Providence: Better than the TV Show

In the winter, try ice skating at the Fleet Center Sating Rink or warm up window shopping at the mall attached to Nordstrom's.

Any time of year, walk through the colleges situated in the hills on the east side of the Providence River. Brown University is over there, as well as a few others. Walking through the neighborhood made me wish I was in college all over again -- in Providence.

In the summer, I've heard there are boat rides on the river.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Explore this city on foot, as its downtown and historical center are all close enough and low enough to do so.

Rick and I came here mid-week for a romantic get away and to slow down from the rush of New York, and we got exactly that. We were the only guests here during the week, so the delicious breakfasts cooked lovingly by hostess Peggy Tracy were small, private affairs. She even lit candles for us. Our room was large and had a very comfortable bathroom. Priceless touches included soaps handmade by a local artisan and a working fireplace in the room which we were encouraged to use, and a spectacular view of their wooded backyard. Peggy and Doug had antiques everywhere, and two long-haired cows out back, Jessie and Earline (mama and daughter). While we were there it snowed, so we built a snowman in their backyard -- playing was encouraged by our hosts. In the evenings, we went to local restaurants recommended by Peggy, and then returned to play Scrabble and watch TV in the comfy common room.

Although not in Providence, Woodstock CT is only 50 minutes from Providence and the drive is through quaint small-town backroads. While this b&b would not be ideal for people who need to be in Providence for business or a wedding, it worked for us as we only took a day trip to the city.

If you''re looking for a brief taste of country life at an 18th century farmhouse within a reasonable distance to points of interest Taylor''s Corner is for you.

Owned by an Italian family, this place is in the heart of the business district and caters to the working crowd. So, you can run in, grab some excellent Italian specialities off the menu and either take it to go or to eat at the dozen tables they have in the front of the restaurant. All the day's meals are listed on a chalkboard hanging behind the counter.

I ate there late in the day, and you could tell Mama Teresa's is loved by the locals because the pickings were slim -- they had sold out most of the dishes prepared fresh for that day. I opted for a bowl of pasta fagioli (rib sticking and warming for a chilly day) and a plate of pasta with tomatoes and sausage slices. Both were delicious, and could have easily been served in a sit-down restaurant with waiter service.

The counter staff is very kind and courteous. After I ate I had a conversation with one of the friendly proprietors about other places to visit in Providence, as well as Italian pop music.

Located by the old bus station, with unlimited ice skating and skate rental for under $10 per person, on a sunny day in the winter outdoor fun doesn't get much better than this.

My boyfriend Rick and I worked off our lunch at Mama Teresa's by skating around this nice-sized rink for a couple of hours. They play top 40 music and occasionally call for all-girl, all-boy, or couples-only skating. If you're a family, this is perfect entertainment as there were many children on the ice. It's also fun for couples, groups of friends -- basically for anyone who is young at heart and looking to spend some hours outside. There are two monitors who skate the rink -- when I took a tumble he was by my side to help me up in a flash.

There are also a snack bar, picnic tables, and benches along the outside of the rink for those who wish to take a break.

Not enough can be said about walking through this city. Whether you're walking on Thayer Street to go shopping or through College Hill, the neighborhood where Brown University makes its home, you will enjoy what you see.

Along Thayer Street, you will find local merchants as well as chain stores. On the weekend afternoons, this is the place to people watch. Or, head to the new Providence Mall, anchored by Nordstrom's, for serious shopping.

It seems that anywhere you go in Providence, there is something lovely or historic to look at. Rick and I just walked around without a guide book, so we weren't quite sure what all the places were that we passed, but enjoyed such sites as a giant metal man scuplture in the middle of a sidewalk and a scuplture of a man falling off to a building, that uses an actual building as its canvas.

Walk down by the riverside, recently it has been cleaned up and restored, and the bridges and brickwork are lovely. While we were there it was too cold to spend much time, but I imagined that in the summer it would be quite romantic.