Take a Cumberland Rhode Island Scenic Drive

Fall in New England is gorgeous, as is winter, spring and summer. Whenever you decide to take a scenic drive through Cumberland Rhode Island you will enjoy the colors of the season, whichever season that may be.

Follow along Route 114 with me as we travel across the town of Cumberland from south to north. Also known as Diamond Hill Road, this route crosses the town and shows some of the typical New England charm people love. We’ll see nature, history, apples, wine, and end it all with ice cream. All of this is located in just one part of Cumberland Rhode Island. We start at the Monastery.

Your Cumberland Rhode Island Scenic Drive Starts at The Monastery

Home to the public library, the senior center, an amazing playground, and plenty of trails for walking and hiking, The Monastery is an important part of the town of Cumberland Rhode Island. The name tells us a bit of its original purpose, but let’s take a quick trip back in time to learn about the monks who used to live here.

A Little History About the Monks

The Monastery of Our Lady of the Valley was established by the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance in 1900. Also known as Trappists, they constructed a building to house the entire monastery. This building later became the Guest Wing once the church was completed in 1928.

The monks were self-sufficient, growing their own food and taking care of farm animals needed to work the land. They lived and worshipped here peacefully until a devastating fire on the night of March 21, 1950. No monks died in the fire, but the church and Guest House were destroyed. Instead of rebuilding their community, the monks relocated to another piece of property in Spencer, Massachusetts, where they still live today. Click here to read more on their history.

The Cumberland Public Library

Using much of the original buildings left standing after the fire, the Cumberland Library is a vital part of the town. The building was enlarged and the library occupies a large portion of the new addition. Not only is the library here, but the Cumberland Senior Center, a food pantry, and the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Learning. The Porter’s Lodge and the Cumberland Highway Department garage are separate buildings on the property.

The library occupies two floors and offers an amazing children’s section on the ground floor. You can access the second floor either by the stairs or an elevator. A computer room, in addition to more computers at the back of the main second floor areas, are available for the public to use. Quiet study rooms and plenty of carrels are also available. The collection of books is wide-ranging and the library staff extremely helpful.

Are There Ghosts Here?

Meeting rooms on the second floor are accessed by the hallway that used to be the cloister of the monastery. The walls are lined with old pictures showing the history of the building. Many people claim The Monastery building is haunted, but no monks died the night of the fire. Do you believe in ghosts?

The Playground

There is a children’s playground at The Monastery located to the right as you enter. Follow the signs to the Porter’s Lodge and turn right. There is parking along the road facing the playground and another parking lot to the side of the library building. Use the wooden bridge to cross over to the playground.

In addition to the traditional playground equipment, there are handicap accessible swings and a stage for the children to perform on. Picnic tables and benches provide ample seating for any weary parents or guardians.

The Walking Trails

The Monastery grounds are set in a wooded area and is surrounded by paths through the woods. Trails are clearly marked for the 1.2 mile loop around the buildings. The pathways are dirt and can get muddy or rutted during wet weather, but are generally easy to walk and follow. There are additional trails leading into the woods that require more of a hiking effort due to slight hills, tree roots, and rocks in the pathway. Be careful of your footing.

Nine Men’s Misery Monument

Following one of these trails will lead you to the Nine Men’s Misery memorial. This memorial may be the country’s oldest war monument. It honors the nine men who were killed by the Narragansett Indians during King Philip’s War in March of 1676. The monks erected a stone cairn over where they believed the bodies to be and a plaque on a cement block is placed in front of the stones.

There are trail maps available online or in the library. Follow the walking paths and it is approximately a 10 minute easy walk into the woods to this historical location.

Enjoy the Wooded Landscape

Since this area is set amongst the woods, it is particularly gorgeous during the Fall. The trees will change their colors as the seasons change and the walking paths will change with them. Be more careful during the winter if there’s snow on the ground or in the spring with the rain and mud. The pathways can get rutted or slippery with wet mud so take extra precautions with your steps.

Now let’s continue on our Cumberland Rhode Island scenic drive down Route 114 north to our next destination of Phantom Farms.

No Cumberland Rhode Island Scenic Drive is Complete Until You Stop at Phantom Farms

Phantom Farms has been the apple farm of choice for my family for as long as I can remember. They have definitely grown quite a bit since my childhood, but apples are still their main attraction. Many other goodies are also available to please most everyone. From fresh fruits and veggies to homemade jams, baked goods, and even locally made items, they’ve got a little bit of everything in their charming country store.

2920 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island

The Apples Are the Star of the Show

🍎The apples are the main draw and the trees can be seen from the road as you park in their lot. Harvest time usually starts by the end of September when the apples are ready for picking.

