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A Premiere Tourist Attraction

The Blackstone River, Riverboat Explorer, and Beautiful Fall Foliage provide 3 of the areas top attractions.

Fifteen years ago, it may have sounded like a pipedream -- the ramblings of a deranged mind. But today, no one is laughing. The Blackstone Valley has truly become one of the premier tourist attractions in Rhode Island.

Slater Mill, overlooking the Pawtucket River and Falls, across from the beautiful fall foliage.

As one of 6 state funded regional tourism councils, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has become a major force in enhancing the region's economy, preserving its environment and cultural heritage and expanding its recreational opportunities. By attacking the issue on all fronts and fostering collaboration among the communities and organizations working to enhance and promote region, the Council has helped attract tens of thousands of visitors into the Valley and improve the quality of life for all of the Valley's residents. 

With the continued help of the region's communities and organizations, and the many volunteers who have assisted with various Council activities, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council hopes to expand its efforts into this century in building a strong, prosperous, Blackstone Valley to be treasured by residents and visitors alike.

What to See in the Valley

Whether visiting for one or several days, the Blackstone Valley offers a number of attractions of interest to the entire family. These attractions will remind visitors of the rich cultural, ethnic, and industrial heritage of the region plus provide an abundance of scenic beauty second to none in the state.  Among the sites and attractions to visit:

Historic Sites and Museums There are many prominent historic sites throughout the valley. Prominent among them: Slater Mill Historic Site, a museum which houses the first operating cotton mill in the country; Brown & Hopkins Country Store, the oldest country store in continuous operation in the United States; the Job Armstrong Store, a living museum of what became the largest of 13 dry good stores in Chepachet in the early 1800's; the  Smith-Appleby House, one of the few 17th century houses left standing in Rhode Island;  the Daggett House, the oldest standing house in Pawtucket; the Looff Carousel, one of the few remaining and oldest carousels in the country, and the Museum of Work & Culture, an interactive museum which celebrates the culture of the French Canadians who left Quebec for New England and the unique Woonsocket labor story which led to the rise of the Independent Textile Union.

Slater Mill The Smith Appleby House

River Tours The Blackstone River provides some of the most beautiful scenery in the state. The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council offers several means of river transportation and a number of different tours and special events on their boats. You can ride the 49 passenger Explorer, Rhode Island's only riverboat; and the Samuel Slater Canal Boat, a 12 passenger, 40 ft. canal boat which can be used for River Tours or an overnight bed and breakfast.	The Blackstone Valley Explorer The Samuel Slater Canal Boat
Land Tours In addition to the River Tours, the Council offers a number of other tours including Railway Tours on the Providence/Worcester Railroad to view the spring blossoms and fall foliage, tours on our new double decker bus, various motorcoach tours via Greyline Tours, and a number of walking tours throughout various historic districts in the region. A ten-passenger accessible shuttle is available for tour service around the valley.	The Blackstone Valley Trolley Double Decker Bus Blackstone Valley Shuttle
Parks, Sports & Recreation The Valley is filled with plenty of sports and recreational opportunities for visitors and residents alike. The Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston's Triple AAA farm team, play 71 games at home in the newly renovated McCoy Stadium, while Lincoln Park offers championship caliber greyhound and simulcast  racing, plus hundreds of video slot machines and a number of fine dining options. Lincoln Woods and Slater Park offer a number of recreational activities, including hiking and picnicking and at Lincoln  Woods, fresh water swimming, fishing, and horseback riding (pony rides are available for kids at Slater Park). The region's many other riverfront and community parks, management areas, wildlife refugees, stables and campgrounds provide plenty of opportunity for hiking, fishing, swimming, hunting,  horseback riding, picnicking, and just viewing the beautiful river, environment, or historic scenery. The region also offers several public golf courses, ice skating rinks, and playground areas. The New Blackstone Valley Bicycle Path, which will eventually link the East Bay Bicycle Path to Worcester, provides hiking and biking opportunities along the River.	The Pawtucket Red Sox are one of the region's biggest attractions. Lincoln Park offers greyhound and simulcast racing, hundreds of slots and fine dining. The new Blackstone Valley Bicycle Path
Vineyards, Farms, and Orchards A large number of farms, vineyards and orchards provide opportunities for apple and other fruit picking, Christmas trees, hay and sleigh rides, llama rides, and tours of working dairy factories.  Diamond Hill Vineyards provides vineyard tours, a 200 year old house, and group picnics.	Orchards and Diamond HIll Vineyards
Annual Events The Valley hosts a number of annual events, including fairs and festivals, historical re-creations, tours, Christmas, Easter, and other holiday parades and celebrations, and concerts.  Some of the most prominent include Autumnfest, a 3 day celebration held in Woonsocket on Columbus Day weekend, Pawtucket's St. Patrick's Day Parade, the annual Dragon Boat Races (held on the Saturday after Labor Day), Pawtucket Arts Festival in September, and the annual River's Day held on the 3rd Saturday in June.	Woonsocket's Autumnfest Celebration, in World War II Memorial Park.
Arts The region hosts a number of local theater organizations which offer various theatrical and musical productions. These include include The Sandra Feinstein GAMM Theater, Community Players, Mill River Dinner Theater, The King's Feast, Stadium Theater and The Blackstone River Theater. which offer a variety of plays with dinner. In addition, a number of communities and other organizations offer annual concerts.  The Valley is home to many visual artists.
Dining Out Throughout the Valley you will find a wide range of dining opportunities to meet your taste and budget. The region is famous for their family-style chicken dinners, all-you-can-eat chicken dinners available at more than a dozen restaurants throughout the region.	Chicken Family Style at the Embassy Restaurant
Shopping The Valley is also known for its large number of factory outlets, which provide a favorite day trip for many visitors. There are also a large number of antique and gift stores scattered throughout the region, in addition to the working country/general stores mentioned in the historical sites section.	Brown & Hopkins Country Store and Job Armstrong Store
Accommodations The Valley features a number of hotels, as well as bed and breakfasts, such as the Samuel Slater Canal Boat B&B, with more on the way. Hotels include the Comfort Inn in Pawtucket, Woonsocket Motor Inn,  Glocester Motor Inn, Lakeside Motel in Glocester, Express Holiday Inn in Woonsocket, Comfort Suites, Smithfield RI, Courtyard Marriott, Providence/Lincoln, RI, and the Pillsbury House, Bed & Breakfast in Woonsocket.	The Comfort Inn, Pawtucket

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Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, On the banks of the Blackstone, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island  02860 
1-800-454-BVTC (2882)  Local: 401-724-2200 Fax: 401-724-1342 info@tourblackstone.com