CHRISTMAS DOWNTOWN
5 merry spots to shop, dine and recharge your holiday spirit
If you’re looking for that Hallmark movie feel for your holiday shopping experience, there’s nothing quite like visiting a local downtown. ● There’s something special about shopping under lights that have been threaded through the trees or looking at window displays that have been stepped up a notch to bring on the cheer. Plus, there’s nothing like ducking out of the cold (with a few shopping bags filled with presents that will make you feel like you won Christmas) for a warm bite to eat at a local restaurant. ● Whether you prefer the city or a quaint small-town feel, here are five Rhode Island downtowns to check out this holiday season.
A city Christmas in Providence
It might not be a big city, but you can find all the big-city holiday things while spending a day in Providence. There are local shops to visit, where you can find gifts for anyone. There’s the BankNewport City Center Providence Rink, where you can partake in one of New England’s favorite seasonal pastimes that so often makes an appearance in holiday movies. At Roger Williams Park, both the greenhouses at the Botanical Gardens and the Roger Williams Park Zoo have been decorated to dazzle. We would be remiss to not point out that this is also the spot where you can see classic holiday shows like “A Christmas Carol” at Trinity Repertory Company or see Ballet RI perform “The Nutcracker” at The Vets auditorium.
Walk under the lights in downtown Warren
The lights dripping from the trees are a serious showstopper when you drive into the downtown area. Sparkling white lights cover the trees on Water Street, and then when you get a glimpse of Main Street you see even more lights, this time multicolored. It’s a hard-to-beat display of holiday cheer. Come for the lights and stay for everything else downtown Warren has to offer. There are plenty of cute shops – think Ink Fish Books or Imagine Gift Store – and, of course, plenty of great places to eat. We would be remiss to not pass on a recommendation for the reader-favorite burger place Chomp, which has a fantastic view of Narragansett Bay.
Peek in the window displays in Wickford Village
This village in North Kingstown has the feel of a Hallmark small town. The stores do a window display contest, making each one a delight to look at, and it’s reminiscent of that scene in “A Christmas Story” where Ralphie is gazing in the toy store window. Real trees have been hauled in and set against every lamppost to create a scene that looks beautiful both at night and during the day. The downtown is smaller than some of the other ones on the list but
dense with shops where you could spend a long time browsing for the perfect gifts. So many good choices!
Step back in time in Newport
Pick the era in which you want to step back in time. Want to experience the glamour of the very wealthy during the Gilded Age? Take a tour of the Newport mansions dressed up in their Christmas-card-worthy holiday splendor, and then head over to The Vanderbilt hotel to eat. Thinking about going even further back to a Colonial Christmas time with candles and evergreens? Take a walk through the Point neighborhood, where there’s a high density of Colonial houses, many of which the owners have done up for the holidays, and then go eat at the White Horse Tavern. And if you’re not looking for a specific era, just general holiday splendor, Thames Street is never disappointing and bustles this time of year.
Feel like a star in Westerly
Bright stars shining in the night guide people into downtown Westerly. The star decor is everywhere you walk downtown, including several glowing archways that people can walk through that are a perfect spot to stop for a quick holiday selfie. Stroll through Wilcox Park in the daytime to take in the crisp air of the season, and then head to High Street to shop until you drop. While you’re downtown, treat yourself to a cider and wine tasting at Tapped Apple for a festive flavor.