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Wamer temperatures boost state 's fishing
Warm temperatures have improved fishing for walleye and panfish, but strong winds have hampered fishing efforts on Saginaw Bay and the Great Lakes, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.
Strong winds hamper fishing efforts at Great Lakes ports
Strong winds have hampered fishing efforts at many ports along the Great Lakes, especially on the east side of the state , as the fish seem to be scattered, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.
Fishing conditions should improve with resurgent temperatures
While the recent cold front slowed fishing around the state , conditions should improve with the return of warmer temperatures, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday in its weekly fishing report.
Striped bass blitz a memory
The remnants of tropical storm Cindy that blew through last Friday with heavy rain and wind affected the striped bass fishery. The hard northeast wind pushed in warm 70-degree offshore water, and as a result most of the striped bass have relocated.
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You'll skirt leafy landscapes and cobble-stone riverwalks, drifting through a newly revitalized downtown Providence. Back on land, stroll Waterplace Park and lively downtown streets. Browse specialty shops, boutiques, and art galleries framed by flower gardens and flanked by well-preserved historic homes. Worked up an appetite?
Downtown Providence boasts some of New England's best restaurants, from fine dining establishments to casual eateries. If you're craving trattorias and pastas, visit Federal Hill, the city's authentic Italian neighborhood. For classic, no-frills dining, check out Angelo's Civita Farnese, a local favorite, known for its mega-portions and mini-prices.
2) Tour Benefit Street in Providence. Dubbed the "Mile of History," this neighborhood features one of the most extensive collections of original Colonial houses in America. Guided bus and walking tours are conducted by the Providence Preservation Society.
3) Attend WaterFire Providence, an outdoor performance of music and fire. Introduced in 1997, the glittery show sets 60 fires ablaze along the riverfront, choreographed to music. The show, fast-becoming one of Rhode Island's premier attractions, is held alternating Saturday evenings from April through October.
4) Visit the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. Collections include classical art from Greece and Rome, Chinese and Indian works, Egyptian objects, 19th century French art, and masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the present.
5) Follow the New England Trail through South County, home to 19th century seaside resorts and historic villages. Along the way, stop to see America's oldest carousel in Watch Hill, the famous Narragansett Towers, the Gilbert Stuart Birthplace (America's foremost portraitist of George Washington), and Smith's Castle (oldest plantation house in the country.)
Next, don your wide-rimmed hat and flip-flops and head to the beach. From Narragansett Pier to Watch Hill, the southwestern coastline of Rhode Island is nearly one continuous stretch of beautiful white sand. Families like Sand Hill Cove in Narragansett, where the surf is calm and amenities include bathhouses, lifeguards, and snack bars. Charlestown Beach sits at the edge of the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. When you want to escape the ocean beach crowd, head to the refuge to walk its peaceful trails. Don't miss a visit to Watch Hill, a quiet Victorian town on the western border of the state. Watch Hill Beach is small and rarely crowded, with changing rooms and a cluster of restaurants and ships nearby. The centerpiece of Watch Hill is the 1867 Flying Horse Carousel, a National Historic Landmark.
6) Take the ferry boat ride to Block Island, located just 10 miles off Rhode Island's southern coast. This island get-away features dunes and sandy beaches, quaint Victorian architecture and rolling, rural pasturelands. Rent a bike in Old Harbor and explore the coastline, inland ponds (there are 200 ponds on Block Island!), and wildlife refuges. Fishing, sailing, picnicking, relaxing, and eating (fresh seafood abounds) are also favorite island pursuits.
Don't miss a visit to Mohegan Bluffs at the southernmost tip of the island, a series of intriguing clay cliffs. Be sure to climb up the short path to the 200-foot elevation for great ocean views. You'll also see Southeast Lighthouse, a beacon to seafarers since 1874. If there's an angler in your group, don't leave the island without joining a deep-sea fishing charter. The surrounding waters of Block Island are home to bluefish, striped bass, and flounder.
7) Explore the picturesque Blackstone Valley. Make your first stop the Visitor Center for an overview of the region and its rich history. Visit the Slater Mill Historic Site, the first factory in America to produce cotton yarn with water-powered machines. The site also includes the Sylvanus Brown House (1758), the Wilkinson Mill (1810), and a reconstructed 16,000-pound water wheel that is still in operation. Also in the area is the Smith-Appleby House (1696) and Daggett House (1685), one of the earliest farmhouses in Rhode Island. Stop by the Brown & Hopkins Country Store, the nation's oldest continuously operated country store, and Diamond Hill Vineyards, located on a 200-year-old estate. Sports fans will want to catch a Pawtucket Red Sox game; the team is the AAA International League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
8) Meander the Plains of Africa and Tropical Rainforest at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence. Set on 430 acres, this award-winning zoo houses more than 156 different species and over 900 animals. Polar bears and penguins, elephants, cheetahs, and giraffes, leopards, llamas and lemurs ... oh my. Stop by the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, too. Rent a boat at the Dalrymple Boathouse to explore the park's connecting waterways or walk the wonderland of parks and gardens.
9) Play a round of tennis on the oldest grass courts in America at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport. They're also the only grass courts open for public play. Tennis buffs can check out the Tennis Hall of Fame Museum, which houses artifacts and exhibits covering more than a century of tennis history.
10) Live in the opulent past as you tour the famous Gilded Age mansions of Newport. These glorious "summer cottages" of the rich and famous (Vanderbilts, Astors, and Rockefellers to name a few) hug the shoreline and reveal the lifestyle of wealthy American aristocracy during the Industrial Age. You can purchase individual or combination tickets to the mansions. Don't miss The Breakers, built for Cornelius Vanderbilt, the most palatial of the mansions. The 70-room castle of marble, mosaic, alabaster, and mahogany resembles a 16th century northern Italian palace. At the Beechwood mansion, costumed, role-playing servants welcome you as guests for their anniversary ball. You can get a peek at many of the mansions' facades and grounds on the dramatic Cliff Walk. The , up-and-down trail runs from Memorial Boulevard and Eustis Avenue to Bailey's Beach. You'll also have splendid views of the rocky Atlantic coastline along the way.
While in Newport, take a drive out to Fort Adams Park for a picnic, sign up for a harbor cruise, or walk among the sea grasses and dunes at pretty Second Beach. Garden aficionados should head to the Green Animal Topiary Gardens in nearby Portsmouth. The gardens are a maze of sculpted geometric figures and animal shapes. For refreshments, head back to downtown Newport. Grab a seaside table at The Mooring restaurant at the Newport Yachting Center (yes, you'll have to wait in line--and forget about finding a parking spot nearby!) and watch the boats sail by. Or treat yourself to an alfresco brunch at the lovely Inn at Castle Hill, set on an ocean bluff with stunning views.
For more information, contact the Rhode Island Tourism Division (TravelAmerica Magazine), 1 W. Exchange St., Providence, RI 02903; (800) 556-2484. Or visit the website at .com.
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