Chill Out! Cool Indoor Things to Do in & Around Providence This Summer

The Museum of Natural History is Rhode Island's only natural history museum and is home to the state's only public planetarium. For more than a century the museum has served as a unique educational, scientific and cultural resource by offering exciting exhibitions and programming that provide ways for children and families to learn about our world and its people. Call for information and pricing about private planetarium shows and museum tours.

Base Station VR Lounge is Rhode Island’s first dedicated virtual reality arcade/lounge. Whether you’re looking to relax and spend time in the Arizona sunshine shooting zombies or go a bit wild and create virtual artwork that fills an entire room sized canvas in 3D, we’ve got the space for you! Base Station VR Lounge has several room scale spaces, all approximately 8'x8', which allow you to walk around a bit and not be constrained to one spot in “real” space, allowing the inner and outer you freedom of motion. Scheduling Note: Weekdays are mostly advanced bookings only, requiring a minimum 2 hours advanced notice (either online or via phone). Walk-ins are only accepted Saturday (1-10 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-6 p.m.). We can accommodate up to 10 players at once, each with their own headsets, with the potential of all playing in the same experience together.

Tomaquag Museum, an Institute of Museum and Library Services 2016 National Medal winner, was established in 1958 by Eva Butler, an anthropologist, in partnership with Princess Red Wing (Narragansett/Wampanoag). It is Rhode Island’s only Native-led museum entirely dedicated to telling the story of the First Peoples. Tomaquag Museum has a unique collection of cultural and archival materials focusing on the indigenous peoples of Southern New England and highlighting the Narragansett Tribe. This well-respected museum is visited each year by researchers, students, and travelers from across the United States and across the world. Through our Indigenous Empowerment Network, we empower native artists, youth and community through internships, museum careers, and arts business development. Tomaquag has over 50 cross-sector partnerships and serves the public through specialized projects, tours, exhibits, books, curriculum, films, lectures and performances. Contact the museum for information about virtual and in-person programming and classes.