Providence is a low stress and beautiful city, both in its design and the locals themselves. "Travel and Leisure" magazine listed Providence second in the U.S. for having the most attractive residents. The city itself is also magnificent. The Woonasquatucket River flows through downtown, which the city capitalized on by building the impressive cobblestone Riverwalk, and Waterplace Park. WaterFire is an amazing spectacle to witness on the Riverwalk at night. 81 Fiery braziers have been installed in the Woonasquatucket River which creates a festival-like atmosphere that invokes a sense of medieval times.
For a bigger taste of history, visit Benefit Street which is nicknamed the "Mile of History". The street has one of the largest collections of Colonial and Victorian homes and buildings in the nation. In the 1950s, the city had planned on razing this part of town with the intention of redeveloping it but didn't have the funds at the time. Now it's one of the most characteristic parts of town. Perhaps the most prominent feature is the John Brown House which has been turned into a museum to protect its history.
Providence is home to Brown University, one of the most revered educational institutions in the U.S. It is located on Thayer Street along with the Rhode Island School of Design. Due to the proximity of these colleges, Thayer Street hosts a number of unique shops and restaurants that are worth exploring.
In order to engage these brilliant and artistic minds, Providence hosts some incredible comic shops and book stores such as Mana Core and Cellar Stories Books. The city also hosts the Rhode Island Comic Con.
For the kids, visit the Children's Museum for a lot of fun with an educational twist. Kids can play with little animals, magnets, musical instruments, or find their way through the The Climber maze.
Geographically, Providence is a hilly town. The city claims similarities to Rome which was also founded on 7 hills, but one was leveled in the 1880s leaving only 6 hills today. Rhode Island might be the smallest state in the U.S. but it has over 380 miles of shoreline and 35 islands, so there's plenty to do outside of the city.
With its charming low key lifestyle, nerdy culture, and attractive faces, Providence is a distinct city that is easy to fall in love with.