Under $100: Providence, Rhode Island

Home to institutions like Brown University and RISD, Providence is a mecca for historical significance and artistic influence. You can’t leave this little major city without feeling inspired.

Start your day with breakfast at The Shop in Fox Point, where they prove the old adage that less is more. The menu offers little more than a slice of fresh baked bread with your choice of toppings, like cultured butter and local jam, or sprouted chickpea puree and greens. Pair it with a cappuccino or a loose-leaf lavender mint tea.

Spend the morning at the Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, where you can reconnect with nature even on a chilly day. They have the largest indoor garden display in New England, complete with waterfalls and koi ponds. Entrance is only $3 for an adult.

Sausage Merguez from Noble Knots © Jeff Ledoux | Flickr

For lunch, hunt down the Noble Knots food truck. You’ll be glad you did. They offer incredibly delicious sandwiches served on pretzel rolls. Try the mushroom hash, made with herb goat cheese, arugula and balsamic reduction. You can find the truck near DownCity, at local festivals or follow them on Twitter to see where they are and where they’re heading.

In the afternoon, take the time to explore one of the museums in the city. The RISD Museum is home to incredible exhibitions of cutting-edge design. Tickets are $12 for an adult, or $5 if you have a valid student ID. If you’re on a tighter budget, check out the Museum of Natural History + Planetarium, which grants access for $3 a person, and is free on every first Saturday of the month.

The Rhode Island School of Design Museum © Angela N | Flickr

Over on College Hill, you’ll want to end your day with a sushi dinner at Shark Bar & Grille. This super modern, LED-light hot spot is under-the-sea themed, and is adequately named — you’ll find a small shark swimming around a tank above the center the bar. Though if sushi isn’t your thing, Shark also offers a menu with rib eyes, grilled chicken and stuffed lobster.

If you’re in Providence during the warmer months, head to the river to watch the annual WaterFire display. It’s a large, welcoming festival with live music, hundreds of people and a dazzling artistic display of flaming torches that transforms the city center.

Gondolas on the canal for Providence’s WaterFire Festival © Arenacreative | Dreamstime