Search Sun Country Vacation Packages to Providence

 

Providence packs all the amenities and arts of a large city into a compact and culturally rich small city. In addition, the coastal gem of Newport is less than an hour’s drive away, making the Providence area a perfect vacation choice.

WHY GO TO PROVIDENCE

Providence embraces its water-centric locale from an award-winning art installation on the Providence River to the surrounding Narragansett Bay that supplies the area with abundant seafood and sea-borne activities. And with more restaurants per capita than most U.S. cities, it’s easy to recharge for another day of sightseeing and touring. Another splendid reason to fly into Providence is to visit the town of Newport, tour its Gilded Age mansions, and walk the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk with is panoramic ocean views on one side and stunning homes on the other.

WHAT TO DO

WaterFire

Located in the heart of downtown and on a river that flows through the city, this light and fire installation runs over a half mile along the surface of the water. Along with bonfires just above the surface, there are musicians and performers. The event is free and happens twice a month on Saturday evenings.

Newport

Just 34 miles south of downtown Providence, lies the resort town of Newport, home to the summer homes built in the late 1800s/early 1900s for the incredibly rich and famous, including the Vanderbilts. Many of the “cottages” are now open for tours including Marble House, made up of 500,000 cubic feet of marble; Rosecliff, where many movies have been shot; and The Breakers, a National Historic Landmark and the most magnificent of Newport’s summer residences at a mere 70 rooms. Newport has numerous other grand and Victorian homes to tour and see and a downtown area and waterfront oozing with charm, history, as well as boutiques, restaurants, and bars.

Music

Two of the most important U.S. music festivals happen in Newport — the Newport Folk Festival, usually the last weekend in July and the Newport Jazz Festival, usually the first weekend in August.

Shopping

Trendy shops can be found on Providence’s East Side, Providence Place is a huge shopping and entertainment shopping mall, and Arcade Providence has long been a shopping draw. And as Providence has a long history, there are numerous vintage and antique shops around town. Newport overflows with unique boutiques, artist galleries, and fashionable clothing shops.