Nashville is HOT in September and the streets are a hell to navigate. This hotel offered a drop off and pick up service to nearby attractions and addresses and saved us a LOT of hassle. If it had been cooler and we had more time, we could have walked around the city more than we did but what a relief to find a place that offered this service.
We had a quite stay here. It was clean, located in central area to the attractions we wanted to see and the staff were friendly and very helpful. We did have one day where the water was shut off for several hours but this was a fluke.
Breakfast was standard for the Marriott chain. One night, we actually had time to sit at the hotel bar and talk with the bartender and other tourists and that was a lot of fun. I had a Shirley Temple...did not drink at all that day...and still managed to take a nose dive in front of Tootsie's World Famous Orchid Lounge later that night.
This was an enjoyable hotel made more than a chain by the exceptional Staff.
Mercy Brown lives on in history but she was never a vampire. SPOILER ALERT: she died of consumption. cough cough
This beautiful little cemetery and church ground makes for a lovely stop on a tour of Exeter which could include craft beer, sugar shacks and Middle of Nowhere diners. Also check out the scrap metal scorpion and the weird frog house across from Exeter town hall.
Back to Mercy: her grave is adorned with coins and mementos. If you are interested in vampire lore of New England, this is a MUST VISIT.
This park was the home of the Monastery of Our Lady of the Valley, occupied by the monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists. The monastery building now houses administration, meeting rooms and the Cumberland Public Library.
Of value to ROAD TRIPPERS who appreciate HISTORY: this is the site of the first VETERAN's MEMORIAL in the US. Located on one of the many trails of the grounds, NINE MEN'S MISERY is the burial place of nine colonists that were tortured to death by the Narragansetts during King Philips War. Originally marked by a cairn in 1676, it was secured by a more permanent cemented cairn in 1928 by the Trappist monks who owned this property after several attempted desecrations by researchers and locals. This cairn still stands, along with a plaque. Some believe these grounds are HAUNTED but I personally, in all my 40 years of visits, have only had one spooky minor event (and that was in the library bathroom!) so please do not be afraid to visit this most important historical memorial.
WALKING: there are many trails on the grounds, fit for WALKERS and JOGGERS. One path leads to Nine Mens Misery, another to a quarry with a view of Providence in the distance. Trails meander past a pond, swamp, a huge water tank, old stone walls and fields. GEOCACHING allowed. Often very busy, it is a safe place to walk alone or with family. This is a DOG FRIENDLY park however many locals do not leash their pets and that can be a problem.
PLAYGROUND: as of 2020 there are plans to renovate the playground. It needs a face lift. It has been a good place for children to play and offered a swing for children who might need assistance. There is no path for wheelchairs to the play equipment and I hope this will be rectified with the renovation. Mulch and grass are covering the play area as well as sand in the slide and jungle gym area.
PICNIC tables are available. NO GRILLS or fires allowed.
RESTROOMS are located in the library and are not open after library hours.
NO OVERNIGHT PARKING. NO CAMPING.
The Cumberland Public library is located in the Monastery complex along with the senior center and literacy center. There is GENEROUS parking on the grounds, several restrooms with RAMPS and an ELEVATOR for those who need assistance. The library itself is a relatively new edition. The old Hayden Memorial Library houses the library book store, storage, public rooms and offices. This newer library is spacious. Downstairs offers magazines, newspapers, new fiction, DVDs and several display cases along with the circulation desk and the children's room. The children's room is self contained and features a stage, a lot of space, plenty of toys and computers for younger children.
The elevator or stairs go up to the main collection, nonfiction, older fiction, Young Adult and reference materials. There has been a puzzle table in the past along with self serve Keurig coffee maker for $1 a pod. COMPUTER access and FREE WIFI are available however you will need a valid Ocean State Library Card OR ask for a guest pass at the reference desk.
The LIBRARY HOURS as of March 2020 are:
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday & Saturday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
(NOTE: From July 1 - Labor Day in September, Saturday: 9:00 - 1:00 pm)
Sunday: 1:00 - 4:00 pm (October - May)
The BOOKSTORE hours are: Thursday - 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Saturday - 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Books are prices as: Hardcover Books: $1.00 Large Paperback Books: $1.00
Kids Board Books: $0.50 Paperback Books: $0.50
Audiobooks: $1.00 Music CDs: $0.25
DVDs: 3 for a $1.00
This is a GREAT PLACE FOR ROAD TRIPPERS to stop and rest, refresh, and walk the many trail of this complex. NO OVERNIGHT PARKING!
I actually lived in the mill picture for several years and grew up near here . If you would like to see some great history, you should stop here for a couple of hours and walk around. The Ashton Mill is now an apartment complex. The mill once spun cotton in the 1800's and in more recent years, Corning Glass spun fiberglass to make the suits the Apollo astronauts wore on moon missions. You cannot enter the apartment complex now, nor park in the lot HOWEVER there is a small parking area to the far right (once you are down the crazy hill) that is reserved for visitors to the mill and the Blackstone Valley Bike path.
I HIGHLY recommend a walk across the pedestrian bridge to the Capt Wilbur Kelly House...a small museum of displays, photographs and dioramas of the mill and canal history. It is free and the hours are MOSTLY 9 to 4ish. Walk the bike path towards Lonsdale to view a new barn and the canal. Walk under the viaduct to the Ashton Dam for some lovely views. Cross over a wooden canal bridge and walk up to the RI Visitors Center for a bathroom and an occasional art gallery display.
I love visiting small towns and this being my own small town home town, I would like others to visit and enjoy, too.
PS: the bike path continues through several RI cities and town and there is plenty of parking along the length of it.
No thanks. Rather stale baked goods.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND for Italian food! The menu is filled with yummy Italian plates. I had attended a retirement party for a coworker and I was shocked to see how lovely the interior is compared to what it was when Good Times Bar and Grille ages ago. The food was so fresh, hot and plentiful that I intend to bring my family here for a fine dinner. The atmosphere is casual but don't show up with cut offs, wife beaters and flip flops. This is a place for a better lunch or dinner. Reasonably priced and they do have GLUTEN FREE options. I had the chicken kale ravioli (GF) with oil and it was FABULOUS!! I also had a coconut margarita. So good.
CLOSED as of 2020
Berry's has been renovated and enlarged! This is a fun spot to grab a cone while strolling down Bank Street...or sit on the newly renovated deck and watch the water traffic on the Thames and the Amtrak on the tracks. Great spot for kids and adults alike. They offer GF and DF option in a freezer section. Gluten Free cones are now available for an upcharge. Offering about 20 flavors and dozens of toppings. Bright, friendly staff and super clean. Recommended.