A breezy three and a half-hour train or bus ride from Penn Station, Providence, Rhode Island, deserves to be at the top of your must-visit list. And because it’s so tiny (in a good, intimate, everybody knows your name kind of way) you can navigate the entire city without the use of a car.
Here to get you and the Creative Capitol better acquainted is our insider’s guide, featuring some of Providence’s biggest draws along with a tasty morsel of native knowledge.
Stay: Biltmore Providence
Bordering the bustling Burnside Park (say that three times real fast), the pet-friendly Biltmore Providence spills you out into an area of the city peppered with all walks of life. It’s in the heart of downtown, so you’re mere minutes from College Hill (home to the Brown and RISD campus), Federal Hill (the old Italian neighborhood), and West Broadway (where the hipsters hang).
Insider’s tip: When you’re done goofing off in the Biltmore’s humungous Alice in Wonderland-like tufted chairs, schedule a Signature Massage and choose your own aromatherapy oils to complement your mood.
Eat: Thee Red Fez
You’ll likely walk right past this un-marked restaurant, but it’s certainly one not to miss. The come-as-you-are, ‘60s punk-inspired eatery serves up southwestern/American fusion fare like smoked chicken tacos, steak fajitas with corn relish, and a mac and cheese with buttered breadcrumbs that is physically impossible not to finish.
Insider’s tip: Order the kitchen a six-pack of Schlitz through your waiter and they’ll hoot, holler, and sing your praises from the kitchen.
Dance: The Salon
Dance: If the in-house beats from the DJ don’t get you moving, the pickle-back shots certainly will. High on life? The ping pong table offers a no-booze-required diversion. With picnic tables lining the wall (ask the bartender for a Sharpie and leave your mark), mingling and cross-clan conversation is inevitable.
Insider’s tip: If you’re lucky, the Big Nazo creatures will be parading the street. The larger than life characters are crafted in the workshop located directly across from The Salon and wander the streets at night performing music, impromptu plays, and general revelry.
See: RISD Art Museum
This multi-level art house features everything from artifacts from ancient Greece to contemporary art from Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Rotating exhibitions offer an eclectic and curated look at some of today’s most aspiring artists, as well as yesterday’s masters.
Insider’s tip: Hanging from the ceiling of the top floor is a stunning blown-glass chandelier by Dale Chihuly (who just so happens to be a RISD grad). And the twentieth century gallery houses an iconic Cy Twombly chalkboard painting, so you can pay proper tribute to the recently deceased painter.
Sweets: Scialo Brother’s Bakery
If serving irresistible confections is cool, consider the Scialo Brothers Miles Davis. Actually, these days the bakery (founded in 1916) is run by three Scialo sisters. This Federal Hill institution is the little bakery that could: after surviving two crippling oven failures that put them out of business for months, the family business is in full swing again, churning out delicious rum cakes, authentic Italian cookies, and Sicilian bread.
Insider’s tip:The Scialo Brother’s Bakery has an online store where you can buy a majority of their products—except for the bread. Because it’s made without preservatives, they’re hesitant to ship it. But we have it on good authority that if you beg and plead with Carol, she’ll send some your way.
How to get there: Take Greyhound, PetePan bus or Amtrak, or consult offMetro’s public transit guide to Providence. For more ideas of things to do in Providence, read offMetro’s Good Things Come in Small States: Providence’s Eco East Side, Creative Eats, Beats, and Arts: Providence, RI Attractions, and Enjoy the Outdoors in Providence This Summer.
Photos: Courtesy of Taber Andrew Bain, Biltmore Hotel, Thee Red Fez, Stephanie Ewens, OwlPacino, Scialo Brother’s Bakery
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram