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City in Rhode Island, United States
Photo: thisisbossi, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Cranston is the second largest city in Rhode Island by population with 83,000 residents in 2020. It lies north of Warwick and south of Providence.
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Made up of 332 acres which are perfect for hiking, biking, and bird-watching. There are two ponds here where you are able to take out the canoe or do a little fresh water fishing.
This historic farmhouse, built in 1754, is on the National Rochambeau Trail and is furnished with period antiques.
The area of Cranston known as Edgewood is not simply the city’s segue into Providence. It is also the location of a collection of spectacular homes. Edgewood is a friendly, communal, and old-timey section of Cranston. Everyone knows everyone. There are cute shops and comfy dining. A great place to hang out, walk around and socialize with a group of friends or family. The part of Edgewood, which connects to Pawtuxet Village and Warwick, is on the coast of the Narragansett Bay. The view is lovely, especially at sunset. The nearby homes are also worth checking out, or strolling past.
The Oaklawn Grange is a part of the historical Oaklawn village. The building is over one hundred years old and is now home of a non-profit organization that is run by a group volunteers from the community. The grange puts on a series of various events and fundraisers, most of the time during holiday seasons. For example around Halloween they have hayrides that ride around the area, and closer to Christmas time Santa rides to the grange on a fire engine and there is a ceremonial tree lighting in the nearby gazebo; these events are a ton of fun for younger kids. The Grange is also available to be rented out for private parties.
This is a great place for tourists to visit if they want to get better acquainted with a more nautical side of Rhode Island. Port Edgewood Marina has a great view of the ocean and is a good place to check out all of the different boats that are docked there.
This mansion was built in the late 18th century by the Spragues, a well-to-do Cranston family. The mansion received additions in 1864, and it has been kept intact ever since. There are tours through the mansion, and the suggested price for these tours is $3 for children and $10 for visitors 12 and up. The tours mainly focus on the history and architecture of the building. There are rumors that the mansion is haunted, but that is not widely believed. This is considered one of America’s most haunted mansions” and it is open to the public for tours. Around Halloween each year they also hold an annual Ghost Party— playing on their reputation and the home’s history of tragedy to maintain a building of significant historic value. Sprague Mansion is definitely worth a visit for visitors and Rhode Island residents.
As well as offering a library service to the neighborhood, the library is in impressive, historic building, and worth a look on both the inside and out.
The old Edgewood Yacht Club building was completely destroyed in a fire in 2010. The dock overlooks the bay from an excellent vantage point. The club offers several days throughout the summer for tours of both the club docks and a trip out onto the bay. Learning the basics of sailing can be an enjoyable, relatively cheap activity. The Edgewood and Rhode Island yacht clubs offer sailing lessons. For one on an extended stay, these weekly lessons can be an exciting introduction to the nautical side of Rhode island.
The Rhode Island Yacht Club houses many different yachts and other watercraft, often adorned with lights during holidays. You can reach the area directly from Narragansett Boulevard.
June–August. Built in the 1950s, Budlong Pool is one of the largest outdoor swimming pools in the nation, at 85 feet wide and 260 feet long. Cranston residents can purchase a season, individual, senior, or day pass, but non-residents can only purchase a day pass. There are swimming lessons for children and Aquafit classes for adults. The pool is open every year from the last week of June until the third week of August.
This ice rink, with a capacity of 425 people, is open to the public four days a week. It features a snack bar and a pro shop called Bennett Sports, which sells hockey equipment. Rates: $2-5 (for public skating).
This field serves a wide variety of causes including soccer, football, baseball, a playground for kids, and includes two rings for running, a larger 1/2 mile track and a smaller quarter mile track. During the spring and summer the people of Cranston will generally congregate here to enjoy many of outdoor activities. A great place to bring kids to let them wear themselves out.
Central Library
Close to the Route 37 East exit. Wide selection of books, and space for art to be exhibited. Wifi.
Great way to spend the morning. During summers, these courts will be packed.
This complex offers duck pin bowling, 8 tournament regulation pool tables, a friendly pub, arcade games, and a snack bar. It has been around since the 1950s.
Italian holiday in honor of St. Mary. The Feast has been running for over 100 years now. It is held usually around the weekend of July 15-19th, and is open to the public. Church mass is held on Friday. There is a parade is held on Sunday around noontime, and there are carnival and amusement park rides courtesy of Rockwell Amusements. Fireworks are done around 8PM Sunday.
