Founded in 1636, the state capital (pop. 179,000) has been reinventing itself in recent years when it comes to urban hip and artsy vibe, with the old brick buildings of downtown lined with happening restaurants, shops, galleries, and nightspots. In the meantime, Providence’s historic landmarks are some of the USA’s oldest and most distinguished, Read about more top Ocean State attractions in our post 'Big Experiences in the USA's smallest State, Rhode Island'.

(Sean Pavone)