The Small Town in Rhode Island That Comes Alive During the Winter Season

Winter’s usually a quieter time in most places, especially compared to the summer, where the days are jam-packed with visits to the beach, trips to local festivals, and leisurely outdoor meals by the water. It’s tough to top the excitement of summer in Rhode Island. However, the fun that awaits during the winter in this small town in Rhode Island certainly rivals the hottest season of the year. Pull out your calendar and plan your small-town getaway in Rhode Island.

Exeter is one of those small towns that beckons visitors all year round, but it’s particularly lively during the chilly winter days. It’s the place to be especially if you love outdoor activities. If you prefer spending those snowy days sashaying down the slopes, Exeter has you covered at Yawgoo Valley Ski Area & Water Park. The park usually opens sometime toward the middle or end of December each winter.

Polish your skills as you glide down the slopes at this popular winter park in Rhode Island. Or, if you prefer excitement of a different kind, you’ve got a few other options. The park also hosts a terrain park, where you can show off your snowboarding skills. Snowboarding and skiing lessons are available. Or, grab a tube, and zip down the snow tubing hill. If you're looking for the best things to do in Exeter, Rhode Island, make your first stop at Yawgoo Valley Ski Area this winter.

One of the best winter getaways in Rhode Island, Exeter is a slice of paradise for hikers. Pack your hiking or snow boots for a visit to perhaps the most well-known and loved waterfall in Rhode Island. Stepstone Falls sits along the somewhat challenging 2.7-mile Ben Utter Trail.

For more spellbinding views of the wintry landscape, head to Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and hiking are popular activities at this natural wonder in Rhode Island.

All that excitement is sure to lead to a mighty appetite. Exeter is home to an eclectic collection of restaurants, including the throwback Middle of Nowhere Diner. One of the things I love so much about Rhode Island is the selection of old-school diners that serve some of the best comfort food around. Middle of Nowhere Diner is no exception, dishing up such classics as Belgian waffles for breakfast and BLTs, homemade meatloaf, and fish and chips for lunch and dinner.

Start planning your small-town getaway in Rhode Island by checking out the Yawgoo Valley Ski Area & Water Park website, or stop by the Facebook page of this snow tubing park in Exeter, Rhode Island.

Have you been to Exeter, Rhode Island, a small town that leaps alive during the winter? Share your favorite Exeter attractions by filling out this nomination form. For more wintertime fun in Rhode Island, spend a day at Goddard Memorial State Park for a day of sledding, cross-country skiing, and hiking. Find a list of the best hiking trails in Rhode Island on AllTrails+, and if you're looking for the perfect place to stay in Exeter, check out rentals on Vrbo.