The great outdoors …

There are countless destinations if you’re interesting in being outside this summer in beautiful spaces. Here are 9 great spots to consider visiting if you never have (or even if you have) …

1. Weetamoo Woods - Tiverton

This enormous 650-acre, wooded area in the heart of south Tiverton borders another 250-acre conservation area, Pardon Gray Preserve. From the entrance and small parking area off East Road (less than a mile east of Tiverton Four Corners), visitors can access 7 miles of trails, pass by streams and climb (carefully) to the top of “High Rock.”

East Road, Tiverton, R.I.

2. Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge - Warren

The Touisset Marsh Wildlife Refuge, managed by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, offers picturesque views of the Kickemuit River that are well worth the trip. The property is full of hardwood forests and fields of flowers that attract butterflies in the summer months. The shorter length and flat terrain make this an easy stroll for children and families. A one-mile trail traverses the property.

99 Touisset Road, Warren, R.I.

3. Osamequin Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary - Barrington

This large area off the northbound lane of the Wampanoag Trail (Route 114) has 42 acres of trails and pristine saltmarsh property along the western shore of the Barrington’s majestic Hundred Acre Cove. The property is jointly managed and maintained by the Barrington Garden Club and the Barrington Land Conservation Trust.

4. Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium - Bristol

The Audubon Nature Center and Aquarium is home to a natural history museum offering interactive exhibits that explore local habitats and wildlife found in the Ocean State. Visitors discover creatures that live in a tidepool, observe marine life from Narragansett Bay, visit with Common Raven Zach, and peek inside a 33-foot life-size model of a North Atlantic Right Whale.

Situated on the 28-acre Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge, ADA-certified walking trails start in at the Palmieri Pollinator Garden and wind through upland meadows to a ¼-mile boardwalk through fresh and saltwater marshes to a majestic view of Narragansett Bay. Located along the East Bay Bike Path, the trails allow bikers and walkers access to the refuge's natural beauty.

1401 Hope St., Bristol, R.I.

5. Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge - Tiverton

The Audubon’s Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge is a lovely parcel of woods and salt marsh with winding trails that run along the Sakonnet River. The trail system weaves through deciduous woods and red maple swamp with many places to stop and enjoy the beautiful view of the river. There are 1.6 miles of easy trails.

116 Seapowet Ave., Tiverton, R.I.

6. Caratunk Wildlife Refuge - Seekonk

From the white barn to the meandering trails and crystal-clear brooks, the Caratunk Wildlife Refuge is a place frequented by nature enthusiats and wildlife alike. With nearly 200 acres of fields, forests, streams, and ponds, Caratunk offers miles of well-marked trails is one of Audubon's most popular properties.

301 Brown Ave., Seekonk, Mass.

7. Fort Barton - Tiverton by woods and open meadows. The preserve also includes a fully accessible, wooden boardwalk, which is particularly suitable for younger children and anyone with limited mobility. Forested wetlands, swamps and old fields support a changing variety of wildlife throughout the year.

Lesser known but equally spectacular is this large wooded area in the heart of Tiverton. Accessible by a small parking area across from Tiverton Town Hall, this area is both natural and historic. Fort Barton itself includes a tower and fortifications from the Revolutionary War and the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island. The open space includes 83 acres, with 3.5 miles of trails.

343 Highland Road, Tiverton, R.I.

374 West Main Road, Little Compton, R.I.

9. Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge – Middletown

8.

Whitehead Preserve at Dundery Brook - Little Compton

The 188-acre Whitehead Preserve is a charming hideaway managed by The Nature Conservancy. Careful, historic plantings of native shrubs and wildflowers host a multitude of birds, butterflies and other pollinators. An easy, winding path circles three farm ponds surrounded

One of the most grand outdoor spaces in all of Rhode Island, Sachuest is home to a rocky coastline where visitors can see more than 200 bird species throughout the year. Nearly 3 miles of trails loop around Sachuest Point. The refuge includes 40 acres of salt marsh lands and steep rocky shorelines around the perimeter. Most visitors enjoy year-round birdwatching, and elevated observation platforms along the trails provide unobstructed views of the refuge.

769 Sachuest Point Road, Middletown, R.I.