Strange - we are going to Middletown for the 45+ year for my husband, 14+ year for me, and 10 - 6 year for our kids -and I'm asking advice! However, we have always gone every other summer with my husbands' parents, sisters, and their families (his mom and her cousins have kept their family house as a summer/vacation house) so we have always stayed pretty close to home. This year we're going by ourselves and the boys are inviting a series of friends - so I'm looking for something new and for day trips. We do Mystic a lot, and we visit a cousin on the Cape (awful in the summer!), and we've done Green Animals and the subs in Groton. WE haven't been to New Bedford for a number of years - so will probably do that. I'm considering a night at the Rose Island light house (depends on price and number of beds) or just a trip out there, and maybe Block Island. Our house in Middletown is very close to Third Beach and we live a couple miles from the beach in Florida, so beaches are not a priority. What about state/national parks, Providence - any thing else? The boys range from from 16 to 21, like the outdoors, new foods, architecture, history, military stuff...Thanks

Go to a Pawtucket Red Sox Game would be an option.

Ah - good idea!

From New Bedford, you can hop the "fast ferry" to Martha's Vineyard. www.nefastferry.com Other than the Whaling Museum, though, I'm not sure what else you hope to see there.

For the military buffs, Battleship Cove in Fall River might be interesting. www.battleshipcove.org. They can then try some new foods on Columbia Street: http://www.heraldnews.com/lifestyle/...-in-Fall-River

Since you have been vacationing there for so long, I'm sure you have covered all the Newport Mansions and Fort Adams? How about a harbor cruise? www.cruisenewport.com/Tickets.htm

Colt State Park in Bristol is very pretty has some bike paths.

If you can break away from the teens for a while, I recommend a little wine tasting. http://coastalwinetrail.com/

Right, New Bedford was for the whaling museum - the younger two boys don't remember and the oldest said he would enjoy seeing it again. I'll check into the ferry - and the harbor cruises in Newport. I always like being on the water and we've never done that, although we've seen at least one mansion per visit and always do the Cliff Walk. I'll have to ask them about Battleship Cove - at any rate any visiting FL friends wouldn't have seen it and the boys are always up for military stuff. What about hiking in state parks? What about the riverfront area in Providence, and Providence in general? Thanks for all your links!

You might wander over to Pt. Judith and take one of the fishing trips out of there or ferry over to Block Island and bike around for the day. The American Indian museum at Foxwoods is also excellent and fun for kids.

The Indian Museum at Foxwoods is a great recommendation. If you're considering an overnight someplace, how about NH's White Mountains for some great hiking opportunities? Providence to Concord NH is about a 2 hr drive, add an hour to get further north into the mountains. The Flume is very popular.

The Flume sounds great - wonder if we could do it as a very long day trip? After all, we'll have plenty of drivers. We haven't done a fishing trip since we were in Wisconsin about 11 years ago (and we live on the Gulf coast of Fl! Guess we only like fishing elsewhere!), so that would be a fun outing - as would the Indian Museum. Thanks!

Not sure if your kids are zoo guys at all but as an adult I go to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Also, you can check the schedule to see if there will be any WaterFire nights in Providence while you are there.

Another option that my nephews love is to take a day trip to Six Flags amusement park near Springfield, MA.

Sailing lessons for the kids right at Fort Adams, a family fishing day out of any one of the fishing boats, a day trip to Point Judith/Block Island ( take the ferry from Pt. Judith), take the Fast Ferry from Quonset to Martha's Vineyard (easy drive to the ferry from Newport)plus, you have many great ideas above....I love that Indian Museum...it's really great!

One more thought, you could take Amtrak from Kingston to NYC (3hrs and 15minutes) or you could take the train in the other direction for a day trip to Boston.

How do I find out about the sailing lessons? I would like to do that! DH tried to teach me, but it didn't work at all - I was in tears half the time! The zoo is a good idea, too. NYC would be great - I haven't been in 30 something years - but DH used to go a lot on business and I don't know if I could drag him up there

There are several coices for lessons under "recreation" at the "gonewport.com website. I can't think of a better place to learn how to sail!
Treat yourself to an afternoon show in NYC and you can do it in one day!

The University of Rhode Island has sailing lessons. Go to their web site.

Great info on sailing lessons - I will definitely do it, even if none of the kids will. Thanks!

There's an airplane museum at Quonset which might be cool for the kids to visit. The beach at Narragansett (or any of the other crowded ones along the coast) are fun for kids because they can boogie board and see other kids. There are a few historic old farms that maybe they'd enjoy and maybe an evening in Providence watching the river burn. Newport is tough because the place gets so packed in the summer and with all the tiny streets it can be frustrating, but seeing the mansions- maybe just the Breakers might be fun for them. And kayaking! that's always fun to do on the bay.

Block Island is a great day trip for teens - take or rent bikes to explore the island. Beaches, parasailing, and banana boating too!!!

This link to Rhode Island activities is a great resource.
http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/what-to-do/watersports/

If you go north to Providence, be sure to go on a day when they have Waterfire. The river is lit up with fires and music is piped in as you stroll along the river. There are street vendors and shows. Teens love it!!
http://www.waterfire.org/

Providence is loaded with colleges and universities so it's a good opportunity to start the college search by driving and walking through different campuses.

Hope this helps!

Kayaking around Newport Harbor, Polo at Glenn Farms in Portsmouth, you can pack up drinks and food and tailgate right next to the field.