OSM Visits: Warwick

I love Warwick. It’s a city that manages to fly under the radar, literally. When you land at T.F. Green, the pilot welcomes you to Providence. And I get why — it’s not flashy, but it is a great place to live and raise a family. Its neighborhoods each have a special vibe, from Conimicut to Apponaug, Buttonwoods and Oakland Beach, to name a few. I’m a recent transplant and I’ll be honest: I didn’t expect to feel at home so fast.

My go-to activity in Warwick: Goddard State Park on the Warwick/East Greenwich line. Any season, any mood. There’s a beach, horseback riding, hiking trails - it’s 500 acres and it’s a total gem. And a fancy gem at that — just ask the “Real Housewives of Rhode Island.”

A place I’d send someone visiting for the first time: Rocky Point State Park in Warwick Neck. Where else can you see the Mt. Hope, Newport and Jamestown Bridges and Quonset all from one vantage point? I’m learning that every Rhode Islander over 40 has a Rocky Point memory — the clam cakes, the Shore Dinner Hall, the rides. The park that exists today carries all that history, and standing at the waterfront, you feel it.

A hyper-specific local detail or favorite thing: Yam. Fries. If you know, you know. The Shanty, I’m looking at you. Iggy’s for chowder and doughboys. Also, Bald Hill Road will meet every single one of your practical needs, which sounds boring until you actually need something at 7 p.m. on a Sunday.