Providence is a city that’s got a lot going for it. Not only is it the state capital and largest city in Rhode Island, but it’s also the third-largest city in New England.
At one time, it was a major hub for both industry and organized criminal activity, but over the years, Providence has experienced a bit of a renaissance of sorts. These days the addition of parks, museums, restaurants, bars, clubs, and a variety of other attractions have helped the city to reconnect with it’s roots while paving a way forward to the future.
The majority of Providence’s attractions can be found in four distinct neighborhoods. Downcity encompasses the core of the downtown region as well as Waterplace Park, Capitol Hill, and Providence Place Mall.
Federal Hill is a neighborhood due west of downtown and runs along Atwells Avenue. There you will find a vibrant nightlife scene and some of the best Italian cuisine in the city.
College Hill, or The East Side as it is sometimes called, features some of the city’s oldest and historically significant homes and architecture. It’s also home of Brown University as well as the Rhode Island School of Design. The area is also known for its eclectic shops, restaurants, and lively urban culture.
South Providence has developed a pretty nasty reputation over the decades. It’s a neighborhood that has historically been impoverished and crime-laden. Still, just like any urban setting, as long as you navigate the neighborhood with a little bit of caution, you’ll find that it’s a great place to go to get away from all of the hustle and bustle of downtown. There are plenty of restaurants, hair salons, banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, and libraries in this area, and downtown is just a quick 15-minute drive away.
Now that we’re familiar with Providence’s four major neighborhoods let’s take a look at some of the attractions and Best Things to Do in Providence, Rhode Island . Also the sights that worth checking out next time you’re in town.
RISD Museum
As part of the Rhode Island School of Design, this phenomenal art museum is home to an extraordinarily diverse collection of artistic works that are showcased to expose the school’s students to various artistic styles. Within its collection, the museum houses more than 100,000 objects such as textiles, precious metals, paintings, pottery, sculptures, furniture and other works of art.
Some of the biggest names in the art world are represented here, such as Monet, Picasso, Warhol, and Manet. Plus, the museum displays works by local Rhode Island artists like John Noble Barlow and Gilbert Stuart.
The RISD Museum is conveniently located right up the street from RISD Works, a truly unique shop located inside the RISD Store, which is stocked with works of art created by RISD students, staff, and alumni.
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Roger Williams Park
This huge outdoor green space spans 435 acres and features well-maintained scenery, plenty of outdoor activities to get involved in, and even a few attractions worth your time. The park has several trails that lead visitors to beautiful overlooks and other scenic destinations. You can also spend an afternoon leisurely floating around the park’s lakes and waterways on a jumbo-sized Swan paddleboat.
The park also is home to a Botanical Center, which happens to be New England’s biggest public indoor garden display. The Botanical Center features both indoor and outdoor gardens, five greenhouses, a rose maze, and dozens of different species and varieties of plant life.
Roger Williams Park also has its very own zoo featuring more than 160 species of animals. If plants and animals aren’t really your thing, head on over to the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, where you can explore a variety of permanent and rotating exhibits. The museum also holds special events for the public throughout the year, so make sure you consult their calendar while planning your visit.
East Bay Bike Path
This 15-mile shoreside bike path that runs along Narragansett Bay provides riders and walkers with a medley of oceanic sights, scents, and sounds. It was actually the first state-built bike rouse built in Rhode Island and was completed in 1992.
The route mostly follows along the former rail bed of the Providence and Bristol Railroad. It begins at Providence’s India Point Park and ends at Independence Park in Bristol. Along the route, you can make pit stops at locations such as Crecent Park Looff Carousel over in East Providence, Audobon’s Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol, and Colt State Park – a sprawling and well-preserved, 465-acre nature space that is situated along the bay.
Thayer Street
This eclectic little stretch is a favorite destination for college students, locals, and tourists alike. Thayer Street is home to 71 unique businesses that include everything from record stores, book shops, and ethnic restaurants. You can find cuisine from pretty much anywhere in the world on this trendy little thoroughfare. So if you get a strong craving for Thai, Middle Eastern, or Korean food, you’ll know where to go.
After you grab a bite to eat, catch a film at the Avon Cinema – a historic theater that has been a local favorite since 1938 – or shop around for a new tarot deck or some healing crystals over at Spectrum India, a shop that features metaphysical gifts and novelties. And if you’re in town in September, you just might get a chance to attend the annual Thayer Street Arts Festival.
