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AWA Adventure guides See All

Denmark

Pack your smørrebrød and your sense of wonder — we’re off to Denmark! From castles that float to bridges that go in circles (on purpose), this little country packs in a big dose of charm.

Italy

Beginning in Rome and making our way up to Florence, our Italian Adventure was full of gorgeous cathedrals, mom and pop shops, delicious pasta, and too many Italian dogs to count.

A Highway Guide to Nevada

From the shores of Lake Tahoe to the allusive Area 51 and to the majestic Hoover Dam, our Nevada road trip was full of unique signs, historic towns, and a handful of tumbleweeds.

Switzerland

From exploring art museums in Basel, to not lifting a finger at luxurious hotels, and to visiting charming Swiss chalets, our second trip to the Land of Milk and Honey was just as magical as the first.

The Seventh Continent

All aboard! We embark from the end of the world aboard the MS Roald Amundsen on a (shivery) trip of a lifetime!

A Curious Scottish Excursion

Over a century ago, Phileas Fogg circumnavigated the globe over 80 trips around the sun. Taking a page out of his whimsical legacy, we found ourselves on a similarly audacious adventure—in Scotland.
See all >

Submitted by our community See All

San Francisco, California

Bahía Bustamente, Argentina

Melbourne, Australia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Berlin, Germany

Warren, Rhode Island

Reykjavík, Iceland

Warsaw, Poland

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Themes See All

Cable Cars Educational Institutions Library Lighthouse Classic Facades Doors
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Color Palettes See All

Green Pink Orange Turquoise Blue Black
See All
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AWA, Vol. 2 (2024)

AWA, Vol. 1 (2020)

Postcards

Puzzle

< Back

AWA Adventure guides See All

Denmark

Pack your smørrebrød and your sense of wonder — we’re off to Denmark! From castles that float to bridges that go in circles (on purpose), this little country packs in a big dose of charm.

Italy

Beginning in Rome and making our way up to Florence, our Italian Adventure was full of gorgeous cathedrals, mom and pop shops, delicious pasta, and too many Italian dogs to count.

A Highway Guide to Nevada

From the shores of Lake Tahoe to the allusive Area 51 and to the majestic Hoover Dam, our Nevada road trip was full of unique signs, historic towns, and a handful of tumbleweeds.

Switzerland

From exploring art museums in Basel, to not lifting a finger at luxurious hotels, and to visiting charming Swiss chalets, our second trip to the Land of Milk and Honey was just as magical as the first.

The Seventh Continent

All aboard! We embark from the end of the world aboard the MS Roald Amundsen on a (shivery) trip of a lifetime!

A Curious Scottish Excursion

Over a century ago, Phileas Fogg circumnavigated the globe over 80 trips around the sun. Taking a page out of his whimsical legacy, we found ourselves on a similarly audacious adventure—in Scotland.
See all >

Submitted by our community See All

San Francisco, California

Bahía Bustamente, Argentina

Melbourne, Australia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Berlin, Germany

Warren, Rhode Island

Reykjavík, Iceland

Warsaw, Poland

See all >
< Back

Themes See All

Cable Cars Educational Institutions Library Lighthouse Classic Facades Doors
See All

Color Palettes See All

Green Pink Orange Turquoise Blue Black
See All
< Back

AWA, Vol. 2 (2024)

AWA, Vol. 1 (2020)

Postcards

Puzzle

Through our Lens:

Providence, Rhode Island

Good things come in small packages…or in this case, a small State. The smallest to be exact. As one of the oldest cities in America, Providence has a lot of hidden gems. From one of the world’s largest free-standing marble domes, to the 3rd oldest library, we uncovered a little bit of everything!

Grab your backpacks, we're ready to explore.

🎥 Watch Day 1 of our Providence Adventure

What's behind the door, or in the drawer?

🎥 Watch Day 2 of our Providence Adventure

Biltmore Hotel

Let’s skip to the head of the class with a little “Graduate-level” course on the belle of Dorrance Street. Recently renovated with its retro-inspired decor that harkens back to a Mid-Century heyday, the Graduate Providence is ushering into a new era as the the place to be in The Renaissance City. Formally known as the Biltmore Providence, whose neon sign still glows atop the structure, this address has seen a lot in its near 100 year history.

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11 Dorrance St, Providence, RI 02903

Westminster Arcade

Though this arcade may not be filled with gaming consoles, it is choked full of history. As the oldest indoor mall in America it has seen hundreds of tenants and thousands of patrons. When first opened it was able to host 78 small shops and restaurants, and was even the first home of the Providence Athenaeum Library. Despite its pristine location in downtown Providence, it was listed on the most endangered properties list several times before it was finally converted into a mixed-use space for small businesses and residents interested in micro-lofts.

65 Weybosset St, Providence, RI 02903

Fleet Library at Rhode Island School of Design

Listed on the top 50 libraries in the world is RISD’s Fleet Library. Its gold gilded, ornate reading room was once home to a bank, but the design school took up occupancy in 2006 when they had outgrown their old library facilities. As one of the oldest independent art college libraries in the country their collection is filled with rare books, and a plethora of visual and material resources.  Today a clock fit for Grand Central Station alerts students to how long they’ve had their noses in the books, and remnants of the old bank can be found if you just know where to look!

15 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02903

WaterFire

Two elemental opposites are united on the Providence River in this nocturnal tradition that has continued for two decades. What started as a one time New Years Eve art installation became so beloved that the city has continued the tradition for 26 years. But don’t worry about bringing an extra coat and mittens because they have moved it into the warmer months of the year. Today the installation stretches one-third of a mile through the city’s river with 66 baskets that are lit with firewood by procession of gondolas and music by local musicians – so be sure to leave your boomboxes at home.

