Tourist attractions in Providence include museums and galleries, outdoor activities, children's activities, and day trips.
A tourist visiting Providence has several attractions available for them to enjoy from historical locations to modern day golf courses. These attractions range in interest suitable for just about anyone and include activities from sightseeing, visiting museums and galleries, taking part in outdoor activities, specially planned children's activities, and even a few day trips. Certainly, Providence has something to offer for anyone who is interested in visiting this area.
If sightseeing is on the list of things to do, visitors are offered the opportunity to see the real Providence from the past to the present. A trip to Blithewold Mansion, a 20th- century mansion located on 33 acres of beautiful gardens and trails carries the tourist into the past with its own history. Another attraction to visit is the Providence-Newport Water Ferry. Taking a trip on this ferry affords the tourist the opportunity to see coastal communities from a vantage point not offered on a land tour. Another beautiful destination to visit is Waterplace Park and Riverwalk. This is a 4-acre park, complete with cobblestones and brick riverwalks, located a short distance from the downtown area hotels and restaurants. Providence City Hall, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places is one more place to consider when visiting Providence, especially if the visitor is interested in the history of the area. Other tourist attractions and sightseeing opportunities in the Providence area are Brown University, Cliff Walk, Roger Williams Park Zoo, Prospect Park, Culinary Archives and Museum at Johnson and Wales University, or the First Unitarian Church.
If a tourist is interested in museums and galleries, Providence offers these also. The Rhode Island School of Design Museum, (RISD) is a museum that displays exhibits relating to the history of art from antiquity to the present day utilizing more than 85,000 pieces. Providence's silver and jewelry manufacturing history is also on display at this museum. The Providence Children's Museum is an excellent stop for the tourist with children. This museum is all about hands-on experiences creating a unique learning experience for all children. Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum is another stop for tourists visiting Providence. This Victorian mansion is a National Historic Landmark and is often used to host wedding receptions and other celebrations that require beautiful and grand surroundings. John Brown House Museum is a mansion that has retained some of its original furniture as well as original decorations, allowing the tourist to step back in time. Providence Athenaeum, one of America's oldest subscription libraries, is said to be the place where Edgar Allen Poe courted Sarah Whitman and should be on anyone's list of things to see while visiting Providence.
Providence has many enjoyable outdoor activities, especially in the summer. One such activity is skating at Fleet Skating Center, an ice skating rink in the winter and a roller blade rink in the summer. Golf is another popular outdoor activity in Providence. Triggs Memorial Golf Course, a three star rated course with Golf Digest, can accommodate the visiting golfer. One last outdoor activity available in Providence is a visit to Carnegie Abbey on Narragansett Bay. This is a country club as well as a golf course.
Providence is a location to be considered for the tourist who enjoys a slower paced, sightseeing trip, with a little golf tossed in, along with a great deal of history.
