| NOTE: Check out the other letterboxes in the area: - Wickford, Gift to Emily and Afternoon on the Amazon. Difficulty - An easy walk, bike or drive (or even sea kayak via a different route) to different spots around Wickford, a charming, historic village on Narragansett Bay. Background - This series of boxes takes you through some of the more scenic parts of Wickford. You can choose to walk, ride or drive to the different location. If you have the time and good weather I recommend one of the first two (~3+ miles round trip). Wickford is reported to contain the most dense concentration of original late Revolutionary and Federal period houses anywhere in New England. The two main streets that you will travel (Brown and Main) are full of delightful shops and eateries that will guarantee you an enjoyable stroll on your way to the next box. Directions - Route 95 South to Exit 9. Route 4 South to Exit 5A (Route 102 South). Continue through 4 lights into Wickford Village. At stop sign, bear right over bridge. Turn left at the first light (Beach St). The parking lot is at the end of the road to the right. This cluster of three buildings contains the senior center, Cold Spring Community Center and the Wickford Art Association. Rhode Island has more artists per capita than any other state in the country. Wickford is home of what is arguably the finest juried art festival in New England every July and is sponsored by the Wickford Art Association. The Bard - From the parking lot walk towards the water and find the southern most set of steps leading down to the beach. Sit on the top step and look for the three flat, grey rocks piled to your left. Discreetly tip the topmost rock up and look for the Bard. Please rehide it well so that it is not visible from any other angle. There were a few smaller rocks left there to help camouflage its hiding place. The Music Man - Return via Beach St to Rt 1A and turn right and go over the bridge. At this point where the road splits go right down Brown St. Take your time and browse through the many delightful shops on the street. Just after Brooks Drugs and opposite Ryan Market (where the bag boys will still carry your gorceries to your car for you) is the town parking area. Turn in and go to the back of the parking lot where there is a pocket size park on the picturesque harbor. On a nice day in the summer it will be full or sailboats, kayaks and swans taking advantage of the water. Follow the park and it's roped fence along the water to where it ends and a short cement wall begins. At the end of the cement wall take seven steps south (parallel to the water) to look under a piece of broken cement jutting towards the water. Be careful of your footing on the uneven rocks right here. The Little Emperor - Return to Brown Street and continue heading north until the street Ts at Main. On the book store on the right corner you will see a brass plaque indicating the flood water level during the hurricane of '38. One of the most destructive hurricanes (Cat 3) to ever hit the US it came ashore during high tide and was reported to have caused 564deaths. The storm surge was 15 - 20 feet above normal through much of southern New England. Turn left on Main and notice Wickford Gourmet on the right. Perfect place to stop for a culinary treat or cup of latte. Continue on until you come to the entrance of Wilson Park on the right. If traveling with children let them take a break at the playground before resuming your journey. There is a small paved path running throught the soccer fields (parallel to road) that you can take that curves to the left. At the end of the soccer fields you can continue on either the bike path or road to the next section of the park. If on foot or bike look for the nature trail leading off to the right. Take 14 paces and look low on the left (north) at the bottom of a beech for the Little Emperor. Continue on either bike path or nature trail to the parking lot. If on the nature trail turn go right at the split and then the path curves left in the clearing. If you have driven, park at the boat launch parking lot and take the nature trail that starts at the south end of the parking lot and take it until you come to the bike path. Just before there will be the beech on your right. The Slapstick Duo - (note - currently being dried out. will be relocated shortly) Enjoy the view of the cove and take a break at one of the picnic tables before resuming your quest. Take the path leading west from the picnic tables (either bike or footpath) until you reach a small clearing and the road comes in at your left with a few parking spots. To the right is a path leading to the water with a chained picnic table on the right. Walk down to the water and turn left (NW). About 18 paces ahead is a series of shin high rocks crossing the path. Look low between the cluster of 3 to the left for your final box. At this point you can retrace your path back to your car. If you have done the series by car then I highly recommend that when you hit the stop sign on your way out of the park that instead of turning left and returning through the first part of the park, that you continue straight ahead to Route 1. When you reach Rt 1 turn right and a short ways ahead will be Smiths Castle, another historic colonial building worth visiting. For more info on Wickford: Picture Tour of Wickford Wickford.com Hurricane of '38 Before you set out be sure to read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer. LBNA Homepage Kurdziel Family Letterboxing Homepage |
| Faces of Wickford (4) North Kingstown, RI 12 Sep 03 (Retired) |
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