blog

by E.A. Mann

Advanced Moves shines a light on the smaller, lesser-known joys of living in Warren.

For years I’d heard of a mysterious second bike path in Warren. Details were vague. For every ten people I discussed it with, only one brave soul had actually walked the path. Every time I was given directions, I listened intently to the words, then immediately forgot them. Over time a mythology built up around this second bike path for me, and I wondered if I would ever actually go there. If it even existed.

Finally, on a recent, perfect summer day, I decided to avoid the inevitable crowds on the East Bay Bike path and search for Atlantis. Rhode Islanders don’t usually like long journeys, and I’ve found Warren-ites to be a particularly concentrated form of them. I wasn’t born here, but I fit right in. The Warren Bike Path is up Child Street, near Kickemuit Middle School, off of Hugh Cole Road. Living, as I do, near the Main and Water Street corridor, it may as well be the Arctic Circle. But I must admit, it wasn’t hard to find. And it was worth the long journey east.

Calling it a bike path may be a bit of a misnomer. At 1.2 miles, a speedy biker can cover it in the time it takes to make a cup of coffee. But as a walking or running path, it’s a beautiful piece of land, and in a town known for water and density, it’s a welcome stretch of shady, idyllic woods. Trees arc over the path, filtering the sunlight down into pretty patches. One side terminates in a nice water view with benches on either side (there is some water, this is Warren after all…). If you’ve got kids, the path abuts the Warren Recreation Park, making for a nice detour into playgrounds and sports fields.

But the path’s best attribute might be the same obscurity that kept me away for so many years. You can jog this path in the morning and not see another soul. Even on a peak summer day, you will not encounter hordes of families taking up both lanes of the bike path. For most of my walk, it was just me, my ten month old napping in her stroller, and the sounds of the woods.

Unless I lose the map, I’ll be back often.

Got an Advanced Move? Message the Discover Warren page or share it in the comments.

Getting to know a different Warren merchant every week

Whimsies!

Whimsies is a little shop in downtown Warren owned by local Warren resident Andie Churchill, who describes it as an “art-inspired gift shop and gallery.”

The shop is filled with all sorts of knick-knacks, many of which are made by local artists, making them unique, as well as tax-free. Much of the store is appropriately nautical-themed, with items for sale like sterling silver necklaces with pendants filled with sand from local beaches or jewelry made from different types of shells.

Andie also takes custom orders for hand-painted pieces of furniture.

Whether you are looking for a cool gift for a special someone, a new piece for your home, or just a fun place to look around, Whimsies is the place to go!

Advanced Moves shines on light on the smaller, lesser-known joys of living in Warren. 

By E.A. Mann

The best bench in Warren hides in plain sight. A stone’s throw from some of Warren’s best restaurants, you may have passed this bench a dozen times without ever seeing it. It has no markings or memorial plaques. But stumble onto it, and you’ll be rewarded with a perfect moment of peace and beauty.

To locate it, make your way to Water Street and turn onto Baker toward the water. Past the children’s pirate ship, the street dead-ends at the bench.

Head there for a moment of quiet after dinner, or to start the night. And bring your bike – a convenient rack makes this a great place to park for the night. For bonus points, come at sundown and get all of the gorgeous pinks and yellows of a sunset over the Warren River without any squinting (a house on the right blocks the brunt of the sun).

Got an Advanced Move? Message the Discover Warren page or share it in the comments.