Thrifty Travel Fun: Providence, RI

It may be the smallest state in the country, but Rhode Island still has plenty to offer for a family vacation, from gorgeous beaches to charming, bustling cities without the chaos. Below, three kid-approved  items to add to your list for a budget visit to Providence, RI.

Photo by Rich Moffitt / Flickr

1. Explore Roger Williams Park! With 435 acres of open spaces, lakes, and specimen trees, energetic little travelers will have lots of room for adventuring. The nationally recognized Roger Williams Park Zoo, the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, and the Botanical Center are all housed within the park, and be sure to ride the beautiful Victorian-style Carousel ($1 per rider)!

2. Take a ride on the East Bay Bike Path. The 14.5 mile paved path stretches from Providence to Bristol - get a great view of Providence, stretch out little legs, and (most importantly) work up an appetite for a double scoop at Dari Bee Ice Cream, located right off the Path.

3. Do the little tykes have no patience for history museums? Providence's mile-long Benefit Street is crammed with history, but SO much more fun. Perhaps a stroll down this cobblestone street calls for dressing up in fancy hats and pretending to be from the olden days? Admire one of the highest concentrations of Victorian and Colonial era houses in the country (you can pick up a street map from the Rhode Island Historical Society at 21 Benefit Street) - and, psst, rumor has it Benefit Street is frequented by ghosts of the past...