It would be a stretch to call Cranston a destination. But if you find yourself in this sprawling city next door to Providence, take time to explore its nooks and crannies. Cranston has two distinct identities: Its densely urban eastern half is heavily developed and jammed with homes and businesses, while its western side is dotted with fields, farms, and a few newish subdivisions. A sliver of the city even has waterfront charm, thanks to its location on Narragansett Bay, which laps against quaint Pawtuxet Village. Cranston's multifaceted personality means you can visit a yacht club, shop at a farm stand, and hit the malls all in the same day. And a bounty of old-fashioned Italian bakeries -- think ricotta cookies, red-wine biscuits, savory spinach pies, and 50-cent pizza slices -- makes Rhode Island's third-largest city a chowhound's dream.
Double the fun
City life meets farm land, and even the bay, for a unique experience
Do
Pawtuxet Village (pawtuxet.com) is a darling little waterfront community along Narragansett Bay. Near Pawtuxet Cove, where the Pawtuxet River flows into the upper bay, stately Colonial and Victorian homes on tree-lined streets overlook the water. And Pawtuxet Park, with its pretty gazebo, is a summertime spot for concerts and kayaking.Much of Cranston has been developed to the hilt, but scattered amid its busy roads, thickly settled neighborhoods, and ubiquitous malls are several historic homes, including the circa 1790 Governor Sprague Mansion (1351 Cranston St.), the opulent, 28-room former home of William Sprague, a cotton manufacturing magnate, and the circa 1754 Joy Homestead (156 Scituate Ave.), a farmhouse that Cranston Historical Society president Lydia Rapoza describes as "not touched by time." For tours, call the Cranston Historical Society (1351 Cranston St., 401-944-9226, cranstonhistoricalsociety.org).
And fill your belly with oven-hot bread, fresh-baked pizza, homemade biscotti, and vegetable pies from one of Cranston's Italian bakeries, such as Crugnale (567 Reservoir Ave., 401-781-8800), Calvitto's (1401 Park Ave., 401-464-4200 and 285 Park Ave., 401-941-8863), Solitro's (1594 Cranston St., 401-942-9840), and DeFusco's (1350 Park Ave., 401-944-0650; 995 Pontiac Ave., 401-461-3970; 1828 Broad St., 401-467-2110).
Fuel
Neighboring Providence may have a reputation as a foodie city, but Cranston's eateries can hold their own. The city's sizable Italian population means there's a plethora of Italian restaurants, particularly in the Knightsville neighborhood, including Caffe Itri (1686 Cranston St., 401-942-1970, caffeitri.com), L'Osteria (1703 Cranston St., 401-943-3140), and Vesuvio (1401 Park Ave., 401-942-8060, vesuviori.com).