Settled along the Seekonk and Providence Rivers in 1636, Providence was one of the original thirteen colonies and a refuge for religious dissenters. In 1901, it became the capital of Rhode Island as well as a cultural and academic hub for the state as home to Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute and the Trinity Repertory Company. Visitors are drawn to the Waterplace Park and Riverwalk as well as the cafes, galleries, and shops along Wickenden Street and the Italian section. History buffs should check out the Governor Henry Lippitt House for a trip back to Victorian times and art enthusiasts have a wide choice of places to visit including the Annmary Brown Memorial and the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. And don't forget to take the kids to the Providence Children's Museum to explore their many hands-on interactive exhibits.