A great recreational area to unwind and take a walk or cast your fishing lure into the water. You probably won't catch anything but it's definitely a nice way to spend an hour or two on a sunny afternoon. The normal surface area of the pond is 9 acres and is owned by the State of RI. Great place to run, jog, walk your dog and unwind with a walk with family and friends. C/O Dem-Dev. of P&R.14
This a family-friendly farm that offers activities such as hayrides and a corn maze in the fall. They have a farmers market and garden center so you can purchase fresh plants and produce.
This bike path brings you through Cranston, West Warwick and Coventry. There is a small picnic area in Western Cranston along the path as well as the Ice Cream Shop Sundaes (see entry for Sundaes).
The Gaspee Days festival commemorates the burning of the Gaspee off of Rhode Island shores. This is a large group of events that usually begins in the beginning of May and finishes mid June. There is an arts and crafts festival and fair, block party, colonial encampment, 5k road race, fireworks, parade and finally the burning of the Gaspee in Pawtuxet Park Cove. All events are presented by the Gaspee Days committee.
Neoclassical architecture restored for theatre for performing arts. Martini Lounge offers a wide selection. Comedy Club on Friday and Saturday nights at 9PM. Catering.
This location offers plenty of lanes to accommodate any size party. AMF offers great deals weekly on food and bowling, they even have one dollar bowling nights throughout the week. They offer "Xtreme Bowling" during certain nights which includes bowling with lights, music, food and beverages.
Artists' Exchange is a nonprofit arts collaborative whose mission is to create an atmosphere in which creativity, learning and discovery converge and individuality is celebrated. Artists' Exchange houses The Black Box Theatre and multiple art studios, as well as a gallery, art boutique and cafe. Classes in ceramics and theatre are offered to the public.
Alpine is an 18-hole private golf course, which offers an enjoyable time for golfers of all skill level. With wide open fairways, there is some room for error, yet the amount of sand traps and trees make things more challenging. It has a great practice facility and swimming pool/patio area. Nestled on 205 quiet acres, Alpine Country Club is in the Rhode Island countryside 5 miles west of historic Providence.
Cranston Country Club is an 18-hole public course in western Cranston. With some difficult holes, this course offers golfers a chance to prove their talent. Complete with its well-known 8th Hole, Par-3 island green, Cranston is a great place to tee it up. Green Fees: weekend 18 Holes: $45/ with Cart: $63, 9 Holes: $27/ with Cart: $36. weekdays: 18 Holes: $39/ with Cart: $57, 9 Holes: $27/ with Cart: $36. Cart Fees- 18 Holes: $18 per player, 9 Holes: $9 per player, Pull Carts: $3. Membership is expensive, but non-members can gain access to the golf course and driving range by paying a lower fee. Features a snack bar, lockers, showers, golf carts, and a practice green.
Midville is not in Cranston, but it is less than 10 minutes away from many parts of Cranston. Midville is one of the finest 9-hole courses in southern New England; it is $25 to play and $6 to rent a cart. Midville is a challenging course with a lot of intricate slopes, hazards, and angles. Midville is also a public course so it is a bit more casual than Alpine and Cranston Country Club. Tee times can be booked up to 7 days in advance if you want to be sure to get one, although on an average day you should be able to walk onto the course with minimal delay, if any.
Offers two 18-hole golf courses, one 9-hole golf course, a miniature golf course, a 10-station batting cage, and a 60-stall driving range. The Mulligan's Island Golf Academy offers instruction for individuals and groups, and the KR Baseball Academy, which was started by former professional baseball player Ken Ryan, also provides both private and group instruction. Offers great scenery obstacles and fun courses. Also a driving range, indoor and out.
An inexpensive restaurant, specializing in huge portions available for Breakfast but also serves lunch. There are two huge rooms open for dining, which on the plus side means there is never a wait. Mother/Daughter owned, it is a family based and oriented atmosphere with great and friendly service.
and 1401 Park Avenue, +1 401 464-4200. They have Italian bakery with a great selection of pastries, calzones, pizza slices and strips, cake, cinnamon rolls, and more. They offer phone orders, take-out, and eat-in.
Chelo’s serves Italian and American food, and the restaurant also has some seafood dishes. The food here is either very good or very bad because it all depends on the customer’s preferences. If travelers want to be sure that they are going to enjoy their meal, Chelo’s is not the place to go. However, travelers willing to take a chance should try eating at Chelo’s. The wait for the food here is long, but there is plenty of parking, so at least, the car will be safe. Also, the restaurant has excellent wheelchair access.
