Yeah :(

Aw, sad. Thanks for the heads up.

FYI Summit General Store closed AFAIK. it can still be a landmark but if using it as a place to buy refreshment/etc, it is not in business

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>PROVIDENCE − The Cranston Street Armory in Providence should transition back into an empty building by the end of April while the state continues to look for additional shelter spaces, state leaders told a room full of West End and South Providence residents Thursday night.

>The "warming station" at the armory, run by the nonprofit Amos House, was supposed to stop operations by April 15 when it opened at the beginning of December 2022. That exit date has been pushed to the end of April, Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor said.

Lol no, that is not hearsay. 😂

If I had the time I would, but sadly I’m working and in meetings most days.

I never said I don’t believe it, but I do like to have proof with a claim as abhorrent as you’re making.

OP may have witnessed it, but provides no evidence. They are spreading it to others, which will then be hearsay.

While Frog and Toad is good for your usual gifts and souvenirs, there are better shops for the weird and unusual.

Alforno, downstair bar

yes you'll arrive by garfield, check out pointz app for bike friendly (or friendlier at least) routes through pvd.

Yeah the areas nearest the border are the least developed, which on the plus side means it’s very rural and pretty, and on the minus side means none of the trails are very well-maintained at this point. That’s true in Massachusetts as well – the part of the Air Line/SNETT in Douglas state forest is in good shape, but it starts to get super overgrown between Douglas and Millville. I haven’t attempted that segment, but I have heard from folks who tried that it was rough going and you’re better off on the roads.

But Millville to Blackstone is brand new and great, and the path from Woonsocket to Pawtucket is beautiful. The plan is to connect all those segments eventually, again, as time and budgets permit.

Thanks! This is another vote against Option 3. It was the in between choice between (2) which is longer and safer, over two days and (1) which is faster but more unpredictable on roads, over one day.

My other option is to just do the Air Line trail on its own, maybe as Hartford-Willimantic-Pomfret-Willimantic-Meridien and then start another ride from Providence ... that's looking more attractive.

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>Moosup briefly has a nice paved trail, but only as far as Barber Hill Road. Between there and the Summit General Store in Coventry it’s pretty rough

Where is Barber Hill Road? I could not find it on the map going east from the Summit General Store in Coventry.

New Rivers, Persimmon, Gracie’s. Can’t go wrong with any of those!

> the Trestle Trail is only rideable from the Log Bridge Road/102 parking lot east. I also see the dotted section on Google Maps at the CT/RI border but can’t speak to that, but it does not connect to the Trestle Trail that (re)starts at Bridge Road.

Thanks for this guidance! Strava Heat Map suggests I can connect on it through to the Moosup Valley Trail to the west, but I don't know what the conditions are, people might be taking dirt bikes out there.

I used Google Street View to see some points where the Moosup/Trestle crosses a main road, and they exist, but they look a little rough. These are also photos from 2012/2019 though.

https://goo.gl/maps/tEs7SBMKYB4kXcTs7

https://goo.gl/maps/bGSLdp9ESY6HSPw88

https://goo.gl/maps/UcFAorJKpzorqJybA

Related note: Do I have to worry about ticks on rough trails like this?

>That said, riding 117 to connect the two (assuming the dotted line is rideable trail) is probably pretty okay - not much traffic out there. I really like the Trestle Trail, but will warn you it’s arrival in Providence is pretty abrupt and you’ll have to navigate angry traffic at the end.

Thanks, angry traffic is not something I'm a big fan of!

I’ve done Willimantic to Plainfield to the Washington Secondary via route 14 and 14A, which is similar to your option 3. The problem with leaving the Air Line trail is that then you have to deal with all the terrain of eastern Connecticut: Basically all the ridges run north-south, so if you’re going east or west you have to go up and down hill after hill after hill. But if you don’t mind hills, those roads are fairly low traffic and have decent shoulders.

Moosup briefly has a nice paved trail, but only as far as Barber Hill Road. Between there and the Summit General Store in Coventry it’s pretty rough. RI and CT are working on paving the whole thing eventually as funding permits, but it’s slow going. You’re better off staying on roads through there.

The Washington Secondary is a fantastic trail and it’s literally all downhill from Coventry to Providence. Folks are right that it ends unceremoniously at the Providence line and you have to cut through either Silver Lake or the West End. Cranston Street sucks but once you get under Route 10 you can weave through neighborhoods. We did the Silver Lake route to Olneyville and then zig-zagged up the various segments of the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, which aren’t contiguous yet but are nice. They’re working on new segments all the time so this will get better in the future.

I can't tell if you're planning to take your MIL to a restaurant with a full bar, or plan to sit on bar stools for your meal. I just want to suggest that if you've never seen her sit on a stool for an extended period, don't make that part of your plan. Bar stools are not universally comfortable for all bodies (which is something that might not occur to folks who find them just fine. Seemed worth mentioning.)

I'm old enough to be a MIL and I love how well you seem to know her tastes and priorities for a good night out ... Have a great time!

If you are comfortable anywhere in Philadelphia, there is no neighborhood here to avoid - just blocks to avoid in some. For a one-seat bus commute look at Southside, Washington Park, Edgewood, East Side off Hope. Not having a car means much more $ for rent and fun.

Parkside. Simple chill bistro atmosphere, nice bar, and excellent table service. After dinner you can take a short walk over to the pedestrian bridge.

Lots to do here. It’s a great place- you will love it.

Slow Rhode is insanely cozy and has top notch food and drink. Haven’t been to every other suggested place but you won’t go wrong at Slow Rhode.

Came here to say this

Incredible food at New Rivers and cozy farmhouse vibes

For option 3 - from Providence, the Trestle Trail is only rideable from the Log Bridge Road/102 parking lot east. I also see the dotted section on Google Maps at the CT/RI border but can’t speak to that, but it does not connect to the Trestle Trail that (re)starts at Bridge Road. That said, riding 117 to connect the two (assuming the dotted line is rideable trail) is probably pretty okay - not much traffic out there. I really like the Trestle Trail, but will warn you it’s arrival in Providence is pretty abrupt and you’ll have to navigate angry traffic at the end.

For option 1 - The roads in Western RI are generally pretty rideable if you have a baseline comfort doing so (since you’re looking at a 90 mile day I assume you are). Obviously avoid the big ones like 44 and 6, but I’ve felt pretty safe on many of the smaller ones, and there are enough options it’s pretty easy to reroute if you find yourself on one that you aren’t loving. Once you get closer to Providence it gets worse, I generally try to come in on the (very short) Woonasquatucket River Greenway to make it a bit better.

No insight on Option 2.

Have fun! Sounds like a great adventure!