Due to the popularity of the farm, trees can get picked over rather quickly! If the apples are not on the trees they are definitely inside for you to purchase.

Don’t Forget the Cider!

One of the most refreshing drinks is their apple cider which is available year round. Drink it cold or warm it up and add some seasonal spices for mulled cider.

What Else Can You Buy?

Although Phantom Farms is known for their apples, that is not all they have to sell.

🥧 Seasonal Fruits and Pies

In addition to the seasonal apples in the Fall, Phantom Farms sells in-season fruits throughout the year. This includes blueberries, strawberries, and other fruit local to New England.

All of these fruits get made into amazing pies! Check out their website to choose some pies for yourself. Click here to pick out your pie!

🍅 Vegetables Throughout the Year

Fresh vegetables, including cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, peppers, and more, are available year round based on seasonality. In the Fall, you will find a bonanza of squashes, pumpkins, and gourds to bring the season home with you.

🍁 Autumn and Winter Decorations ❄️

Phantom Farms shines with their Fall decor available for purchase. In addition to the colorful pumpkin patch, you can choose corn stalks, gourds, or other autumn decorations to cozy up your space. If you love the feel of an old-fashioned country store, then explore everything on offer in the shop.

Once Thanksgiving rolls around, they change up the design with snowmen and other winter decor. Cheerful snowmen, candy canes, and gingerbread figures decorate the shelves. Other gifts, perfect for gift-giving, are available for purchase in the store. No matter the season, Phantom Farms creates a relaxing atmosphere to match.

Country Store Shopping in Cumberland Rhode Island

Scattered around the store are cozy decorations to make your home feel even homier. Household decor, candles, soaps and lotions, and my favorite maple syrup treats are available throughout the store.

You can also find jams and jellies as well as other food treats to bring home with you. Explore the displays as you cross from the cafe, through the store, and into the greenhouse room with seating galore.

The Cafe at Phantom Farms

The cafe is open daily from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm, so make sure to stop by for a coffee and a baked treat. Their muffins are amazing and you have a variety of cafe drinks to choose from.

If baked goods are not what you’re looking for, they also offer sandwiches and other savory treats. Their growing menu should have something to suit every hungry person.

Once you have your beverage and sweet treat, find a comfortable seat. Choose from sitting on the front porch to watch everyone come in, or find a place in the newer addition with tables and plenty of seating. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

What is Happening at the Farm?

Owner Jason Macari is planning on opening Phantom Farms Brewery. It will be located a few miles away in a converted mill building and plans for a brew pub are also on the table. Original plans stated a September 2023 opening, but it is now planned for operations to start by the end of Fall 2023. The brewery will be fully operational by the end of the year with a soft opening in November.

No matter how Phantom Farms has changed throughout the years, there is something on offer for everyone in your family. Just make sure to leave room as you continue on your way to the vineyard.

Diamond Hill Vineyards

Once you finish at Phantom Farm, make sure to leave a bit of room for some wine at Diamond Hill Vineyards. The vineyard is just past Phantom Farm on the opposite side of the road. Although you won’t see much on the drive there from the apple farm, the wooded setting will be ablaze with color during the fall. The vineyard and tasting room are located down a long wooded drive that changes colors with the season

Just be warned, the drive can be a bit bumpy and is quite narrow. There is a light system that lets one car at a time go down the drive. If the red light is on, don’t go. Once it turns off, you are free to travel slowly down the drive to the parking area next to the tasting room.

They produce the most delicious fruit wines, and a few others, that are sure to please most palates. Make sure to check their operating hours which are Thursday to Saturday 12:00 to 4:00 and Sunday 12:00 to 3:00.

3145 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island

What Kinds of Wines Are Available?

Many different wines are available and all are crafted in small batches on location by winemaker Allan Berntson. They create both red and white wines, but my absolute favorites are the fruit wines. You have to try them! Here are some of their fruit wine selections. Check back frequently since they can change.

🍷Cranberry Apple
🍷Blueberry
🍷Black Crush (blackberry/cherry)
🍷Blackberry
🍷Spiced Apple
🍷Lush Cherry
🍷Blush (raspberry/apple) – my favorite!
🍷Crush Berry

In addition to buying on site, Diamond Hill Vineyards also sells its wines at several local liquor stores in the area.

Wine Flights

Flights are currently priced at $8.00 for 4 sample glasses of your choice of available wines. You can also purchase a full glass of wine, which most people do after trying their samples. Of course, full bottles are available for purchase, both room temperature and some in the cooler as well. Take your flight or glass and find a seat to enjoy your wine.

All are welcome to come to the vineyard, and anyone old enough to drink is welcome to try the wine. If your party is more than 6 people, please call ahead to reserve a table for your group.

