girls trip | providence, rhode island

this past weekend was our 4th girls trip in 5 years. we love traveling to a new place, somewhere none of us has ever been ... and this year led us to Providence (and Newport), Rhode Island! 

i cannot tell you how much i look forward to this weekend. we love choosing a city with great walkability because we spend a good deal of time just wandering around. we marveled over homes built hundreds of years ago, churches with congregations dating back to before the birth of our country, slipped in and out of antique stores, had dessert before dinner and hit the best coffee & donut shops we could find. we walked & chatted, dreaming, laughing, challenging each other, celebrating, listening, hoping and just enjoying each other's company. this trip & these ladies make me a better wife, mama, sister & friend. on top of sleep (oh, the sleep) and ah-mazing food my spirit is always refreshed after this trip -- i love these two girls with my whole heart! 

oh yea, if you're in the area, you'll need to make sure to grab a Del's lemonade...or 17, because i had at least that many (: 

| more on our trip here |

American Planning Association Chooses College Hill in Providence, R.I., in its "America's Best Neighborhoods"

A pleasing scene at Prospect Terrace Park, College Hill,
Providence, R.I. (photo by Eric)

Congratulations to the College Hill neighborhood of Providence, R.I., for making USA Today's "America's Best Neighborhoods", as designated by the American Planning Association (APA).

The APA chose "10 neighborhoods, streets and public spaces" in our nation that met its high standards of community excellence criteria, and they clearly thought very highly of College Hill. In the article, you'll see marvelous photos of historic Angell and Benefit Sts.

No argument here on College Hill receiving this accolade!  To me, College Hill resonates as the jewel of Providence -- an already great city, overall. The brownstone architectural elegance, stately Colonial and Victorian homes, beautiful Prospect Terrace Park, the presence of  Ivy League Brown University, as well as the Rhode Island School of Design, make for a fabulous neighborhood. And what a fantastic place to stroll to a village-like area of shops and restaurants along Thayer Street, North and South Main Streets, Waterman and Angell Streets.  In a way, you don't even feel like you're in the city; rather, it's like a bustling small college town.

Although I could think of several other neighborhoods in New England that are every bit as nice as College Hill, the American Planning Association made a nice choice here!