Del’s Lemonade is classic Rhode Island tradition whose global headquarters is in Cranston. Del’s Lemonade is a summertime treat in most of Rhode Island. These roadside lemonade stands serve frozen lemonade, and they also have a variety of other flavors to choose from, such as bluberry, cherry, watermelon, and peach mango. The flavors constantly change and are not consistent from stand to stand, but the classic flavor is always guaranteed at every stand. Del’s Lemonade is good on a hot day, and visitors coming through Cranston or Rhode Island, during the summer, should try some.
Dee's Deli is one of the best deli's in Cranston. They create classic Italian style deli sandwiches. Whether you order a small or a large the portions are great; small sandwiches are around $5 while larges are only $9. Dee’s is sure to please any customer who is looking for a great deli sandwich, they never disappoint. Apart from their sandwiches, Dee’s offers pizza strips, as well as some sides such as stuffed peppers! Make sure you get there early though because Dee's is only open until the early afternoon.
This little gem of a stop is an upscale Asian dining experience. The food served here is a combination of Japanese and Korean backgrounds. The cozy environment makes this place a great choice for dates and classy place to meet for lunch. The prices are reasonable and they do have an open bar with a sports channel. The owners Jim and Carol are both very friendly and their waitstaff are also very friendly. Parking is on the sides of the building.
Serves authentic Chinese food in an intimate setting. This restaurant is moderately priced and offers Dim Sum during select times of day. All meals are traditionally served with choice of tea and white rice is available for dinner upon request. Combination plates, daily specials, and seasonal specials are available. King's Garden also serves freshly baked specialty buns and pastries from the Chinese tradition on weekends. These inexpensive items can be purchased wrapped and to go from the display in the front for a snack, in bulk for parties, or side dishes for meals. Parking is in the rear of the restaurant.
Tu-Th 11AM-10PM, F 11AM-11PM, Sa 11:30AM-11PM, Su noon-10PM. This popular Italian restaurant offers large portions at reasonable prices. There are plenty of parking spaces, and the atmosphere is relaxed and casual. The restaurant is also family-friendly, with a children's menu that offers several basic meals that should appeal even to picky eaters. $4.95-$24.95.
This sandwich shop is family owned and serves a wide array of sandwiches all cut fresh and served to you on the spot. The seating is a little outdated but the food here will keep most happy and there is a list of special foods for order all the time.
Newport Creamery traditionally serves ice cream, but diners can also order French fries, chicken fingers, and other American foods. The restaurant has plenty of parking, and is next to a Citizen’s Bank. This restaurant is an excellent place for families because the waiters provide crayons for children to draw with while they wait for their food. Finally, visitors should try an Awful Awful. These drinks are large shakes, supposedly named Awful Awful because they are awful big and awful good.
Easily one of the fanciest places to eat in Cranston, Spain Restaurant is a great place for a romantic evening or to celebrate a special occasion in style. Although it is rather expensive with entrées running between fifteen and thirty-five dollars this is a beautiful place to eat an exquisite meal served by an excellent staff that is sure to treat you like royalty.
What started out as a speakeasy in the 1920s this family owned business has since grown to become a traditional restaurant for Rhode Islanders. The food is tasty and comes in good sized portions with the average price range on an entrée somewhere between $12-$25. Twin Oaks attracts a semi-formal and somewhat older crowd but provides a great meal for families of all ages and sizes. However this place can get pretty busy especially on Saturday nights, reservations are highly recommended if you’re looking to avoid an extremely long wait. Overall Twin Oaks is a classy place with good food, atmosphere and service.
On the menu there's a variety of sushi selections, Southeast Asian cuisine, and specialty orders all served by the family-run staff. The restaurant accommodates small groups for lunch and dinner and is a BYOB. Sushi prices range from $7-$14. The atmosphere is a homely, cozy environment but may seem tightly packed because it is a small sushi bar. Parking is limited on the restaurant's lot but there are spaces available across the street at Honey-Dew Donut's parking lot.
This is a popular Italian restaurant that specializes in, as its name suggests, pizza and pasta. The atmosphere is casual and the menu is family-friendly, with meals that will appeal to both children and adults. There is plenty of seating inside, so the wait time is seldom very long. A distinctive feature of this restaurant is the miniature jukebox at every table, which allows diners to play songs for 25 cents each. These miniature jukeboxes are essentially remote controls that are connected to the large jukebox near the entrance of the restaurant.
