On a budget? You can still explore and enjoy Rhode Island’s Capital City! Here are five free things to do in Providence, Rhode Island.
1. Visit Roger Williams National Memorial
The Roger Williams National Memorial, which is part of the National Park Service, is located downtown on North Main Street. The park has 5 acres of paths and open areas where you can stroll or enjoy a picnic. There’s a small visitor center where you can learn all about Roger Williams and his lasting impact on Rhode Island.
For more info on the memorial, check out the post here.
FYI: It can be easy to mix up the Roger Williams Memorial and Roger Williams Park. These are different places.
2. Take a stroll in Roger Williams Park
Roger Williams Park, not to be confused with the memorial, consists of 435 acres in which you can stroll, enjoy a picnic, and even kayak (free if you have your own and don’t need to rent; rentals are $15 an hour). Feel free to bring the family dog; as long as Fido is on a leash, he’s welcome to join you.
While you and Fido are exploring the park, you’ll come across the Rose and Japanese Gardens, various monuments, the covered bridge at Lovers’ Retreat, the Temple to Music, and the Casino, which actually isn’t a casino, but a venue that can be rented for your own private event.
While all of the above can be enjoyed for free, the park has a few activities that can be enjoyed for a nominal fee, such as the Botanical Center, or, my favorite, The Museum of Natural History and Planetarium. Adult admission is $5 and $2, respectively. Pedal swan boats are also available and are a fun way to explore the waters of the park.
Providence has Betsey Williams to thank for the park. In 1871, she gave the first 100 acres of what would become Roger Williams Park to the city. Soon after, the park’s size increased to what it is today.
For more information, check out the park’s website.
3. Tour the State House
The Rhode Island State House, constructed between 1895 and 1904, is an impressive structure built with 327,000 cubic feet of Georgia marble. Its self-supporting marble dome is the 4th largest in the world, behind only St. Peter’s Basilica, Minnesota’s State Capital, and the Taj Mahal.
On the tour, you can expect to see the Senate and House Chambers, the State Library, the State Room, and an up-close look at the Dome Interior.
Free tours are available Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. I suggest calling to double-check the tour schedule before you visit.
A virtual tour of the State House can found here.
4. Bike or walk along the East Bay Bike Path
The East Bay Bike Path is one of the most scenic bikeways you will ever see. When I lived in Rhode Island, I would bike on this path at least once a week. The path begins, or ends depending on your perspective, at India Point Park in Providence. If you follow the 14.5-mile path to the end, you'll go through the East Bay towns of East Providence, Warren, Barrington, and Bristol. Nitpickers may say that you're leaving Providence, so the path shouldn't count as a Providence freebie. Either way, it's worth checking out.
When you're through with biking, running, or walking on the path, remember to cool off with some Del's Lemonade. There's usually a Del's truck in the parking lot at India Point Park during the warmer months.
More info on the East Bay Bike Path can be found here.
5. Feel cultured at Rhode Island's School of Design (RISD) Art Museum
RISD's museum, which is free every Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm and every 3rd Thursday evening of the month between 5 pm and 9 pm, has over 3,000 works of art to view.
The museum's collection includes Ancient, Asian, Contemporary, and Decorative Arts, along with sculptures, prints, and photographs.
More info on the RISD Museum can be found here.
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Did I miss any free things to do in Providence? Let me know in the comments below!
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