There are few things I would gladly risk life and limb for in a snowstorm. One of those things just happens to be a Milano. Yes, those delicious, buttery cookies with creamy chocolate sandwiched in between, baked for you by the good people at Pepperidge Farms. You can’t imagine my delight when I discovered that we have a Pepperidge Farm Bakery Outlet – yes outlet! – right here in Rhode Island. It combines two of my greatest loves: cookies and being cheap. Naturally I had to take a trip there, and of course my thirst for adventure happened to coincide with the most recent snowstorm. Now that I…

When you break it down to its most elemental, an adventure is an escape. It’s a lot of other things too, but escape is pretty high on the list. What I’ve tried to illustrate in this column is that you don’t need to travel to some far-flung destination to experience an escape from your daily routine and your immediate surroundings. Why, just the other day, I journeyed to pre-World War II England. No, I didn’t invent a time machine; I would have invited you along if I had. Without the assistance of time travel, I had no choice but to see The King’s Speech at the Jane Pickens Theater and Event …

When I first bounced around ideas for this column with friends, one of the more interesting ideas that came up was a visit to Rhode Island’s highest point. It was someplace I had definitely never been to before, and it would be crazy to pass up the novelty of standing at the top of the state. In doing a little research prior to the trip, I unearthed some interesting stories in the annals of Rhode Island history. Rhode Island’s highest point, which is located near the Connecticut border in Foster, tops out at a measly 812 feet. We surpass only Delaware (448 feet), Louisiana (535 feet), and …

I was looking forward to a good ol’ fashioned New England walloping. Blizzard conditions that keep you inside, curled up with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. It may be contrary to the concept of this column, but I love getting snowed in. Sure, the spirit of adventure and all that jazz, but sometimes you just need to let the weather win. And so it was with great displeasure that I woke at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to the sound of traffic. Traffic! Not just the sound of snow plows scraping away my winter wonderland, but regular traffic. I rolled out of bed to assess the situation, and upon …

As the new year swiftly approaches, most of us eagerly begin making New Year's resolutions, vehemently resolving to actually stick to them this time, and then absolving ourselves a couple weeks later when we crumble under pressure. I don't think I've ever met someone who hasn't given up by the end of January, if not earlier. If I make it a week I'll be pleased with myself. My usual New Year's resolutions are as follows: exercise (for some of you this will be followed by "more," for others, a.k.a. me, it will be proceeded with "start to"), eat healthy, and write the correct year on checks. A …

I hate to come to you this week admitting that I broke my promise, but I did. Saturday was just too beautiful and nice to waste indoors. The sun was shining, there was nary a cloud in the sky and it was warm! And by warm I mean it was 45 degrees, but considering our recent ice age, it might as well have been April. In fact, if it could just officially be Spring now, I would be glad to permanently make Rhode Island my home. But winter hasn't even truly started, so I will delay my trip to the DMV for as long as necessary. You hear me Rhode Island? I will keep this Virginia license until my …

In contrast to my last trek, I did not stray very far from home this week. I opted to head just over the border, to North Kingtown, and a spot I have been meaning to visit for awhile: the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve at Rome Point. It's a quick trip north on Boston Neck Road (Route 1A) to the preserve, which is on the right side of the road between Route 138 and Hamilton Allenton Road. It's a fairly scenic drive, with beautiful views overlooking Narragansett Bay and the Jamestown Bridge across from Casey Farm. Narragansett to… Rome Point Total Trip Mileage: Approximately 14 miles roundtrip …

I zipped along – I won't lie – perhaps a little faster than the speed limit. I passed through every light, each one glowing green and ushering me quickly down the road. The sky was a cool flat gray, and the clouds lack any definition, like the kind of turbulence that brews at the onset of a storm, to add some intrigue to an otherwise lifeless day. I've driven down this stretch of Route 1, from Narragansett to Route 78 and the Connecticut border, more times than I can count. I know all the sights along the way. Phil and Ann's Sunset Motel, the General Stanton Inn, the now defunct Tim Horton's …

I set out for this trip not really thinking it would be a part of this column. I took a straightforward route to a planned destination, and that doesn't really sound like an adventure. But despite my best attempts to ensure a mediocre journey, I found myself savoring the exploration of a new location. The trails running through the Ell/Long Pond Preserve were recommended to me by a friend in my quest for one of the best hikes in Rhode Island. The preserve is jointly owned by the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and boasts Rhode …

After discovering last week that maps are rarely accurate, I went looking for other areas that are poorly represented. On Google Maps I stumbled upon a thin strip of green cutting horizontally across the state, from the Connecticut border to the outskirts of Warwick. It's so small that unless you zoom in really far, you wouldn't know it was there. The Rails to Trails Conservancy has converted more than 19,000 miles of railway tracks to walking, hiking and biking trails since they were founded in 1986. The first section of the Coventry Greenway was opened in 1998 and holds the distinction of …

When I first moved to Rhode Island I quickly realized that the average citizen of this small state considers a 45-minute drive to be an all-day affair. Pack a lunch and a spare pair of underwear because you never know how long you could be gone. I grew up in a household with a very different mentality. In my family, a 12-hour drive is de rigueur. As a result, I drive a lot. I mean really, a lot, upwards of 25,000 miles a year. My goal with this column is to inspire you, to instill a yearning for the open road. However, I'm realistic, and the best way is to start small. I'll focus on short …