My trip to...

Providence, Rhode Island.

I went last weekend, on November 16,17 and 18. It was about a three and a half hour about (200 miles) drive from my house in New Jersey. My father and I went for a business convention. The drive going was pleasent. Except for some of the usual rush 5-6pm traffic that got us stuck in Connecticut. But no big deal; I was speedy gonzalez the whole way. ;)

Ah, New England splendor! The city is one the more beautiful cities I have seen. It looks like it got a recent face lift or the all the buildings were just washed. I didn't see a piece of garbage on the ground the whole time. It had a very nice mix of history and modern buildings. The architecture was beautiful and the recent government spending to beautify the city, is in my opinion, worth every penny. It was cold walking around the city, but how else is girl to explore! I wanted to start exploring the moment I arrived on the previous (Friday) night, but my father was reluctant about walking around in a strange city at night.

Downtown Providence, RI /// Fire & Ice- Providence, RI

We spent most of Saturday at the convention. For lunch, we went to a restaurant called Fire & Ice. It has a unique concept, that I found very intresting. When you sat down at your table you would order only your drinks. You would than get up and go to booths where you would choose uncooked pastas, meats, vegetables, seafood, side dishes, sauces- whatever you wanted and take it to center of the restuarant where their a massive round grill. The cooks would than take the food you choose, and cook it the way you want it! Right in front of you. It's the only restaurant I know where you get up to get your food, while your drinks come to you. And of course, its all you can eat. :)

After the convention, we (me, my father, and four of my father's friends) opted to go to a restaurant that was a short shuttle bus ride away from the host hotel. Of course, all restaurants in all major cities on the east coast of the US are full to capacity. We didn't want to wait 45 minutes for food, so we decided to walk around the city. After one hour and two more tries at two other restaurants, we ended up eating at the host hotel's restaurant, which suprisingly was relatively empty, and the food was more affordable and more tasty. But it was fun walking around the city. I felt like a movie star. I even learned how to snap photos at night! Thanks Amer!

Downstown Providence, Rhode Island /// Hammonasset State Park, Connecticut

The next we spent only 2 hours at the convention. The information was getting repetitive anyway, so we decided to start back home a bit earlier. On our way home, we got small glimpes of the New England autumn splendor. The colors of the trees were so rich. Halfway home my father and I decided to take a little detour. We stopped for a mini lunch at Hammonessat State Park in Connecticut. It was so quaint and rustic! And it absolutely took my heart away. The park was a beach. To the right and in the distance you can the town (I think its was called Mystic). Going further in the park there was a nature center, and a section of the ocean meeting the jagged rocks. It was beautiful and inspiring.

Hammonasset State Park, Connecticut /// Hammonasset State Park, Connecticut

Overall, it was nice weekend trip. It was nice to spend a weekend with my dad. He gave me a boost of confidence because he totally trusted me in driving 200 miles both ways. Plus, a little change of scenery and a little adventure never hurts anyone, especially not me!

Brief History Lesson: Rhode Island's first permanent settlement was established at Providence in 1636 by English clergyman Roger Williams and a small band of followers who had left the repressive atmosphere of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to seek freedom of worship.