A Word About Providence

Providence is a quaint New England city with a very artsy, intellectual edge, with an interesting and unique appeal, due in part to the fact that Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design (among other universities) attract hundreds of students each year. The city is has a small feel and is mostly navigable by foot, especially in the historic areas. The proximity to New York City and Boston (Providence is directly in between), as well as many New England beaches, also makes this a great, very accessible place.

Interestingly enough, Providence claims to have more coffee and donut shops than any other city in the country. Whether or not you buy that (Seattle comes to mind), you definitely won’t be wanton for caffeine when you visit. Some of the best cafes can be found on the strip that runs between Brown and RISDand is overrun with college students, professors, boutiques, secondhand clothing stores, music venues, and restaurants galore. Called Thayer Street, this is a great place for strolling and people-watching alike.

Throughout the city is a wonderful display of typical New England architecture. The houses, churches, public buildings, and university buildings are all so picturesque that ambling around the city for hours is a very viable option. Head down to the riverfront and do your best to catch Waterfire, an ongoing environmental art exhibition that synchronizes musical performances with the spectacle of bonfires ablaze on the surface of the three intersecting rivers in the city. Waterfire occurs during summer evenings, which is a great time of year to visit Rhode Island, as the winters can be brutal and the summers stay generally pretty mild.

Reference: Travel Tips
Reference: Providence facts

This entry was contributed by Elizabeth Gleeson.

This entry was posted on Monday, May 28th, 2007 at 2:28 am and is filed under Travel, US Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.