On a campus the size of URI things can go unnoticed to the average student. Here are a few of those hidden gems that often get overlooked.
1. Botanical Garden
URI’s Botanical garden and Horridge Conservatory is the perfect place to go on campus to clear your head. It is located on the North side of campus, near the Fine Arts Center on Greenhouse Road. You can find a few students here studying, relaxing, listening to music or even having a picnic. The grounds are about 4.5 acres large and have tons of different flowers and exotic plants. There are even a few weddings that take place in the gardens. If you’re looking for a quiet and peaceful place to hang out, the botanical garden is definitely the place to go.
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2. Peckham Farm
Even though Peckham Farm isn’t located directly on the Kingston Campus, it is still a part of the University. It can be found directly across the street from the Keaney parking lot. The farm is designed to help students in the Pre Vet programs learn about the animals and how to take care of them. They have all different animals like sheep, goats, and horses. Peckham Farm isn’t only for students in the animal science or veterinary programs, but other students can go there to visit as well and play with some of the animals. It is also a popular attraction for locals to take the youngsters.
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3. Library Basement
As you read this one, you may be thinking “How is the library considered a gem? Who wants to study at school?” I feel you, but you’re probably paying big bucks to go here so you have to study at some point. If you are new to URI, the library is located towards the center of campus, below the quad. It has three floors, and each floor has its own level of noise that is expected. The first floor is where you can basically talk with your normal voice, as long as it’s not a loud one. The second floor is much quieter, but chatter is still allowed. And the third floor, everyone is just mute and you could probably hear a pin drop. My favorite floor, however, is the basement, which I discovered second semester of my freshman year. It’s the perfect floor. It is mostly quiet, but there are some group tables to use if you have a project coming up. There is no one really monitoring the basement so you can talk as freely as you would like without fear of being scolded by a librarian.
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4. Mia’s Kitchen
Mia’s Kitchen is a small, quaint restaurant in the back of the Emporium. When students think of going to the Emporium, they probably think of going to Bagelz for breakfast or Albie’s for lunch. However, Mia’s is a sit down restaurant that offers both these meals. The inside is tiny, but it is usually never too crowded because most people don’t even realize it’s there. I would consider Mia’s to be a breakfast nook since they serve it all day. They have really great omelets, specialty pancakes, and build-your-own sandwiches and wraps.
5. URI’s Planetarium
The planetarium is located on the back corner of the quad by Upper College Road and the Engineering buildings. It is a white building with a silver dome as the roof. The room is fully carpeted and lined with seats for viewers to enjoy the show. The Planetarium is used by the physics department for astronomy classes, as well as for the public when they hold viewings every second Friday of the month. I have been to a show at the Planetarium once before and it is definitely something cool to do if you’re ever bored on a Friday night. They basically display what the constellations and moon will look like at that moment on the screen up above.
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URI is full of little hidden gems to check out. Next time you’re bored, take a trip over to one of them. You won’t be disappointed!