Top 7 Holiday Day Trips in RI You Can't Miss

Looking for a fun holiday activity that isn't baking seasonal goods or searching for the perfect gift? You don't have to go far – in fact, you don't even need to leave the state. Rhode Island has plenty of festive attractions perfect for a day trip this holiday season. From historical walking tours through the city to festive boat rides around Newport Harbor, the state is sure to have the right activity for everyone in the family to get in the holiday spirit.

Here are seven of the best holiday day trips to do without leaving Rhode Island this year.

Take a ride on the Polar Express

Get into the Christmas spirit by taking a ride on the Polar Express train from Woonsocket's Blackstone Valley Train Station. The 90-minute ride to the North Pole and back will include singing, games, hot cocoa and cookies, a reading of "The Polar Express" book and even a visit from Santa.

Just like in the movie, a conductor will punch every passenger's golden ticket, and every child will receive a silver bell. Tickets start at $73-104 for adults or $71-99 for children ages 12 and under, with premium seats available for an additional price.

The Polar Express runs on weekends from Nov. 7 through Dec. 21, with trips offered at both 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Be sure to arrive early to explore the station's Christmas Village, complete with a gift shop, concession stands, photo-ops, letters to Santa and more.

See 'A Christmas Carol'

Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale "A Christmas Carol" has been performed by Providence's own Trinity Repertory Company for over 45 years. Experience the heartwarming tale of humbug and holiday ghosts on select days from Nov. 6 through Dec. 31 at the Lederer Theater Center.

The show lasts about two hours, starting at noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday or 7:30 p.m. on weekdays. Tickets cost between $48 and $90.

Go on a festive cruise

Missing being out on the water during this cold weather? Take a short cruise around Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay with Cruise RI. The premiere cruise company offers various seasonal excursions departing from both Newport and Wickford, including a Holiday Bubbly Cruise, a Holiday Cruise featuring the Very Merry Dickens Carolers and the Meet & Greet with Santa Cruise, complete with holiday music and cocoa.

Dates, times and tickets for all of Cruise RI's holiday cruises can be found online. Prices range from $37-50 for adults or $25-36 for children, depending on the specific trip.

Holiday attractions:

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Take a historic walking tour

Learn about the history of Christmas in Rhode Island on a historic walking tour through Benefit Street, hosted by Providence Ghost Tour. The 90-minute tour travels down the famous Providence street by lantern as a costumed guide shares tales of Christmas celebrations from Rhode Islanders of the past.

Tickets for this tour cost $27 for adults or $15 for children ages 5-13. Tours will take place at 7 p.m. every day from Dec. 9, 2025 through Jan. 3, 2026, with additional shows at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Tours will not be given on Dec. 24-25, Dec. 31 or Jan. 1.

All tours leave from 400 Benefit St. in Providence, to the right of the Barker Playhouse.

See 'The Nutcracker'

For lovers of the arts, there is no better holiday show than "The Nutcracker," a ballet with dancing sugar plum fairies and snow flakes set to music by Tchaikovsky. Ballet RI, Rhode Island's resident ballet company, performs its version of holiday classic with handcrafted character masks, on-stage magic tricks and a snow-filled surprise.

Prices for a ticket to this ballet range from $41 to $106 depending on the show and selected seat. VIP tickets for a meet and greet with the dancers are available to add on for $60.

Ballet RI's Nutcracker production will have shows at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Friday through Sunday from Dec. 20-27, as well as Tuesday, Dec. 23. Opening day will have one show at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, and the final show will take place at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28. All shows will take place at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium (The VETS) in Providence.

Visit the Newport mansions

A classic Rhode Island holiday tourist destination, the historic Newport mansions go all out for the holidays. The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms and Chateau-sur-Mer will all be open through Jan. 1 with spectacular holiday displays, from decorated fir trees to twinkling lights to the 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree in the Breakers' Great Hall. Admission ranges from $10-18 for children or $25-57 for adults, depending on the number of houses visited.

The mansions will be open daily from Saturday, Nov. 22 through Jan. 1, 2026, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House, or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends at Chateau-sur-Mer.

Lovers of Christmas lights can also wander outside through Sparkling Lights at the Breakers, a half-mile path with holiday music and thousands of glittering bulbs. The light show is open from 4-8 p.m. on select days from Nov. 21 through Dec. 28, with tickets costing $14 for children or $45 for adults.

Go ice skating

Located in the heart of downtown Providence next to the city's official Christmas tree is BankNewport City Center's Providence Rink, an outdoor winter sports venue that offers both ice skating and ice bumper cars.

Ice skating is currently open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with bumper cars open from 4-8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday or 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets cost $13 for shared bumper cars, $16 for full bumper cars, $9 for adult skating or $6 for child skating. Skate rentals, season passes and merchandise are also available for purchase.