If you’ve never considered Providence, Rhode Island as a destination to visit, you are missing out. Providence has so much to offer from culture and history, to nightlife and romance, to beautiful scenery and more. Many of what Providence has to offer is conveniently located close together in what is known as downtown Providence. We’ve put together a guide for you from where to stay, what to do and where to eat, so that you can know how to truly experience to best of Providence.
Accommodations
If you can, try to stay in downtown Providence, a well-known area that is close to everything including shopping, dining, attractions and events such as the WaterFire. By being close to it all, you won’t need to rent a car as you can walk to mostly everything. Even if you need to go somewhere outside downtown, taxi services and Uber are available. Some options include; Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel, Omni Providence Hotel and Providence Biltmore. Go here for special offers and getaway packages provided by Go Providence.
Play
Providence is full of beauty. For an urban capital city, it is home to an impressive array of green space. One of the many parks, Waterplace Park, is nationally recognized for its design. It is a four-acre park featuring an amphitheatre, landscaped terraces and boat landings, and it is also the site for special events such a concerts and the famous WaterFire. For a truly romantic and unforgettable experience, take a gondola ride with a loved one through the Providence Rivers while you enjoy wine, Italian biscuits and your very own musician. Spend your time checking out the many museums Providence has to offer or head to Providence Place to do some shopping. Not far from Downtown is the Roger Williams Zoo and Brown University, a leading Ivy League institution, for you to explore.
WaterFire
WaterFire is so magnificent that it needs its own paragraph. The WaterFire, as noted before, is located at Waterplace Park. Barnaby Evans installed more than 80 sparkling bonfires on the three rivers of downtown Providence to create something so beautiful, you have to see it to believe it, although we will try to describe it to you. Picture this: Fragrant scent of aromatic wood smoke, the flickering firelight on the arched bridges, the silhouettes of the firetenders passing by the flames, the torch-lit vessels traveling down the river and the enchanting music from around the world engaging all the senses and emotions of those in Waterplace Park. It truly is a remarkable experience and there is no admission fee, HOWEVER, they do ask that visitors make a $5 donations as they need support to keep the fire going strong (people who make a donations of $3 or more receive a Ribbon of Light so that they can become a part of the art during the show). Be sure to check the calendar, as the WaterFire event does not happen every week.
Tours
Experience Providence on your own time with a self-guided tour. Follow The Independence Trail, a green line connecting 4 kilometres of history, architecture and culture. This trail highlights 133 notable sites and tells the story of Rhode Island from its founding by Roger Williams. Another self-guided tour is for the book lovers. Start on Benefit Street and enjoy sifting through four bookstores until ending your self-guided tour at the Providence Public Library. If you are looking to have a tour guide, consider hopping on a segway. Providence Segway Tours offers guided tours for up to four people at a time. All tours start with a 15 minutes demonstrations, so not to worry if this is your first time on a segway.
Eat
The possibilities are endless when it comes to dining out in downtown Providence. Enjoy an intimate dinner for two by the river or head inside to a bustling night club. Want to be dined on like a queen? No problem. Or would you rather create your own concoction and watch it be created in front of your eyes? Whatever food you are craving or experience you are looking for when it comes time to eat, we guarantee Providence won’t disappoint.
Featured image: David Hilowitz
