Did you know that Providence is one of America’s most walkable cities? (It was ranked 9th by MSNBC in 2011.) Consider exploring historic Providence on foot if the early April weather cooperates. The Independence Trail is a circular, 2.5 mile self-paced walking tour that “showcases 4 centuries of Providence history, architecture and culture, highlighting 133 notable sites altogether. It tells the story of Rhode Island from its founding by Roger Williams through the first shot in the Revolution, and points to places where Lincoln spoke and Washington slept.” It includes Benefit Street highlights mentioned in an earlier post.
The trail passes near the Providence Biltmore Hotel — it doesn’t get much easier than this! Just look for the brightly painted green line on the sidewalk and start following it in either direction. Along the trail you will find circular emblems on the sidewalk. Each provides a unique location number and general phone number. After listening to the welcome message, enter your location number and you’ll hear a short narrative about your current spot (after listening the first time, press the star key to skip the welcome message). For photos, maps, and more information, visit independencetrails.com.
Get inspired to explore Providence by reading this article from Yankee Magazine.
