What to See and Do in Providence
Providence is an especially suitable vacation destination for families with tweens and teens. That's because Rhode Island's capital is best explored on foot, and many of its cultural and historic attractions won't hold the attention of younger children. That said, even the tiniest tots will love strolling through New England's oldest zoo.
Family Amusements
In Providence, history and fun go hand-in-hand.
Crescent Park Carousel
700 Bullocks Point Avenue, Riverside
401-433-2828
East of Providence, don't miss the 1895 Crescent Park Carousel, designated a National Historic Site and a National Historic Landmark. With sixty-two intricately carved wooden horses and four ornate chariots, this is the grandest of the carousels designed by Charles I. D. Looff. The carousel operates Thursday through Sunday from mid-June until Labor Day and weekends thereafter through Columbus Day.
Roger Williams Park Zoo
1000 Elmwood Avenue
401-785-3510
Just outside of downtown Providence, you can spy elephants, snow leopards, moon bears, and more in natural settings at the Roger Williams Park Zoo. The widely acclaimed zoo is home to more than 1,500 creatures. Don't miss the Marco Polo Silk Road, which traces explorer Marco Polo's three-year journey through Asia.
Splash Duck Tours
Corner of Fountain and Eddy Streets
401-421-3825
See the best of Providence from the land and the water on a narrated tour aboard an amphibious vehicle, which travels the city's historic streets before splashing into the Providence River.
Museums and Historic Sites
Providence is an energetic and vibrant city that your kids will find hip — while they're learning a thing or two.
Benefit Street
History and architecture buffs won't want to miss the College Hill neighborhood, home to Benefit Street, Providence's “Mile of History.” Wealthy businessmen began building houses along Back Street, now Benefit Street, in 1758; today this is the largest concentration of colonial homes in America. Early Federal period and interesting nineteenth- and twentieth-century architectural styles can be seen, too. The Providence Preservation Society (401-831-7440,
While you're there, you can visit the Old State House (150 Benefit Street, 401-222-2678,
Nearby, visit the John Brown House Museum (52 Power Street at Benefit Street, 401-273-7507,
Providence Children's Museum
100 South Street
401-273-5437
Providence is home to Rhode Island's only museum just for kids, and there are plenty of hands-on activities here to keep the under-twelve set entertained, whether they'd rather play vet at the mini-animal hospital or assemble a skeleton puzzle in the Bone Zone.
The RISD Museum
224 Benefit Street
401-454-6500
The RISD (Rhode Island School of Design) Museum is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. It exhibits an impressive collection of more than 80,000 works ranging from ancient Greek and Roman sculpture to French impressionist paintings to contemporary art. Kids will be intrigued by the museum's Egyptian galleries, where a coffin and mummy are on display.
State House
Smith Street
401-222-2357
One of the most distinctive architectural gems of Providence's skyline is the State House, designed by McKim, Mead, and White and completed in 1901. It sports one of the largest self-supported domes in the world. Free, self-guided tours are available weekdays.
Roger Williams National Memorial
282 North Main Street
401-521-7266
The National Park Service-operated Roger Williams National Memorial includes a landscaped park and a visitor's center, where the story of Rhode Island's founder is told.
Outdoor Recreation
Pack your walking shoes, your skates, and your bikes; Providence is a city best explored under your own power.
Bank of America City Center Skating Rink
2 Kennedy Plaza
401-331-5544
Spend an exhilarating winter morning, afternoon, or evening, gliding on the outdoor ice at the city's centrally located skating rink. Skate rentals are available.
East Bay Bike Path
Looking for a safe, smooth place to cycle? The 14½-mile East Bay Bike Path is a paved trail that follows the course of an abandoned railroad line along the shore of Narragansett Bay, all the way from Providence to Bristol. The Bike Path is accessible from many points, including Haines Memorial State Park (Route 103, East Providence) and Colt State Park (Route 114, Bristol, 401-253-7482).
Water Place Park and River Walk
Memorial Boulevard
The four-acre Water Place Park and River Walk in the heart of downtown Providence is the most visible manifestation of the city's renaissance. Creating the series of Venetian-like canals, bridges, and riverside walkways was no easy task. Railroad tracks were removed, and two rivers were rerouted through the city to create this scenic centerpiece where you can stroll, picnic, watch outdoor theater presentations, and even embark on a gondola ride. Contact La Gondola (401-421-8877,
TRAVEL TIP
Try to time your visit to Providence to coincide with Water Fire (401-272-3111,
Shopping
Whether you're looking for an old-fashioned shopping experience, the latest fashion trends, or a Rhode Island souvenir, there are retail destinations to explore in Providence.
The Arcade
65 Weybosset Street
401-598-1199
Even shopping can be a blast from the past. The Arcade is America's oldest indoor shopping mall, and it's a National Historic Landmark. The 1828 mall now houses three floors of shops, boutiques, and eateries. The Arcade is closed on Sundays.
Only in Rhode Island
297 Thayer Street
401-276-0600
In the midst of Providence's eclectic, shop- and eatery-lined Thayer Street, you'll find this store devoted to products made in America's smallest state. From chowder to candles, from pine soap to pottery, this is the place to nab souvenirs.
Providence Place Mall
1 Providence Place
401-270-1017
Providence also boasts a modern shopping center, which features popular restaurants and more than 170 department stores and specialty shops.
RAINY DAY FUN
An IMAX movie — especially one in 3D — is a larger-than-life experience. Providence Place Mall is home to the Feinstein IMAX Theatre (9 Providence Place, 401-453-4629,
Sports
Going to a game is fun for the whole family, and Providence won't disappoint sports fans.
Pawtucket Red Sox
McCoy Stadium, Ben Monder Way, Pawtucket
401-724-7300
From April through September, head north of Providence to see the PawSox play. McCoy Stadium has been the home of the Pawtucket Red Sox, the International League's AAA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, since 1973. The historic stadium was a 1942 Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. General admission tickets are very affordable (just $6 for adults and $4 for children twelve and under) and can be ordered online or by calling 401-724-7300.
FAST FACT
McCoy Stadium was the setting for the longest professional baseball game ever played, an eight-hour and twenty-five minute duel between the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings. When the game was suspended after 4 a.m., the nineteen fans in the stands who had remained through thirty-two innings received lifetime passes to McCoy Stadium. Two months later, when the game was resumed, the PawSox won in the bottom of the thirty-third.
Providence Bruins
Dunkin' Donuts Center, One LaSalle Square, Providence
401-273-5000
From October through April, catch Providence Bruins minor-league(AHL) hockey action at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
