3 Best Places To See in Providence, RI

The Providence Children’s Museum is an absolute gem for families looking for an engaging, educational, and fun-filled experience. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is inviting, colorful, and full of energy, making it the perfect place for kids to explore and learn through play. The exhibits are incredibly well-designed, catering to a variety of interests and age groups. The Water Ways exhibit was a huge hit, allowing kids to experiment with flowing water, pipes, and fountains in a hands-on way. The ThinkSpace section encourages problem-solving and creativity, while the Littlewoods area is perfect for younger children to safely play and explore. One of the standout features is how interactive everything is—kids aren’t just looking at exhibits; they’re fully immersed in them! The museum is also very well-maintained, with clean facilities and friendly, helpful staff who ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. There are plenty of seating areas for parents to take a break while still keeping an eye on their children. Overall, the Providence Children’s Museum is a must-visit for families in the area. It’s a place where kids can let their imaginations run wild, all while learning and having a great time. Highly recommended.

Love bringing the kids I nanny here. There is a room to eat food in and in the summer there are tables outside. Lots of activities that even I enjoy taking a part in plus seasonal and special events throughout the year. Membership is definitely worth it if you go even just a few times. They also offer discounts and/or free entry for those with government assistance. Highly recommend bringing an extra pair of clothes (and maybe shoes) if you go in the water room. For a 3 year old or younger, they can get soaked pretty quickly- even with the provided aprons.

I took my 4 year old here a few weeks ago and we had an absolute blast exploring the children's museum together. It has multiple levels with a lot to learn and do. We had a lot of fun in the water room, enjoyed building walls and knocking them down upstairs and my son really enjoyed playing with the pipes to make his own track. We spent about 2-3 hours here, which was plenty of time to explore everything and work up a good appetite for lunch.

This museum was bigger than I expected and has an impressive collection. We easily passed a few hours in here roaming from gallery to gallery, thrilled with what we behind each corner. The Charles Pendleton House stood out as a fun highlight, as it was a peek into the older colonial homes. I’m from the West Coast, so it was especially fun to see that.

Awesome art museum with something for everyone. They’ve got everything from a massive Buddha to a tiny Jackson Pollock. Plus, it’s free on Sundays, which is a huge bonus. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, but honestly, it’s totally worth it for the experience.

Beautiful organized museum that had a lot of different genres of art. It was very well organized. Each piece of art had information about the artist, their intentions, and very informative. Beautiful gallery and easy to get around.