Destination
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island seamlessly blends the urban sophistication of a big city with the graceful charm of a small town. Sightseers leisurely glide in gondolas on the Providence River, past gleaming office buildings. Cobblestone streets lead to some of the finest restaurants in the country. This unique mix once made Providence the star of its own self-titled television show and continues to entice thousands of visitors annually.
- Demographics: The population of Providence is 176,365, with the total population of Rhode Island at 1,076,164. Rhode Island measures about 35 miles wide by 47 miles tall, which is about the size of metropolitan Chicago. Centrally located along the Eastern Seaboard, Rhode Island is the only state completely surrounded by other New England states.
- Attractions: With a thriving arts district, a commitment to historical preservation, and a sophisticated nightlife, Providence offers a variety of entertainment options. The Bank of America Skating Center, located in the heart of the city, offers winter fun for the whole family. Tony award-winning Trinity Repertory Company draws throngs of theatergoers into the city. Children will delight in the sights and spectacles at the Roger Williams Park Zoo and the Providence Children's Museum.
One of Providence's most popular cultural events is WaterFire, a multi-sensory art installation, highlighted by a series of bonfiresinstalled on the three rivers of downtown Providence. The 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 across the world all engage the senses and emotions of those who stroll the paths and bridges of Waterplace Park. Held mostly in the warm weather months, WaterFire has drawn tens of thousands of people in a single evening.
- Dining:Providence is one of the hottest culinary spots in the country. Home to the world's largest culinary educator, Johnson & Wales University, many students stay in the city after graduation. Providence has more degreed chefs per capita than any other city in the US. From authentic ethnic foods to seafood fresh from Narragansett Bay, the city offers a dazzling array of restaurants that will delight even the most discerning palate.
- Shopping: Connected to the Rhode Island Convention Center and The Westin Providence, Providence Place offers visitors a mall with more than 170 shopping, dining and entertainment options. Funky urban chic can be found at one of the many boutiques on Thayer and Wickenden streets, both on the city's tony East Side. For those seeking one-of-a-kind items, risd/works is an innovative hybrid of retail store, gallery and design showroom featuring works from Rhode Island School of Design alumni and faculty.
- What They're Saying:
- “Top Ten Up and Coming Travel Destinations in the World” – Wall Street Journal
- “One of the Top Ten Little Italys in America.” – Mario Batali in USA Today about
- “Mecca for Tourism and the Arts” – New York Times
- "Divine . . . hosts an abundance of terrific places to eat.” – Bon Appetit
- “The eclectic mix of old and new architecture had made Providence an ideal location to shoot television shows and movies.” – OK Magazine
- “Providence has definitely gotten better with age.” – Travel + Leisure
- “Major metropolitan areas like New York and San Francisco no longer have a monopoly on innovative chefs, food artisans, mixologists and other talents. Now these men and women are as likely to turn up in smaller cities like Providence.” – Food and Wine
Providence's Federal Hill
Weather:
Rhode Island's average temperature for the entire year is near 50 degrees, with April through June and September through mid-November the most delightfully moderate seasons. January and February are the coldest months, with a mean temperature near 29 degrees, and July and August the warmest, with a mean close to 72 degrees.