college visits-Brown & Harvard
 

My 17yo son and I fly into Boston Wednesday, 6/27/07. We will visit Harvard on Thursday and want to travel to Providence, RI on Friday. Can anyone help with transportation plans. We planned on not driving while in Boston but would be able to rent a car if necessary to travel to Providence.

You can get to Providence from Boston by bus or train. Both leave from South Station. They will put you right in downtown Providence, convenient to Brown.

Both Harvard Square and downtown Providence are very walkable areas, so if you are not inclined to drive - don't! :)

You can take Amtrak and even the local commuter rail from Boston to Providence. Providence station is not far from Brown (a short cab ride uphill).

For the T subway in Boston and the commuter rail, check out mbta.com. Harvard is on the Red line, which also will take you right into South Station, where the trains to Providence leave from. South Station also includes a bus station, which is another option; check out Bonanza bus lines for more info.

By car, it's about 1 1/2 hours to Providence; plan on a little longer by train.

Good luck - in all respects!

brown's campus is great. (it's my fantasy school, in another world, i would have gone.)
have a frozen lemonade!

Mmm, Del's frozen lemonade - summer in RI! :D

We have done Boston twice without a car, using the t system. The last time we did it with a 6 month and 3 year old granddaughters and strollers. I just looked at the maps online at mbta.com and found the stations nearest to places we visited. We even walked a lot of the places, also took the duck tour and attended the MIT graduation of our son.

Be aware that walking on cobblestones sidewalks near Charles River can be slippery during wet weather.

It was a pretty easy city to get around in without a car. Cabs were easily accessible on most corners as well.

- Granny Joan

Thanks for the info. You have been very helpful. We're looking forward to a great trip.