Providence has an incredible mix of bars, clubs, restaurants, college hangouts, and culture—a great mix for any visiting sports fan.
There are plenty of jape about Rhode Island ’s stature as the smallest United States Department of State in our North — it ’s 48 miles tall and 34 miles wide . But think of that more as an advantage than a deterrent ; within those 1,214 substantial international mile are unbelievable beaches , a deep sense of story dating back to colonial times , a lively city that has a intermixture of college townsfolk vibes , and humble towns that operate with an identity somewhere between New York grittiness and Boston … well whatever Bostonians are . JFK ( the original ) was espouse here , the oldest school in the countryis in the state , and the city we ’re focusing on today — Providence — can boast , among many other thing , havinga line of marinara saucesold in laurels of a mayor who served for 21 years . And he only resign after being line up guilty of racketeering confederacy and send to prison !
There ’s a caboodle to do here , and the real city of Providence has an incredible admixture of bars , clubs , eatery , college hangouts , and polish . It is a metropolis like no other although it has element of Boston , Chicago , Toronto and perhaps Minneapolis ( overhear you by surprise , great bar , great business district , underrated suburbs , fun people ) .
Rhode Island is a fantastically underrated sports state as well — there ’s passion here for basketball beyondRick Pitino ’s mid-80s phantom . Wikipedia will point you in the steering of Lenny Wilkens and Billy Donovan as the famousProvidencealums , but dropa God Shammgod referencein a local spot and get ready for a bear clinch and some “ Big East Golden Age ” reminiscing . Providence has a comparatively small scholar population ( under 5,000 ) buttheir basketball gang gets after it- this is not a fun place to bring as a visiting team .
Photo courtesy of Visit Providence
Who I am : A New Englander , BCalum , “ UR - High ” near - potassium alum , who has been to eight weddings in Newport , and attended an undisclosed number of Disco Infernos atBrown(Providence ’s Ivy League school day ! ) .
Before you go
A banker’s bill on transit : Rhode Island gets a mountain of flak for being small-scale and kind of bury but it ’s really wanton to get around . Work out an travel guidebook and get conversant with train multiplication . Maybe even learn your favorite rideshare app for modal rates to and from office like Newport or East Greenwich . TheAmtrak and MBTA Apps are also necessary downloads before you down .
Need to know : You’re an time of day aside from Boston , 40 proceedings from Newport , and just 22 minute from adorable East Greenwich .
Remember , nestling : Providence is a little over an minute from Boston but the country has a mint of New York fandom to it , so there ’s a surprisingly closer - than - you - thinksplit between Red Sox and Yankees fan . Do n’t expect to walk into Providence bars and like a shot earn bonus points with a Red Sox lid — you might be walk into foe territory .
Photo courtesy of Go Providence
Where to Stay
Two sporty days in Providence, Rhode Island
Day 1
Morning
Mid day
Afternoon
Evening
Day 2
Take this home
If you have three days
All the above, but add..
If you have four days
Photo courtesy of Go Providence
Photo courtesy of Go Providence
Photo courtesy of Visit Providence
Fenway Park|Joseph Sohm/Marcio Jose Bastos Silva/Shutterstock
