We Were There: Experience Rhode Island's Explore Providence Tour

After attending school and living in Providence for the past three years, I had the opportunity to go on an Experience Rhode Island tour of our beautiful capital city. My very knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guide Jon Stricklin explained to me that he sometimes prefers giving tours to locals rather then visitors, since so many Rhode Islanders don’t realize how much history our state has to offer. Here’s my photographic account of my experience along the tour:

Our tour departed from Visitor’s Information center at the RI Convention Center located downtown. Jon began our tour with some interesting facts about the size of our state. Obviously, I knew Rhode Island was the smallest state in the country, but I didn’t know that King Ranch located in south Texas is about 1,800 square miles larger than our beloved Ocean State and Rhode Island is only about half the size of Delaware.

The tour continued on to Farm Hill or, to us 21st century folk, Federal Hill and proceeded through downtown.

We drove past the steps of City Hall where a pre-presidential John F. Kennedy once stood and gave a speech to the people of Providence – hence Kennedy Plaza.

We went down Westminster Street past Johnson and Wales University and found ourselves in India Point Park, once a crucial spot for maritime trade.

Our tour continued to Wayland Square, where we had the chance to stop at one of the most popular new cafes in Providence, Teas and Javas. I recommend the mixed berry gelato – delicious!  

After our break we continued to Blackstone Boulevard and learned about the five Brown Brothers – who surprisingly didn’t start Brown University. Originally located in Warren, and called the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Brown University moved to its current spot on College Hill in 1770 and was renamed in 1804 after Nicholas Brown, one of the five Brown brothers, who donated a large sum of money.

We proceeded down Thayer Street and past Prospect Park to find our state’s founder, Roger Williams, overlooking his beloved city.

We ended our tour passing the grand State House, fashioned after the nation’s capitol. I couldn’t believe two hours had flown by.

After taking this tour, I think even locals would be surprised with all of the history our beautiful city has to offer. If you have the chance take any of the four Experience Rhode Island tours, you won’t regret it. In the words of Roger Williams, “The greatest crime in the world is not developing your potential." Whether you’re visiting Providence for a night or have lived in this beautiful city your whole life, experience the potential Providence has to offer and take a tour to learn more about the “biggest smallest state” in the country.