Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is New England's second-largest city and offers a unique blend of Old World charm and modern sophistication. One of the most unique areas - and the focal point of the city - is Waterplace Park, an urban oasis in the heart of downtown and within distance of the convention center, hotels, an outdoor ice rink, and Providence Place, an upscale shopping center. Within the park are a series of footbridges, walkways, and green spaces that run along both sides of the Providence River. Also in the park are the iconic Venetian-styled gondolas, where you can glide along the river, accompanied by a gondolier. Another enjoyable way to spend part of a day is at the Museum of Art, a multilevel complex housing a massive collection of antiquities, Asian art, painting and sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, contemporary art, textiles, and decorative arts. If you'd like to peruse art you can take home, head to the Fox Point district, namely Wickenden Street, which is full of antiques stores, galleries, and trendy cafés. For history lovers the city has much to offer, and one of the best historic sites is Slater Mill, located just five miles north. Slater Mill is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and where, today, you can take part in the lives of the New England villagers, inventors, artisans, and entrepreneurs who started it all with the first textile mill. Nearby is Slater Memorial Park, stretching along Ten Mile River and offering picnic tables, a river walk, and more historic sites. If your itinerary allows, make sure to make an excursion to Newport, 30 miles south and home to some of the largest and most elegant single family homes - or "cottages" as they were called back in the late 1800s - in the country. Most famous is The Breakers, the largest Newport mansion and built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895. Another fabulous "cottage" is the 115-room Rough Point, the legendary estate of Doris Duke who was a knowledgeable collector of art and antiques and once rivaled Queen Elizabeth for the title of the world's richest woman. Both homes, along with many others, are open for tours. Package Includes:- Choice of accommodations
- Hotel taxes
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