Grab the brass ring at the Crescent Park Carousel .
Round and round you go atop the brightly painted horses . Each rotation you strain your arm , stretching your fingers , grazing the brass ring . If you time the rise and fall of the horses just right , you ’ re bound to get the ring at least once , right ? Right ? Rides are just $ 2 , so keep going until you earn a freebie ( or until you ’ re too dizzy to hold on ). One of the fourteen remaining carousels in the United States to feature a brass ring dispenser , this 126-year-old Looff design is housed in a charming white pavilion in East Providence . Go on , have some old-school fun . crescentparkcarousel . org
Ogle the stars from Rhode Island ’ s dark spots .
North Scituate and Charlestown boast observatories for good reason . The rural communities have minimal light pollution , making them primo spots to view the major celestial events of the summer : the Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower in late July ; Saturn in opposition on August 2 ; the Perseids Meteor Shower in mid- August ; and a big blue moon on August 22 . Head to Seagrave or Frosty Drew for guided peeping or find a dark corner of your own and take in outer space . theskyscrapers . org ; frostydrew . org
Frosty Drew in Charlestown .
Mochi .
Travel the world in sweet summer treats .
You live in vacationland ; why the heck would you ever leave ? Instead , satisfy a taste for wanderlust with a global variety of frozen snacks .
Mochi . This Japanese treat is made with a short-grain rice called mochigome , which is pounded into a paste and shaped into little rounds bursting with texture and flavor and filled with ice cream . Try it for dessert at Mt . Fuji steakhouse on Federal Hill or buy some from the amazing Asiana Food Market in E . P . to enjoy at home .
Kulfi . This traditional Indian ice cream is typically flavored with nuts and cardamom . You can find it at Three Sisters on the East Side of Providence or at Woonsocket ’ s Swagat Food and Grocery .
Bubble waffle ice cream . Fox Point ’ s Kow Kow wraps up locally made ice cream in chewy Hong Kong-style bubble waffles . Try it , and every other waffle cone will fall flat .
Thai ice cream rolls . This instantly Instagrammable treat originated as a street food in Thailand . Freezing Point at Providence Place serves up picture-perfect rolled ice cream with a variety of flavors and toppings .
Paletas . These fresh and fruity Mexican-style popsicles are a summer must . Try them at Central Falls ’ s La Fruta Loca .
Taiyaki . Whimsical Japanese fish-shaped cake cones filled with soft serve ice cream meet Latin flavors such as dulce de leche , guava and abuelita at Helado Taiyaki on Federal Hill .
42 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l JUNE 2021