Rhode Island Summer Bucket List

Hang ten at Narragansett Beach.
Risk a few wipeouts and, before long, you’ll be walking the board with ease. Learn from bushy blond teens at the Warm Winds Surf School or opt for Rhode Island surfing legend Peter Pan’s Surf Academy. Both have boards and wetsuits available and offer group and private lessons as well as youth camps. warmwinds.com; peterpansurfingacademy.vpweb.com

Be in three places at once at the Tri-State Marker.
This selfie-worthy spot in Burrillville, Douglas, Massachusetts, and Thompson, Connecticut, is marked by an iconic granite monument. Get there from our side via the Buck Hill Management Area.

Travel the world in sweet summer treats.
You live in vacationland; why the heck would you ever leave? Instead, satisfy a taste for wanderlust with a global variety of frozen snacks.

• Mochi. This Japanese treat is made with a short-grain rice called mochigome, which is pounded into a paste and shaped into little rounds bursting with texture and flavor and filled with ice cream. Try it for dessert at Mt. Fuji steakhouse on Federal Hill or buy some from the amazing Asiana Food Market in E.P. to enjoy at home.
• Kulfi. This traditional Indian ice cream is typically flavored with nuts and cardamom. You can find it at Three Sisters on the East Side of Providence or at Woonsocket’s Swagat Food and Grocery.
• Bubble waffle ice cream. Fox Point’s Kow Kow wraps up locally made ice cream in chewy Hong Kong-style bubble waffles. Try it, and every other waffle cone will fall flat.
• Thai ice cream rolls. This instantly Instagrammable treat originated as a street food in Thailand. Freezing Point at Providence Place serves up picture-perfect rolled ice cream with a variety of flavors and toppings.
• Paletas. These fresh and fruity Mexican-style popsicles are a summer must. Try them at Central Falls’s La Fruta Loca.
• Taiyaki. Whimsical Japanese fish-shaped cake cones filled with soft serve ice cream meet Latin flavors such as dulce de leche, guava and abuelita at Helado Taiyaki on Federal Hill.

Take ferries everywhere.
Ditch the car; ferries make for a more scenic commute, anyway. And these destinations are well worth the ride.

• Bristol to Prudence Island. Cut across the heart of Narragansett Bay to a nature lover’s paradise. About seven miles long and one-and-a-half miles wide, the third-largest island in the bay is ripe for easy exploration. Bring the bikes and head south to check out the salt marshes and historic farm site within Narragansett Bay’s National Estuarine Research Reserve. Grab some picnic takeout from Bristol’s restaurants or pick up snacks at Prudence Variety — the island’s only store — and re-fuel by the historic lighthouse. prudencebayislandstransport.com
• Galilee to Block Island. You’ve heard the jingle, now sing it IRL. You’re sailing away on the Block Island Ferry! Taking a trip back to carefree times! Yes, BI is worth all the hype. There are breathtaking beaches, historic lighthouses and beautiful green spaces. In town, you’ll find quaint shops, Victorian hotels and excellent restaurants. You’ll leave knowing the jingle told no lies. blockislandferry.com
• Jamestown to Newport. This hop-on, hop-off ferry line also offers scenic cross-bay and sunset cruises. Stops include Fort Adams, Ann Street Pier, Perrotti Park, Rose Island Lighthouse and Jamestown Village. Crack open an onboard refreshment and make the journey your destination. conanicutmarina.com
• PVD to Newport. You could take 95 to the Pell Bridge or 114 over the Mount Hope Bridge. Or you could take the ferry. Not such a hard choice, now is it? Leave the car by the old Shooter’s, board the boat and enjoy scenic views of the bay, no beach traffic in sight, as you head for the iconic City by the Sea. seastreak.com

Arcadia / Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management;

Really get to know Arcadia Management Area.
This, here, is the epitome of nature’s playground. Rhode Island’s largest recreational area — 14,000 acres sprawled across four towns — has something for everyone, whether you fish (fly or line, plus a stocked pond for the youngest anglers), boat, kayak, hike, mountain bike or explore by horseback. Hunting is also in play, so pack your blaze orange in the off-season. Bring camping gear to make the most of your outdoor adventure. riparks.com

Picnic on the Hazard Rock Shelves. (Very, very carefully.)
The area might be named for a prominent South County family, but “hazard” is still a fitting description for the flat, slippery outcroppings at the water’s edge. Grab a friend, your grippiest shoes and a blanket for an on-the-edge picnic like no other. Hazard Road, Narragansett.