Wein-O-Rama is a small diner style restaurant that serves hot dogs, fries, and other American food. The food is usually good and child friendly, and it is made very quickly. Also, unlike most American restaurants, the portions here are not too big. There is parking for the restaurant, and usually it is never too busy.
N.Y. System is a family owned diner style restaurant that offers Hot Weiners, French Fries, Tuna Melts, and other American style food. The weiners are cheap and greasy, yet satisfying. Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the restaurant is that it is open late night: M-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 6PM-2AM. There are always people eating here, even in the early hours of the morning when only a few fast food places are open. It is the sister restaurant to the Providence location, where scenes from the Showtime series Brotherhood were filmed.
The Big Cheese is a family style restaurant that serves Pizza, Grinders, Salads, and Pasta. It is a celebrated secret among Cranstonians, and the sauce used on their pies is highly regarded. The name of the restaurant sums up the overall experience.
Campanella’s is a family owned, traditional Italian restaurant. The Cranston restaurant is its only location. They are not exactly customer service oriented, but the quality of the food makes up for this fact. Their food selections range from pizzas, to calzones, to pasta dishes, all at medium sized portions that are not overwhelming, but just right. A price range with most entree's under or around $10.
Japanese Cuisine
Haruki is a popular Japanese restaurant that serves a large assortment of Japanese cuisine which also includes a large sushi menu of sashimi and maki rolls. There is a full bar, a sushi bar, and a private party room in which parties of 6 or more can eat on the floor in a traditional Japanese style. They serve lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and dinner on Sundays. Dinner reservations are recommended on weekends.
Zaccagnini’s is a family-owned bakery. They specialize is pizza and pastries. Their pizza has that home-cooked taste and their pastries are very popular during the holidays. The most well-known item on the Zaccagnini’s menu is their Zeppole’s. They also make Wandi’s, Spinach Loaves, Cheesecakes, and cookie platter’s daily.
Athenian Deli is a Greek deli restaurant that not many people know about. It is not very appealing from the outside, which scares many people away; however this place is a hidden gem. The food is hearty and authentic home-style Greek. They offer subs, salads, gyros, soups and lots and lots of bread. Athenian not only serves Greek, but they have a small selection of Italian as well such as lasagna and meatballs. The seating is minimal, so most customers take their order to go. The service is very friendly and efficient and the wait is not long for a good quality meal. Lastly, Athenian is not pricey at all.
Garden Hills Deli is a combination produce market and deli counter. They have weekly specials of fresh fruits and vegetables such as rabe, eggplant, grapes, and meats such as chicken breasts. Garden Hills Deli is family owned mom and pop atmosphere. Everyone knows everyone and they are very friendly and welcoming to newcomers. There is also a deli counter at which one can either buy deli meats, or order sandwiches such as subs and Panini’s that are loaded with fresh ingredients. They also take orders to make gift baskets and parcels. Seasonally, they sell flowers as well.
Ice Cream
Sundaes is a very popular ice cream stand in Cranston. They offer a wide variety of ice cream concoctions and flavors. Customers can choose from soft serve, hard yogurt, regular hard ice cream, non fat, and dolewhip. Sundaes also offers fudge. Scoopers are mostly local high school students, so the lines get extremely long and there is a hefty wait during the summer season. They are open Spring, Summer, some of the Fall season, and are closed during the Winter. There is no indoor seating but plenty of outdoor seating.
This is a charming restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. There is another location in East Greenwich, RI. They have an everyday menu that they make new additions to regularly, as well as a seasonal menu. There is friendly service and great tasting food (with large portions). Due to the popularity of this restaurant, there can be a wait of up to an hour during peak times.
Italian
Tuscan style outdoor dining. A terrific Italian eatery with family-style vibe. Chicken or seafood pasta. Fast, friendly staff. Wheelchair accessible. Full bar. Smoking in outdoor bar area only. Live jazz Wednesday, Friday night.
Popular for Coppala Sister's Band. Burgers. Subs. Beer on tap. Side view of boats and the pier.
Ice Cream, Dessert. Frozen Yogurt.
Outdoor seating by the Patuxet river where boats lay as residents.
Thai
BYOB. Small. Cozy. Patio. Take out. Spicy, hot food. Thai ice tea. On a bridge over the Pawtuxet River.
Cranston
Neighborhood cafe with framed artwork and plants hanging on the corners. Outdoor chalkboard lists daily specials.Popular cheesesteaks and the angus burger.
