Robert & Jeff
Things To Do around town
Walking tours (Self guided)
Robert will have self-guided walking tours of Providence Downtown, the East Side (Brown University, historical streets and building), the Jewelry district (Historical area that used to be one of the largest jewelry manufacturing site in the country) and the West Side (Federal Hill-Italian section). These come with maps, photos, descriptions and routes to follow. An easy self guided way to discover the city and its top neighborhoods.
RISD Museum - Free on Sundays
Great museum that has paintings, sculptures, archeology, early American furniture, modern art, textiles, etc. Just about 4 blocks from the Waterplace complex. Open from 10am-5pm. The RISD Museum (20th largest art museum in the USA) has a collection of about 100,000 objects contains a broad range of works from around the world, including ancient Egypt, Asia, Africa, ancient Greece and Rome, Europe, and the Americas. Among the prominent international and American artists represented are Picasso, Monet, Manet, Paul Revere, Chanel, Andy Warhol, and Kara Walker. The collection also features notable works by Rhode Island artists and designers, including 18th-century Newport furniture makers Goddard and Townsend and 19th-century Rhode Island painters such as Anglo-American impressionist John Noble Barlow and portraitist Gilbert Stuart.
Providence Flea - Sunday only
Free. About 15 min walk from the Waterplace. It has fun stuff made by local artists and flea market stuff. Sunday from 11a-4pm It is a vintage and artisan/maker market that was launched in June 2013. It is held outdoors in the summer and fall every Sunday, and indoors in Winter and Spring on limited dates. The Flea has hosted over 500 hundred local vintage vendors and some of the area's most creative artists, artisans and makers, plus community non-profits, food trucks and carts, and live musicians--activating a tiny parcel of unused 195 District Commission land.
Rhode Island State House Tour - Weekdays only
A guided tour takes place on the hour from 9am-3pm weekdays. Free. It takes about 45 min and a docent explains the history behind this beautiful marble structure and many of its rooms and contents.
Providence River Boat Company
One hour boat tour of the city with Major Tom providing information on history, culture and interesting facts about the city (About $25 pp)
The John Brown House Museum
The premier 18th-century historic house and museum in the state, presenting important aspects of the social and cultural history of the period when our country was new. The Museum is maintained by the Rhode Island Historical Society. Guided Tours may be at 10:30, 12:00, 1:30, & 3:00 pm on Saturdays but are subject to volunteer availability. Audio and Self Guided Tours are available from 10:00 until 3:15 PM. Last admission into the museum is at 3:30 pm. Free parking lot located off of Charlesfield Street. About $10 pp.
Stephen Hopkins Court
Take a tour of the 1707 home of Declaration-signer Stephen Hopkins, his family and their slaves, eight rooms full of antiques, Hopkins heirlooms and 18th century atmosphere. Learn about Rhode Island's own Founding Father and his house, the city's oldest, moved twice but virtually unmodernized, where George Washington was a guest in 1776 & 1781. Relax in our parterre garden designed by Alden Hopkins of Williamsburg. We're on Benefit Street between the John Brown House and First Baptist Church, a block from the RISD Museum, the Providence Athenaeum, the Brown campus and spectacular WaterFire. Open all year, Wednesdays 11AM to 2PM Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM
The Arcade Providence
The oldest indoor shopping arcade in the USA. Small and cozy, it has a few restaurants, a few shops, but it is in the middle of our DownCity, so it is easy to stop by if you are visiting the downtown area.
Experience Rhode Island Tours
The 1.5 hour Discover Providence tour takes you thru the major highlights around downtown, the East side, Federal Hill and the West side. The shuttle van has a capacity of about 20 people, so it's an intimate tour. About $30 pp.
Providence Ghost Tour
Enjoy the spooky side of history and join us for an evening like no other! Allow our guides to lead you by lantern light as we introduce you to Providence’s longest-lingering residents. About $20pp.
Roger Williams Park Zoo
Roger Williams park is about 15 min drive south of downtown. It has a zoo, planetarium, botanical garden, lake with pedal boats, trails to walk around. Beautiful green area just south of the city.
The Breakers
The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) established the family fortune in steamships and later in the New York Central Railroad, which was a pivotal development in the industrial growth of the nation during the late 19th century. About $20 pp.
Cliff Walk
Free. The Newport Cliff Walk is, along with the Newport mansions, among the most popular Newport RI attractions. Once you begin walking the path you'll understand why. This National Recreation Trail, designated as such in 1975, runs for 3.5 miles along some of the most beautiful coastline in all of New England. Much of it goes through the property on which many of the Newport mansions are situated.
Some of Our Favorite Restaurants in the area
Seafood: Hemmenway's, Los Andes Latin American: Los Andes (Peruvian), La Casona (Colombian), Delicias de mi Tierra (Empanadas), Rancho Grande (Mexican), Mi Guatemala, Tallulah's Taqueria. Italian: Anthony's Authentic on Federal Hill, Siena, Angelo's, Rosalina, Capriccio, Pane E Vino, Venda Ravioli, Massimo, Camille's, Al Forno, Old Canteen, Andino's. Asian: Four Seasons on Reservoir Ave (Pan-Asian), Sticky Rice (Laotian), Bee's Thai, Sawaddee Thai, Den Den Korean, Pho Horn's Vietnamese. Sandwiches: UMelt, Sydney, Ocean State Sandwich, Ellie's. Pub fare: Union Station Brewery, Murphy's, Trinity Brewhouse. Upscale Casual: Centro, The Vig, Circe.