A trip to Providence Rhode Island is sure to be an enjoyable adventure for children and adults alike. Here's some tips on where to visit.
The Renaissance City, also known as Providence, Rhode Island, is host to many activities for children and adults alike. Our focus today is the kids and the makings for them to have an enjoyable visit to the Capitol City of Rhode Island.
If your trip to Providence is during the warmer New England months, be sure to visit the Roger Williams Park and Zoo. Located just south of the city at exit 15 off of I-95, this Victorian, 430 acre park contains a Carousel Village, outdoor gardens, walkways and waterways. You can sit and feed the ducks at one of the local ponds or visit the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium. Don't forget about the zoo itself as it is home to hundreds of animals from all around the world, all in their natural surroundings. The polar bears and penguins are a local favorite, so be sure to bring your camera for an afternoon of family fun.
If your adventures are limited to the central part of the city, fear not. There are still many places to visit and things to do. The Providence Children's Museum is Rhode Island's only hands-on museum for children and their families. Learn how much fun learning can be by exploring the effects of water as well as learning what goes on below the bustling city streets of Providence. Parts of Providence are actually constructed over water on not on actual ground. See the creation of this fascinating construction at the Providence Children's Museum.
The hot, summer months of New England bring with it Waterfire Providence. Scheduled weekend exhibits of this spectacle are a must see for all who visit the city. From dusk until midnight, the city's riverfront is lit up with flames floating in the river. Volunteers float softly in front of the fires tending to their needs each night of the festivities. Thousands gather to watch, lining the riverfront with their families and friends.
The Providence Athenaeum is the oldest library and cultural center in the Rhode Island's capitol city, and one of the oldest in the country. It's a treasure to be used by all, and is definitely worth the short walk from downtown Providence to it's location at the corner of College and Benefit Streets.
Another stop on your excursion might want to be the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. More than 85,000 works of art are present here in every form of media and culture possible. A constant flow of special exhibitions and family oriented activities bring their collections to life. The RISD Museum is widely acknowledged as one of the best museums in the nation of its size. Many a famous artisan calls the Rhode Island School of Design their Alma Mater and the museum pays tribute to many of them.
A trip to the mall is one of the favorite pastimes of American families, so why not take advantage of one of New England's largest while you're here. The Providence Place Mall is located in the center of the city and includes many of this country's most popular department stores, specialty shops and restaurants inside its three floors and outside street level. The mall is connected via concourse to the Westin Hotel, so if you're staying at this four star hotel, you don't even have to go outside to access the mall.
You can't leave Providence without a walk up the historic Federal Hill. The cobblestone streets are a symbol of the city's Italian ancestry, lined with some of the most famous Italian restaurants and café's in the United States. Get yourself an Iced Cappuccino and a chocolate chip Cannoli for the kids and take a walk, enjoying the aromas of fresh baked breads and marinara sauce on your way out of Providence, RI.
