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Seek and You Shall Find in Providence, Rhode Island

31st August 2018
Providence Rhode Island
Waterfire Providence Rhode Island
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With direct flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon, the vibrant city of Providence has never been more accessible and makes a great destination for a special weekend break. The city has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past 50 years and has a thriving arts community, diverse neighbourhoods, fantastic hotels, a renowned restaurant scene and countless things to do.

Getting Around

As one of America’s oldest cities, Providence’s winding streets resonate with colonial-era charm. Most of the restaurants, nightlife, attractions and shopping are within easy walking distance in the downtown area. Three rivers run through the city and the picturesque walkways of Riverwalk and Waterplace Park make it a great city to stroll around.

Looking to kick back? Why not take in the city by gondola! La Gondola provides laid-back tours of the city’s crisscrossing waterways in authentic Venetian gondolas.

Food & Drink

Providence has a thriving, multi-ethnic culinary scene and routinely features as one of the best US cities for food in Travel + Leisure and Zagat. There’s a great array of restaurants, ranging from exquisite fine-dining to wholesome and affordable diners.

Providence is also famous for its amazing food trucks, many of which have featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show. Located throughout the city, these mobile gastronomic marvels serve everything from high-quality BBQ, to Korean cuisine, to amazing New England lobster rolls.

The city also has a thriving craft beer scene and a great way to sample the local libations is with the Rhode Island Brew Bus. This unique and fun tour takes you to some of the city’s finest breweries, distilleries and tasting rooms.

Culture

Known as the America’s ‘Creative Capital’, Providence is a hotbed of culture, innovation and design. There’s an incredible range of world-class museums, art galleries and cultural institutions, such as the ArtProv gallery (contemporary art), the Annmary Brown Memorial gallery (masterpieces from 17th to 19th century America and Europe) and the Providence Athenæum (library and cultural centre).

Once a manufacturing centre, Providence also has a palpable culture of design excellence, which visitors can explore at the exhibitions of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum.

Providence is also a national centre of educational excellence and is home to the Ivy League, Brown University. Visitors can take an urbane stroll through the atmospheric streets of the campus.

Taking place at various times throughout the summer months, WaterFire is an environmental art installation that consists of about 100 bonfires, which blaze just above the surface of the three rivers that pass through the middle of downtown Providence. With a heady atmosphere, the magic of fire, the scent of fragrant wood smoke and classic music meld together at this truly unique experience.

Shopping

If shopping’s your bag, Providence provides a great range of opportunities, with stately department stores, funky chic boutiques, quirky markets and awesome malls. Located right in the heart of the city, the Providence Place Mall has over 170 stores.

If you’re looking for unbeatable value on designer label goods, check out the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets. It’s located just 30 minutes from downtown Providence with regular shuttle buses running from the downtown area.

Getting There

With direct flights from Dublin, Cork and Shannon to TF Green Airport with Norwegian Airlines, it’s never been easier to get to Providence. Fares start from €129 (one way) and the flight time is approx. 7hrs.

For more information, contact:

Tony Lane,

Woodstock Communications,

tony@woodstockcommunications.ie

+353 85 786 0005

PROVIDENCE FACTS

  • Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian, outcast, rebel and creative thinker, who was exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He named the area in honour of ‘God’s merciful Providence’, which he believed was responsible for revealing such a haven for him and his followers to settle.
  • The city is situated at the scenic mouth of the Providence River at the head of Narragansett Bay.
  • Providence is one of the United States’ oldest cities.
  • With over a million people in the metropolitan area, Providence is the third most populous city in New England.
  • The Flight time is approx. 7hrs from Dublin, Cork and Shannon.
  • Only 5hrs time difference with Ireland (GMT-4)