Group Tours

The Art of Holiday Shopping
In this relaxing, affordable day trip, we look at gift shopping as an art while making this annual chore fun and less exhausting by letting someone else do the driving.

9:30 am	Carousels and Fine Art
Our first stop is the historic Looff Carousel and Rhode Island Watercolor Society at Slater Park in Pawtucket. Throughout December, the carousel is gaily decorated and more than 150 decorated Christmas trees are arranged around the nearby park pond. The Rhode Island Watercolor Society is one of the oldest watercolor societies and is housed in the restored boathouse of the J. C. Potter Casino at the edge of the pond at Slater Memorial Park, Pawtucket and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
11 am	It's Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Museum Shop
Time for a coffee break. Enjoy a fresh cup of Starbucks coffee at the new Slater Mill Museum Store and cafe. Located in the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, this delightful little shop features jewelry, glass, paper, fine art and textile items made by local artists and other unique gift items.
12 pm	Winter Scents
Just down the street from Slater Mill is the True Scent Candles factory store. Owners John and George make their candles from glacier wax and with a soot free burn formula.  Their wide variety of affordable scented candles come in an assortment of sizes and can be paired with a unique holder. Shop for gifts or for your own home. Each month a different scent is featured with special prices.
1 pm	A Valley Specialty for Lunch
Here in the Valley we call it chicken family style. It's a refreshing change from chain restaurants that often have no sense of place or character. In the Valley, we have 16 family run restaurants that serve this affordable, hearty meal. It's a tradition that started in the 1930s on Sunday afternoon when Valley Italian immigrants played bocce. You'll enjoy Italian roast chicken, salad, pasta and a potato dish.
2:30 pm	Attracting and Feeding Birds
At this stop at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island headquarters in Smithfield, you'll have a chance to visit the sanctuary's great gift shop. Here you can find something for the nature lover on your list or put your newly gained knowledge to good use and buy what you need for at home birding during the cold winter ahead.
4 pm	Vaillancourt Folk Art and Friends Behind the Scenes Studio Tour
This studio of folk artisans is one of three US producers of chalk ware which are created from a collection of over 3,000 vintage German chocolate and ice-cream molds. The best-known creators of Father Christmas figures, Vaillancourt artists and individually hand-paint ornaments and figurines in a studio located in a restored 1820s farmhouse in scenic Sutton, Massachusetts. Sixteen artists work for three weeks on each figurine, which are all signed, dated and numbered.

Call Conway Tours to Book: 401-658-3400.

For more information or to book any of these tours, please contact Lilly Kayamba at the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council at (401) 724-2200.

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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