Providence, Rhode Island With Kids

Providence, the capital city of my home state of Rhode Island, has recent gone through a huge revitalization which even included rerouting the Providence River in the 90s. Now, Providence holds it own among the large cities of the Northeast, and is a wonderful place for families to visit. It offers kid-friendly activities and restaurants and a manageable, small city size that's great for children. Providence is a short drive from many New England cities and is extremely convenient.

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Westin Providence
The Providence Westin is my favorite hotel in the city, thanks to the super-comfortable beds and convenient location. The Providence Place Mall, with a regular and Imax movie theater, is right next door and connected with a covered walkway. Rooms are a nice size - great for families.
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FiRE + iCE
FiRe + iCE, a small New England area chain, is a great place to go with the kids. Kids under 2 eat free, and children just love picking out their own food and watching it get cooked on the large round grill. All meals are served with rice and/or tortillas, so kids can really make their own masterpiece.
At 14,000 square feet, this skating center is twice as large as the rink at Rockefeller Plaza in NYC.
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Roger Williams Park Zoo
The Roger Williams Park Zoo is one of the best zoos in New England, and is only a short drive from downtown Providence. It's 40 acres, and a standard visit will take you about a half day. Bring your own lunch, or buy at the concession stand!
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Bank of America City Center
Visiting in the winter? The Bank of America Skating Center on Kennedy Plaza is a great option for families. At 14,000 square feet, this skating center is twice as large as the rink at Rockefeller Plaza in NYC. If you aren't bringing your skates with you, you can rent right at the rink!
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Providence Children's Museum
If you are traveling with kids, the Providence Childrens Museum is great choice all-year long. The museum, the only hands-on museum for kids in the state, offers regular exhibits as well as special showings. Admission is only $8.50 per person, a great deal!
The museum, the only hands-on museum for kids in the state, offers regular exhibits as well as special showings.
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WaterFire
In the summer, you cant miss Waterfire, a sculpture and bonfire show right on the river in the middle of the city. It takes place many weekends in the summer months, and is extraordinarily popular. It's asked that you make a donation of $5 per person, and parking is extremely limited, so walk if possible. More
In the summer, you cant miss Waterfire, a sculpture and bonfire show right on the river in the middle of the city. It takes place many weekends in the summer months, and is extraordinarily popular. It's asked that you make a donation of $5 per person, and parking is extremely limited, so walk if possible.
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About the Author

Jodi Grundig
Jodi Grundig
Member of the 2009 Walt Disney World Moms Panel! I'm a former corporate employee turned part-time stay at home mom. I have a young boy and a girl, and I still try to make some time for myself. Trying to do everything takes a lot of effort, and I don't always succeed, but I have fun trying!
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