Providence, RI Summary

photo by gusto

Rich in culinary tradition, Providence claims to have the most restaurants per capita in the country. It is home to the Johnson and Wales University Culinary Institute, whose student chefs make this one of the best places to eat in America. You can sample almost any type of cuisine here, but one of the regional specialties is a johnnycake. Try one, and you’ll know why these cornbread pancakes are so popular. You could say that history is another specialty of Providence. College Hill, the first permanent colonial settlement in Rhode Island, is home to an extensive collection of historic architecture. It is also one of only 26 National Historic Districts. Providence is proud of its history and it shows in how well such historic sites are preserved. If you visit College Hill, be sure to stop by Brown University. It is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the third-oldest in New England. Brown University is an Ivy League school and was the first college in the nation to accept students of all religious affiliations.

Water Place Park and Riverwalk is four-acre layout of cobblestone walkways, footbridges, and an amphitheater (surrounding a tidal pond). The Riverwalk features the intersection of three rivers – the Woonasquatucket, Providence, and Moshassuck. The Federal Hill and “Little Italy” areas feature rich histories of their own, but sipping an espresso, having a bite of pizza, or dining at an upscale Italian restaurant is a reminder that the best of the past is still alive in this neighborhood.