🍷Check out Diamond Hill Vineyards’ website here.🍷

Enjoy Your Wine, Relax, or Shop For Unique Gifts

The vineyard offers space inside to sample some wine, or a large covered porch outside. There are also tables set in the garden out front which are a perfect place to enjoy the autumn colors all around you.

Small snacks, like cheese and crackers, are available for purchase to enjoy with your wine. You are also encouraged to bring your own picnic snacks to nibble while you sip your delicious wine.

Inside you’ll find many unique gift items for yourself or a wine-loving friend. Glasses, coasters, aprons, kitchen towels, and so much more are available for purchase.

Be Safety Minded at the Vineyard

I must add this PSA about not drinking to excess, especially if you are the one driving. Please drink responsibly and be safe.

Also be very careful when walking up the uneven original stone steps to the entrance. There is a railing to help but this entrance is not handicap accessible.

Diamond Hill State Park, Cumberland Rhode Island

After sampling the amazing wines at Diamond Hill Vineyards, continue on our Cumberland Rhode Island scenic drive down the road a bit and arrive at Diamond Hill State Park. Although it is now a place for walking, hiking, and musical events, this actually used to be a ski resort.

The Ski Resort of Bygone Years in Cumberland Rhode Island

The hill itself is about 480 feet high and shares amazing views of the city of Boston when the weather conditions are clear. In 1939, Ski Valley opened and skiers climbed up the “mountain” and then skied down. They soon added tow ropes and T-bar ski lifts to move skiers more easily.

Soon there were two separate ski enterprises when Diamond Hill Reservation opened in the mid-60s. Both of these ski facilities operated during the wintertime until the mid-1980s. I remember as a child seeing the lifts and large poles on the hill when we visited, but that was mostly during the summer and early fall. Skiing was a sport I never tried and I also didn’t see them operating during the winter.

Learn more about Diamond Hill’s skiing history by checking out this post.

What to Do at Diamond Hill State Park, Cumberland Rhode Island

Once you get to Diamond Hill State Park, what can you do? Here are some options for you to enjoy your visit.

Go Hiking

Hiking the miles of marked trails is the main draw. Most of the trails go right up the hill, but once up there you have a clear view of the Boston skyline. Dogs are allowed on leash and bicycles also have their own marked paths. Read more about the trails here.

Sit By The Bandstand

During my childhood summers, I remember packing up some lawn chairs and heading to Diamond Hill for the outdoor concerts. My mother would sit and enjoy the music while my two sisters and I would climb the hill and explore. We eventually came down and listened to the music as well, but not until we were worn out from climbing.

The bandstand is set up in front of the pond which helps with projecting the sound. Get there early for a good spot and set up your chair or blanket to relax and enjoy a variety of music. Music is offered only during the summer and very early Fall.

Cumberlandfest

The second weekend of August is when the popular Cumberlandfest happens each year. The proceeds go to help fund the town’s athletic programs for kids and thousands of people attend. Cumberlandfest provides carnival rides and games, plenty of vendors, fun fair food, and live entertainment throughout the weekend.

Ball Fields

On site are baseball and soccer fields, both popular sports with Cumberland kids. Many of the town’s youth teams practice and play here and parking is available for all the parents and spectators. Depending on when you go, you may see some youth teams practicing in the fields. Now it’s time to cross the street.

4097 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island

The Ice Cream Machine

Before you head home from your wonderful Cumberland Rhode Island scenic drive, don’t forget to stop at the Ice Cream Machine for an afternoon treat.

It is right across the street from the Diamond Hill State Park and many people leave their cars in the lot and walk over. The Ice Cream Machine’s lot is a bit small for the crowds it draws for their amazing ice cream, especially on a hot day. They are open from 11:00 am until 10:00 pm seven days a week.

So Many Options

The options are so plentiful here at the Ice Cream Machine! It often takes me longer to make up my mind than it does for me to reach the counter to order. You’ll find all of your favorite classic flavors in addition to some creative new ones to try. From bowls and cones, to sundaes and shakes, there is something for every ice cream lover to find here.

They also offer sherbets, frozen yogurt, and reduced-sugar ice creams in a few different flavors that change frequently.

Take Candy and Ice Cream Home With You

If eating delicious ice cream on the sofa watching your favorite TV show is your jam, then buy some ready-packed ice cream to take home with you. A newer add-on is the candy assortment to choose from. You can soothe that sweet tooth with candy if the ice cream isn’t enough.

4288 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island

In Conclusion : A Scenic Drive Through Cumberland Rhode Island – Worth It?

Although this drive doesn’t take you very far, it is so worth getting out and enjoying a beautiful day in northern Cumberland Rhode Island. From a start at The Monastery to winding it up with a delicious Ice Cream Machine treat, this is a day to relish an amazing colorful New England day no matter what the season.

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