for the lactose sensitive among us. So, get out and taste. Make your own rating system. And enjoy the scenery as well.

5 A real live battleship

Fall River is home to Battleship Cove, with its fleet of historic naval warships. On display are the battleship USS Massachusetts, the destroyer Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the Lionfish, PT 617 and PT 796 and the Soviet-built missile corvette Hiddensee. There’s a marine museum nearby.

• This is a perfect outing for the family; there’s history, climbing and lots of activity. And if you have any energy left over, there’s a carousel adjacent to the exhibits that’s open from May to October. Everything is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is an admission charge. 5 Water Street, Fall River.

6 Round and round we go

Speaking of carousels, you can pick any of the many carousels in the area for a fun outing with the kids. Try one with a history. For example:

• The Flying Horse Carousel in Westerly was built in 1876 and is the only surviving flying horse carousel in the country. It’s in the Watch Hill Historic District and worth the drive. The Looff Carousel in Slater Park, and the Crescent Park Looff Carousel were both designed by Charles I.D. Looff, a master carver who designed carousels around the country. Both date to the late 1800s. Slater Park is in Pawtucket, Crescent Park is in the Riverside area of East Providence. All the carousels are open seasonally for rides.

FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.