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7 Rhody Days of School Vacation

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Saturday
Get a jump on the week by taking the entire family to Yawgoo Valley in Exeter for a ski or snowboard lesson. There’s always snow at Yawgoo Valley, no matter what the weather has or hasn’t done. Not into skiing or snowboarding? Definitely try the family-friendly snow tubing. During vacation week it’s open even longer for extra time in the snow. 160 Yawgoo Valley Road, Exeter. 294-3802.

Think your child is the next Steven Spielberg? Head to any of the various venues around Providence hosting the Children’s Film Festival. With movies for the whole family showing all week long, you can feel good about your kids seeing the latest and greatest in children’s cinema. Who knows, it might even inspire them. Multiple venues. 209-7585

Who said the ocean is only for summer? Take the family and head over to the Save the Bay tours for some seal watching fun. Each tour is 90 minutes and there are departures from Newport and Westerly. Just think of all the amazing animals waiting to be seen on a fun winter boat ride. 175 Memorial Boulevard, Newport. 324-6020. 8 Broad Street, Westerly. 315-2709.

If you’re raising future hockey stars, get a family ticket combo and head to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to watch the Providence Bruins take on the Hershey Bears. The combo includes four tickets, four drinks and four hot dogs. Quality family time plus cheering on the Boston Bruins farm team, you couldn’t ask for more. 1 LaSalle Square, Providence. 331-6700.

Sunday
The RISD Museum in Providence offers free admission on Sundays, as well as special programming and tours just for kids to help them better understand and appreciate fine art. If they’re feeling artistic, take them to Family See and Sketch, a kid-friendly open studio. 20 North Main Street, Providence. 454-6500.

Stop by the Newport Winter Festival’s Children’s Fair on Sunday and Monday for some dancing, reptiles, face painting, balloon animals and arts and crafts all day long at various locations throughout Newport. There’s plenty of fun for the whole family. Multiple venues. 847-7666.

Monday
If you’re looking to tucker out the little ones, be sure to take them ice skating during vacation. The Newport Skating Rink has extended hours skating this week beginning at 10am and the Westerly Ice Rink has a few intro classes as well as their public skate beginning at 3pm during the week. Boss Ice Arena in Kingston also has public skating and open hockey throughout the week. No matter where you go, you’ll be having fun while staying fit on the ice. 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport. 846-3018; 61 Main Street, Westerly. 637-7902; 1 Keaney Road, Kingston. 874-4988.

Or, enroll your kids in an awesome gymnastics-based camp with Aim High Academy in East Greenwich. Your kids can tumble and roll all day while exercising in a fun and positive environment. Get ready for them to show off their awesome new tricks after camp wraps up. 3355 South Country Trail, East Greenwich. 886-7827.

For something a little more low key, the Providence Children’s Museum has fun programming every day of the week, starting with three performances by popular kids’ entertainer Keith Munslow on Monday, who will hold participation-encouraged shows with lively piano tunes and tongue twisting poems. 100 South Street, Providence. 273-5437.

Tuesday
Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown is the state’s biggest aquarium, and is open every day for up close and personal encounters with sea creatures. During school vacation week, their weekend programming happens every day: think puffer fish demonstrations, and feedings of tortoises, seahorses, stingrays, dogfish sharks and horseshoe crabs. 6640 Post Road, North Kingstown. 885-4690.

If the kids are cheering for more science (because what kid doesn’t), get over to the Museum of Natural History in Providence. During school vacation there will experiments and fun things to do that are all related to STEM. Think physics experiments, making your own spacecraft and plenty more. Check their website to see the specific schedule and plan on jumping into STEM learning. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 680-7221.

If the kids want a little less science in their vacation, head over to the Teddy Bear Tea as part of the Newport Winter Festival presented by the Newport Harbor Hotel. Kids bring their favorite teddy bear and listen to the musical storyteller Christopher “Kavi” Carbone. There will be stories all about winter, with tea for adults and milk and cookies for the kids. 49 America’s Cup Avenue, Newport. 847-9000.

Wednesday

Roger Williams Park Zoo has weeklong camps for kids age 4-13, but the zoo is worth a visit any day during Winter Wonder Days. Admission is half-price in winter, and many of the zoo’s animals, like the snow leopard, are more active in cold weather. 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence. 785-3510.

If being outside today isn’t your thing then head over to Hotel Viking’s SpaFjor in Newport and treat yourself and the kids to a spa day. The spa offers plenty of services for adults but also have a Prince & Princesses menu for the younger crowd. A Wednesday dedicated to their first pedicure? Yes, please. 1 Bellevue Avenue, Newport. 847-3300.

If inspiration has hit, send the kiddies to art camp with Clayground Studio in East Greenwich. Here the kids will work on clay projects and mosaics with plenty of additional time for drawing and painting. 5600 Post Road #109, East Greenwich. 884-4888.

Thursday
Feeling a little cooped up? Make today all about exercise. Head over to Rock Spot in South Kingstown to gear up and climb the walls – literally. This indoor rock climbing place will have your kids burning off plenty of energy – and have fun while doing it. 1174 Kingstown Road, South Kingstown. 789-7768.

If rock climbing isn’t what they’re into there’s also Launch Trampoline Park in Warwick, which brings a whole new meaning to bouncing off the walls. Grab some serious airtime with your kids as you bounce around the indoor trampoline park. You would have never thought exercise could be so much fun. 105 Pace Boulevard, Warwick. 828-5867.

Or, you could work on your laser tag game at Mission Combat in West Warwick. The tykes are sure to have fun – and wear each other out – while trying to come out the winner during awesome laser tag battles. 3 Bridal Avenue, West Warwick. 203-0467.

Friday
The Save The Bay Aquarium and Exploration Center at Easton’s Beach in Newport is open Friday-Sunday in the winter, and offers touch-tank experiences with Atlantic sea life and educational programs for little ones. They also offer camps for grades two through four during the week if your kids want to delve even deeper into nautical learning. 175 Memorial Boulevard, Newport. 324-6020.

With Friday being the last official day of break you’ll want to do something for the whole family. Head over to Alley Katz Bowling in Westerly or Old Mountain Lanes in Wakefield and see who in the family is the best bowler in town. 116 Granite Street, Westerly. 596-7474, AlleyKatzRI.com. 756 Kingstown Road, Wakefield. 783-5511.

Or, if bowling isn’t up your alley, don’t forget about Frosty Drew Observatory Stargazing Nights. Head to the observatory anywhere from 6pm on to see the stars and planets overhead. The observatory stays open late and has telescopes for the best possible viewing. 61 Park Lane, Charlestown. 364-9508.

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