The East Bay Bike Path runs from downtown Bristol to East Providence. There are so many different versions of this adventure to be had. You can start anywhere and go as far as you want.
There is a little bit of everything along the way - the small town main streets of Bristol, Warren, and Barrington with their shops and restaurants; a long and winding patch of greenery full of birds and their songs at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island; Colt State Park with its playgrounds, beach, picnic areas, and fields; rivers, streams, inlets, harbors; and the city of Providence in the distance.
An easy place to start, especially if it’s your first time on the path, is right at the beginning in downtown Bristol. There’s a parking lot and plenty of space to set up your bike in the nearby park.
We like to bring the grandparents here when they come to visit from PA. It’s a great way to experience the East Bay in all its summer glory at a relaxing pace.
We’ve done this in the heat of summer with sweaty heads and the tagalong bikes (seen in the picture above), which required a stop at the Dari-Bee for ice cream!
We’ve also done it in late winter with the scooters, snow still on the ground, and a warm lunch at the Warren House of Pizza.
There are some playgrounds along the way for restless children, and if you’re feeling hot and brave, spots to take a dip too.
This is the perfect place for beginning riders or reckless kids who want to go as fast as they can and not have to worry about busy roads full of cars. It is probably the only way I’ve found to be totally relaxed while also on wheels with young children.
