• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • TravelingDad

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE USA
    • ROAD TRIP PLANNER
    • ILLINOIS ROAD TRIPS
    • TEXAS ROAD TRIPS
    • GEORGIA ROAD TRIPS
    • CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS
    • NORTHEAST ROAD TRIPS
    • MIDWEST ROAD TRIPS
  • Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
    • US Cities
      • New York City
      • Chicago
      • Los Angeles
      • Orlando
      • San Diego
      • San Francisco
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Outdoors
    • Skiing
    • National Parks
    • RV/Camping
    • Beaches
  • Travel Resources
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Free Things to Do
    • Packing
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Ticket
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Grandparents
    • Cruising
    • TravelingDad
  • Search
  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • Road Trips Across the USA
    • Road Trip Planner
    • Illinois Road Trips
    • Texas Road Trips
    • Georgia Road Trips
    • California Road Trips
    • Northeast Road Trips
    • Midwest Road Trips
  • US National Parks
  • RV and Camping
  • Beaches
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Cruises
  • Skiing
  • Free Things to Do
  • Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
  • Traveling Grandparents
  • TravelingDad
  • US Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
  • US Cities
    • NYC
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Orlando
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • International
  • Travel Resources
    • Book A Trip
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Packing
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Family Vacation Ideas / Family Vacation Ideas in the Northeast US States / Five FREE Things to Do in Providence, RI

Five FREE Things to Do in Providence, RI

March 23, 2009 //  by Judy Antell//  2 Comments

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Providence may seem like a sleepy city compared to its much larger nearby urban neighbor, Boston. But the city, just under an hour from Boston, has its own unique attractions, including the annual WaterFire extravaganza.

downtown Providence
Downtown Providence. Credit: Brown University
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.
TravelingMom is hosting an exciting giveaway for a Skylight digital photo frame ($159 value)! ENTER HERE

Providence, Rhode Island, is a small, walkable city, so you don’t have to spend any money on public transportation or parking in the city; you can leave your car at your hotel and walk to most family-friendly activities around the city. Here are five free things to do in Providence on your next family vacation.

1. Picnic at Roger Williams Park. Open year round at 1000 Elmwood Ave, the park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes a handicapped-accessible playground, specimen trees and outdoor public sculpture. The 472 acre park also is home to a zoo, the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, and the Botanical Center, all of which charge admission.

free in Providence

2.  Providence Children’s Museum. Free from 5 to 8pm on MetLife Family Friday. The museum is best for kids, ages 5 – 11. Open the third Friday of the month from September – May, then every Friday night during June, July and August.

3. RISD Museum. Free on the last Saturday of the month. A variety of hands-on workshops, performances, videos and special gallery quests throughout the day. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

4. Waterfire.  This annual extravaganza erupts every spring through early fall in downtown Providence. You can stroll around the city’s multi-sensory art installation, highlighted by a series of bonfires installed on the three rivers of downtown Providence. There is also live music accompanying the fires.

5. Gallery Night. The third Thursday of the month from March through November at galleries around town. A free bus loops throughout the city and stops at participating galleries, art shops and museums.

Have you been to Providence? What was your favorite free thing to do there?

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: Family Vacation Ideas in the Northeast US States, Free in Rhode Island

You May Also Like

  • Enjoy a unique family adventure at the Rose Island Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island.
    Be a Lighthouse Keeper for a Night in Newport, Rhode Island
  • How to Choose the Best Hawaiian Island for Your Family Vacation
  • Unique Hawaii Island Adventure Tours
  • Starfish Point is a fun place on Grand Cayman, one of the great Caribbean Islands.
    After the Hurricanes - Which Caribbean Island Is Best for Your Family?
  • Hugging the Narragansett Bay, the paved 14-mile long East Bay Bike Path is a perfect way to get outside, be active and have free fun in Rhode Island.
    Bike Through Scenic Rhode Island on the East Bay Bike Path
  • Enrich Your Big Island Vacation with Hawaiian Culture
Previous Post: « 11 FREE Things to Do in Sonoma Wine Country
Next Post: Free in Virginia: 10 Family Friendly Things in the Historic Triangle »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2 Comments on “Five FREE Things to Do in Providence, RI”

  1. Tamara Morgan says:
    June 22, 2012 at 7:01 am

    I don’t think that your suggestions are geared toward actual TEENS but toward PRE-teens.
    Two activities are (clearly stated) for ages 5-11 and the other 5-12 (suggested ages as the activity is FREE for that age group only).

    I certainly can’t see my teen son ‘playing’ on a “playground” or surfing the payroom activities at the Children’s Museum; activities that he enjoyed there as a 4 y/o!
    Waterfire, maybe but Gallery night? Most ‘teens’ are not contemplative enough to enjoy going with a bunch of adults to look at traditional artwork (as most of it is). That leaves Waterfire (as aforementioned) and RISD-(acceptable to a handful of teens as many of the exhibits can be somewhat ‘cutting edge’).

    Reply
    1. Judy Antell, Vegetarian TravelingMom says:
      April 29, 2016 at 3:06 pm

      Correct – some of for teens, (mine love First Night and Waterfire) some for younger.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Manage Push Notifications
  • Site Admin

Copyright © 2021 Traveling Mom ยท All Rights Reserved