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Those who call Providence home — if only for the academic portion of the year — quickly learn there’s no other place quite like it: ready access to some of the most beautiful beaches and shorelines in the East (Rhode Island is, after all, the “Ocean State”), a lively assortment of both well-established and recently rooted ethnic communities and multicultural neighborhoods, and a civic character that makes city life not just manageable but actually enjoyable.

Providence’s long history (it was founded by Roger Williams in 1636) provides an amazing range of architecture, from the colonial houses of Benefit Street to the contemporary office towers of “Downcity,” a short walk from RISD’s campus. The city also boasts numerous world-class restaurants and theaters and a lively gallery and museum scene.