Prelude30

Providence, RI is just another city. I don’t really find anything special about it. I have been to Providence more times than I can count…and more times than I care to. I went there for various reasons…sometimes for theatre conferences, sometimes to just shop at the insanely huge mall and other times to visit with friends. I have never gone to really enjoy the city and in my opinion, there is not much to enjoy.

However, if you do go…

The Providence Place Mall is a great place to go Christmas shopping because it is packed with so many different shops in one convenient location. There is also an IMAX theatre as well as a Dave & Busters on the top floor. Brown University has a gorgeous campus…you should really swing by and check it out. Waterfront Park can be very romantic on a warm summer night and Federal Hill is a very diverse place to visit.

My favorite places to dine in Providence include the chain restaurants: The Cheesecake Factory and Uno Chicago Grill. While it is a chain, the restaurant Fire & Ice is only found in Providence, Boston, Cambridge and Lake Tahoe…it can be a unique experience for anyone who does not live in or near the above mentioned cities. The Union Station Brewery is another good dining option.

Every time I made yet another trip to Providence, I have always stayed at the Biltmore. If I ever visit this city again, I will only stay at the Biltmore. It is very clean, the staff is wonderful, the rooms are spacious and it is very elegant. It has a fitness center as well as a very fancy and cozy Starbucks full of books, games and couches on the lower level. The Biltmore is also home to many events…please know that your stay may be scheduled during the same time a convention or business meeting is being held.

Definitely make time to visit the Astors Beechwood Mansion! I have been to Newport twice and this was on my list of things to do and see both times! It is a living history museum and your tour guide is a historian/actor playing the part of someone who long ago lived or visited there. These guides are very good and able to answer any questions you may have about the history of the house or Newport and the historic figures who come to life around you.

I always have fun passing over the Claiborne Pell bridge. It one of the largest suspension bridges in the world! (I wouldn’t even talk about something like a bridge unless it was definitely worth seeing!) The best place for shopping, in my opinion, would be the Long Wharf Mall! It has a great variety of shops and has a cozy feel to it. The Red Parrot is a wonderful place to eat, though expect at least an hour and a half wait for a table. There are also a ton of amazing ice cream shops and beautiful parks where you can just sit and relax.

The Salem Witch Museum is a great place to take your kids. It is a good educational yet entertaining experience. Dracula’s Castle is equally a good family event. Other tourist attractions include East India Square, Pickering Wharf, the Salem Marketplace and an abundance of museums!

The House of Seven Gables, Chestnut Street and Burying Point are really the only things I honestly enjoyed in Salem, Massachusetts. Don’t get me wrong, Salem is a great vacation and very family oriented. However, it is a little too “touristy” for my own personal taste.