The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School
One of the most prestigious music schools in the country, The Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School attracts some of the brightest and most creative minds from all over the globe. It’s also a great place to go to see some of these brilliant musicians perform. For one thing, the school holds rehearsals every Friday evening that are open to the public, but they also have performances and events scheduled throughout the year.
WaterFire
Twice monthly between the middle of May and late November, braziers that have been installed in the middle of the river are ignited and illuminate the Downcity district of Providence.
The ‘Full Waterfire’ event features more than 80 floating bonfires that blaze on between Waterplace Park all the way to South Main Street Park. The smaller ‘Basin Fire Waterfire’ events are a somewhat toned-down version of the event where 22 braziers light up Waterplace Park Basin, and another five can be seen burning near Providence Place Mall.
During WaterFire, Waterplace Park and Providence’s Riverwalk is transformed into an arts and music festival.
Rhode Island State Capitol
One of Providence’s most iconic Landmarks, the State Capitol Building features neoclassical white marble architecture and has the claim to fame for having the world’s fourth-largest self-supported dome.
The building was designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White and was constructed between 1891 and 1901. You can either take a self-guided tour of the facility or embark on a free guided tour where you’ll learn a lot about both the building’s history as well as that of Rhode Island.
During your tour you’ll see the painting named ‘The Four Freedoms’ by artist James Allen King inside of the dome as well as a portrait of George Washington that was painted by Gilbert Stuart.
The capital building houses both the Rhode Island General Assembly as well as the offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and General Treasurer of Rhode Island.
Federal Hill
Just west of Downcity is Federal Hill, the neighborhood that serves as the heart of Providence’s large Italian American community. While the community has since spread out to the rest of the city, Federal Hill still has a large concentration of Italian restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and shops along Atwell Avenue and its adjacent streets.
Federal Hill is a foodies’ dream neighborhood. If you’re on the lookout for fresh cheeses and fancy cured meats, you’re in luck. Federal Hill is a great place to either stock your pantry or grab a bite to eat. It’s also an excellent neighborhood to unwind with a nice cappuccino or a scoop of gelato over at DePasquale Plaza.
Providence Performing Arts Center
One of the most prominent features on Providence’s vibrant Weybosset Street is The Providence Performing Arts Center which inhabits the space formerly occupied by Leow’s Movie Palace.
The fantastic Beaux Arts Theater was designed by Chicago-natives George and C.W. Rapp.
Once you step inside, you’ll feel as if you were transported back in time, back to 1928 when the theater first opened. Marble columns, crystal chandeliers, complex plasterwork, and a richly adorned ceiling make this landmark more of a work of art than a venue. Over the years, the theater has been renovated and modernized, but it’s never lost any of its opulent, anachronistic charm.
At the Providence Performing Arts Center you’ll also find the highly-celebrated Trinity Repertory Company which is another venue featuring two theater stages where guests can take in a play, see a musical or watch a film.
Brown University
The Brown University Campus, located in Providence’s College Hill neighborhood, opened its doors in 1770. University Hall, its oldest building, still stands at the center of this historic campus, and back in the Revolutionary war, it served as barracks and a Hospital.
Once a year, on the first day of classes in May, the majestic Van Wickle Gates open for the school’s commencement procession.
If you’re a stamp collector or merely interested in brushing up on your history of the US postal system, the John Hay Library has an impressive collection of US stamps, while the nearby John Carter Library has a collection of rare and old maps.
The David Winton Bell Gallery, which might we add is free to visit, has several rotating exhibits of contemporary and historical art.
Benefit Street
This cobblestone street is lined with over a mile of historic buildings. You can either take a guided tour of the area or go on a little self-guided excursion if you prefer. The history of this street will blow you away.
While the majority of buildings on Benefit street date back to the 1700s, one of its stand-outs is The Nightingale-Brown House which was built in 1792. There, five generations of the Nicholas Brown Family of Brown University lived their lives and raised their children.
George M. Cohen and H.P. Lovecraft also called this neighborhood their home when they were still here with us.
Walking down Benefit Street feels a lot like you’re taking a stroll back in time. Modern street lights have been replaced with gas lights which only add to the charm of this ridiculously historical street.
The Rhode Island Historical Society regularly hosts tours of this street, and they are well worth inquiring about.
While Providence is often overlooked as larger nearby urban epicenters like New York City and Boston are more often associated with tourism, It’s still an excellent city to visit. There is so much history and culture to be found here, and the dining and nightlife scenes are pretty phenomenal.
Have you been to any of the destinations featured in this video, or do you know of any others around Providence worth noting? Let us know in the comments section below.
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