Providence

The history of Rhode Island's state capital and its most populous city dates back to 1636 when it was established by Roger Williams. Providence may have been forgotten as nothing more than the relic of an industrial past, were it not for a visionary endeavor to revitalize the city spearheaded by Providence's two-time Mayor, Buddy Cianci. Today, the streetscapes are a seamless blend of architecture spanning the city's 300-year history and modern-day attractions. Brown University's historic campus sits atop College Hill, while the scenic Riverwalk hugs the sinuous banks of the Blackstone River. Award-winning restaurants, sprawling open spaces and plentiful public art tie together attractions like the Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, the Roger Williams Park Zoo, and the state's only Museum of Natural History, alongside Governor Henry Lippitt House Museum, the First Baptist Church in America and other historic sites. For shopping head to Providence Place or browse the vintage boutiques that throng downtown, while the Providence Performing Arts Center is your best bet for quality live entertainment. Kept on its toes by a youthful populace of college students, there's always a new restaurant to sample or a premier to catch in Providence, Rhode Island's "Culture Capital."