Hong Kong Buffet is one of the best buffets in all of Rhode Island. It offers an array of great quality Chinese food such as: egg rolls, chicken wings, chow mein, lo mein, boneless ribs, chicken and broccoli. The Hong Kong Buffet will surely not disappoint anyone looking for a great clean atmosphere. While the buffet may seem a little pricey the amount of food offered is well worth it. The service is great; there is never a shortage of food within the buffet. Hong Kong Buffet was voted as top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the United States 3 years in a row, which says a lot. Hong Kong also offers take out as well as catering. As any restaurant it becomes quite busy on the weekends and keep in mind that seating stops 1 hour prior to closing so plan ahead!
Dairy Twirl serves Bliss brand ice cream, six flavors of Del's Lemonade, soft serve ice cream and various other refreshments. The store is walk-up window only, with both provided and street parking and a picnic table dining area. The menu is extensive and the service is fast. Cash only.
The village offers multiple small specialty shops, such as antiques and gifts. It is an excellent spot to find small Rhode Island themed curiosities. If one comes during the Gaspee Days festival in June, the street is lined with stalls and other attractions.
Route 2, Garden City is a large open shopping area, sometimes described as a shopping village or an outdoor shopping mall. There are over seventy stores, ranging from large to small. However, all of the stores can be pricy. They are clustered in smaller groups resembling neighborhoods. Many of these neighborhoods open onto a white trellised walkway. This arrangement is not only good for shopping but also for strolling and window shopping. Of course, shoppers can either browse the stores while walking through the shopping center, or they can go straight to their favorite stores. There is plenty of parking throughout Garden City, so going straight to a favorite store is simple. Garden City is a picturesque place to take a walk through. In the summer time local bands play in concerts at the center of the shopping, in the gazebo. Many car shows also take place during this time of year, and in the winter the complex is lit up with holiday lights.
Outdoor Sporting Goods
REI is an outdoor lifestyle store. This store sells outdoor gear, tools, clothing, equipment, etc, for activities such as camping, fishing, snowboarding, skiing, rock climbing, fitness, and hiking. This Cranston location is the only REI store in Rhode Island. REI sells clothing and equipment for men, women, and children.
Caters to vegans, vegetarians, gluten-free food, and people who seek organic produce. Offers a very wide selection of prepared items, fresh produce, has its own bakery and coffee shop. Most Saturdays have demos in which employees offer free samples of different food around the store.
Sweenor's is a small local candy store with another location in Wakefield, Rhode Island. This store sell many kinds of candy, bark and fudge and has candy-themed gifts for many of the holidays throughout the year. There is a large variety of sugar free candy.
On Cranston Street near St. Mary's Church, Experience a little old school Italian heritage at Itri square and the area surrounding. St Mary's Feast takes place right around here during the weekend of July 15 to 19. From good Italian food at Marchetti's restaurant and Antonio's restaurant to the beautiful architecture of St. Mary's church this is a good place to experience a different atmosphere while still being in Cranston.
Francesca's Collections is an exclusive boutique with the latest in women's fashion. It offers one of a kind items ranging from clothing to jewelry. This location in Garden City is fairly new and features a warm and inviting atmosphere. Their store is organized well allowing for easy shopping. Francesca's retail is priced at mid-range with plenty of sales throughout the store. It is a great place to find affordable gifts for any women. If you don't want to spend too much money but feel the need to buy some new clothes, Francesca's Collections is the place for you!
Acclaimed for over 50 years, Ruth's is known not only for high quality undergarments, but for expert service. The staff can tell you anything you need to know about sizing and products. The shop provides full customer service in fitting and shopping assistance. The store is renowned for carrying a large selection of bras from sizes AA - L. It has been voted best lingerie shop by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine.
This shopping center is almost like an extension of Garden City. This center was built out of and old correctional school that was abandoned years ago so while many of the old buildings have been restored a lot of the older historic beauty remains. This center is home to many places to eat such as Ted’s Montana Grill, and Johnny Rockets. It also has Shaw’s supermarket, GameStop, and many other places to shop. Chapel View also has apartments available for rent.
By plane
F. Green International Airport (PVD), 200 Post Road in Warwick, less than 5 minutes away (+1-888-268-7222).F.S. airports including Atlanta, Chicago, Tampa, and Las Vegas.
By bus
A one day bus pass can be purchased on board any RIPTA (+1 401 781-9400) bus and may be used to travel to and around major Cranston streets and into the city itself.
By bike
Cranston has plenty of bike paths and routes to get you to places. The Cross-City Bicycle Route begins along Naragansett Bay and takes you west towards the center of the city.
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Providence/Warwick · International · PVD
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