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Barrington is a quintessential New England town located on Narragansett Bay.  The village is about 3/4 mile from our house with home-made ice cream store, Starbucks, grocery, hardware store, some very cute shops & a few national chain stores - Ann Taylor, Talbot’s, Staples etc.  The bike path is about 1/2 a mile from the house and is a paved walking/ bike path (no motorized vehicles) that spans the coastline for 70 miles, connecting many of the waterfront communities - including Providence. 

Providence is 8 miles away and is the State Capitol.  It is rich in history, and hosts some of the country's top universities (Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, Johnson & Wales University and Providence College).  Providence is rich with history & culture and because of the universities - Providence is a progressive city and has tons of eclectic coffee shops, great shopping and some of the nation's best Restaurants (my personal favorite, Al Forno www.alforno.com has been written up in gourmet magazine & Bon Appetite at least 20 times).  Additionally, Providence has a wonderful traditional Italian neighborhood called Federal Hill, www.providenceri.com/Neighborhoods/fedhill.html which is brimming with pastry shops, outdoor café's, markets, and tons of great restaurants.  This is the perfect neighborhood to have a meal or a coffee & stroll the streets to people watch. One other unique attraction in Providence is the water fires www.waterfire.org  - 100 bonfires that blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence.

Another 2 towns that are a must see while visiting the area: Bristol, RI www.discoverbristol.com  - which is 6 miles south of our house.  This is a super charming historic waterfront village.  On your way there is The best upscale breakfast/ lunch cafe (Three Rivers, Water St. Warren RI) Or, if you are into greasy spoons- (Hope Diner, Hope St. Bristol, RI) is a MUST stop. If you go, ignore the atmosphere, enjoy the food and tell Loreen, Mickey, Bobby and Deloris that the LeRoux’s sent you. Colt state Park is probably one of the most beautiful parks in the country - with miles of walking right on bay. Bristol has several museums and is home to Roger Williams University, where the LeRoux’s met.