4 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903

RISD Nature Lab

A burst of creativity can come from the most curious of sources, and at the Rhode Island School of Design, students are encouraged to seek inspiration often hidden in plain sight – or rather as seen through a super-microscope. Whether it’s the leaves of a bonsai tree inspiring the curvature of a laptop, or the texture of a winter coat made to match the fuzz found on a single grain of pollen, the importance of “organic” thought in the creative process was always paramount to RISD Nature Lab’s female founder.

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13 Waterman St, Providence, RI 02903

RISD Museum of Art

In 1876 the Rhode Island Women’s Centennial Commission had a surplus in their funding for the year. In considering how to invest the extra cash, the commission came up with two ideas- build a fountain, or start an experimental school of art and design. The quest for a school won out, and a year later the Rhode Island School of Design was founded. But an art school wouldn’t be complete without a collection to inspire its students, so in the same year the RISD Museum of Art opened its doors. Today it is the 20th largest art museum in the United States and has everything from fine ceramics, iconic furniture, and classic masters on view for students and hobbyists alike.

20 N Main St, Providence, RI 02903

Providence Athenaeum

From sultry romances to path-paving protagonists – the shelves of this 200-year-old library have no shortage of stories to share, but we have chosen two such tales to tell from within the walls of America’s fourth-oldest library, the Providence Athenaeum. 

Learn More

251 Benefit St, Providence, RI 02903

Van Wickle Gates

Every renowned university has its own set of rumors and superstitions, and Brown University is no exception. The notorious Van Wickle Gates may appear to be the main entry point to the campus, but visitors may be a tad confused when they find that it is almost always closed. Per tradition, the gates are only opened twice a year, once to welcome new students, and a second time for newly distinguished alumni. Every so often a curious or unknowing scholar may fall victim to walking through the gates before it’s their time – harmless enough. But at Brown University, this simple act means that you will surely be cursed into not graduating. Luckily, this hex can be reversed by a backwards trot through the gate, and all your woes, and semester tuition, will be saved.

Providence, RI 02912

Ladd Observatory

The perfect place for night owls & star gazers.  Opening in 1891, the observatory was built primarily for student instruction and research, but the job of operating the regional timekeeping service may have been it’s most important role on the Brown University campus. Responsible for the care and calibration of clocks on campus including Carrie Tower and the class bell at University Hall, students may have had some unkind words for the observatory when running late to a lecture.

210 Doyle Ave, Providence, RI 02906

Old State House

George Washington, Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony were all once under the same roof – it may have been decades apart, but the building has remained the same! The Old Rhode Island State House was built in 1762 and was the designated meeting place for colonial and state legislatures for almost a century and a half. Once the marble clad State House was completed, the legislature moved their meetings into a bit more spacious atmosphere, but the building continued to operate as a Courthouse until 1975. Today it has become the home of the Rhode Island Preservation Commission, who have been the best doctors for sprucing up the old building to its former glory.

150 Benefit St, Providence, RI 02903

Rhode Island State House

Between the world’s fourth-largest self-supporting marble dome, a portrait of George Washington painted by America’s leading Revolutionary artist, and a ceiling so ornate that it’s plated in gold, it’s impossible to leave the Rhode Island State House unimpressed. But the most amazing artifact of them all? It’s a bit harder to find… tucked away at the end of an unassuming hallway.

Learn More

82 Smith St, Providence, RI 02903

Veterans Memorial Auditorium

Though it may have taken over two decades to complete, The VETS Theater was worth the wait. As one of the oldest arts venues in Rhode Island, it has been added to the National Register of Historical Places. The theater is acclaimed for its unique combination of size and intimacy, along with flawless acoustics – trust us we tried it out. It has the largest theater stage in Rhode Island making it one of the main centers of performing arts culture in the state. Many guests find it difficult to leave the gorgeous halls after a show, but one visitor named Franklin never found the heart to leave and is said to spook stage managers and actors when he’s excited for a new show.

1 Ave of the Arts, Providence, RI 02903

Providence Public Library

This magnificent structure known as the Providence Public Library in Providence, Rhode Island is deeply dedicated to its role as an educator and cultural center. Unlike typical public libraries, this library is privately governed and supported by an elected Board of Trustees who run for four-year-terms.

Learn More

150 Empire St, Providence, RI 02903

West Side Diner

What started as a lunch cart parked outside of factories for famished Providence workers would become known as America’s first true diner. Today the city has an abundance of bacon-filled grilles all over town, and West Side Diner is no exception.  Serving up the classics with a side of black coffee since 1947, the streamline art deco eatery has earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places and is situated just blocks away from the site of the original “lunch cart”.

1380 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02909

Roger Williams Park

Once farmland that belonged to Betsey Williams, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Rhode Island’s founder Roger Williams, she kindly left it to the people of Providence in 1871. At the time, industrialization was in full swing and the park was an oasis for anyone looking to get a breath of fresh air. Today the park is a whopping 435 acres and has enough space to host the country’s third oldest zoo, the only natural history museum in Rhode Island, and an enormous botanical garden – but we still think the best addition are the pond’s duck boats.

Pine Hill Ave, Providence, RI 02907

Pomham Rocks Lighthouse

Named after the compact, half acre island it calls home, this dollhouse-esque lighthouse has been guiding ships through the Providence River for 150 years.  The design became so beloved that four nearly identical lightstations were built across the New England coast. And it must have been quite the spot because the first keeper C H Salisbury and his wife Mary stayed for twenty-two years only accompanied by a coop of chickens.

Riverside, RI 02915

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