What to do in Providence.
 

We will be visiting our son in New Haven next month and thought we would take a side trip to Providence. We have heard so many nice things about Providence but wondered if anyone has suggestions on what to see, places to eat, etc. Thanks!

Providence in April can be dicey weather-wise (bring an umbrella). From New Haven, it will be about a 2 hour drive. There are not a lot of things to do (maybe a trip to Newport - another half hour - would be better?). In Providence, you should go to the RISD museum, walk around Brown Univ. and the college hill area. Also, Federal Hill has some great Italian restaurants.

Baylie- <BR> I guess we should assume you have already visited Newport, RI? If not I suggest that over Providence. Providence is a nice small city to live in, but I can never quite picture it as a tourist destination in itself.

I forgot to give specific restaurants (sorry). In Providence, Al Forno and Empire are the best. For less formal, nothing beats Wes's Rib House (perhaps the BEST barbecue in the northeast).

check out the Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. http://www.rimonthly.com/ <BR>Providence is a great city. Providence Place for the best shops, restaurants, movies. Trinity for best plays. All of Providence for restaurants. This months R. I. Monthly has restaurant where you can bring your own booze. Love this place. RISD's museum great. Roger Williams Zoo is one of the best in the country. Have fun

RI is about the size of a large city, so don't limit yourself to Providence (although Federal Hill and RISD are "must sees"). Newport is great (White Horse Tavern is superb). On the way from Newport to Prov. you can stop in Wickford and East Greenwhich (The Post Office and Tiggers Diner (gourmet diner)are great places to eat in EG). Also, there is a beautiful botanical garden/mansion near Bristol (on the water) that is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Bristol also has a good restaurant to stop at--I think it's called Redolfson's or something like that. Consult RI Monthly for lodging and restaurant names--It will give you all the info you need.

not really sure what interests you, but Providence has a lot to offer...Brown University, RISD, historic monuments and parks, the country's very first enclosed shopping arcade, Waterplace Park, and Federal Hill: an Italian mecca of restaurants and gourmet foods. <BR>Viola's, Mediterraneo, Angelo's, L'Epicureo....all "on the hill" and excellent. <BR> <BR>of course, if your tastes are a bit different from the above.......Foxwoods Casino is about 1 hour from New Haven ( traveling north toward Prov., on the CT./RI border ) and is supposed to be a city within itself...although i have never been. <BR> <BR>hope that this helps