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Downtown Providence Self-Driving Audio Tour

Overview
Recommended: Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!

Explore all that Providence, RI has to offer, from beautiful architecture to foodie havens! With this self-guided driving audio tour, visit historic Federal Hill, Brown University's campus, and the vibrant downtown. Providence features beautiful architecture, like the State House, Barnaby Castle, and the Wedding Cake House. This tour allows you to explore Providence with maximum flexibility and value.

Within 30 min, we'll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour. When you arrive, drive to the first stop, launch the app, and follow the instructions! Stick to our recommended route and speed limit for the best experience.

This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check pandemic rules and opening hours before your visit.

No expiration — The tour comes with lifetime validity!
City: Providence
Fri 20 Sep
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You can choose the date already on the booking website
Starting at $14.99
Fri 20 Sep
Starting at $14.99
Make a reservation
What's Included
Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
Private tour in your/rental car: No group. Take breaks for photos/ snacks/hikes. Go at your own pace
Don’t miss a thing: Full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated hidden stories, video, text
Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Travel over multiple days or on next trip. Never expires.
Good value: Buy just one per car. Don’t pay for each person. Save money compared to a bus tour.
App on your phone: A link to download the Action Guide app. Password for your tours. Preview at home
Easy to use: Stories play automatically by GPS. Hands-free. Get HELP all day: Call, Chat or Email.
Additional Info
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How it works: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions. Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. To begin touring, go to the Starting Point and launch the app. The audio starts automatically. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience. Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
  • Good value: Purchase only one tour for the entire vehicle instead of taking the bus and paying for each person. You will see a significant saving. Connect your phone to car speakers by a wire or bluetooth. Enjoy the tour by listening together as you drive.
  • Flexible Schedule: Once the app/tour is on your phone, you can use it any day and at any time. You can use it over multiple days. And, also use it on your next trip here. This tour never expires.
  • Preview the tour: You can use it before the trip at home (highly recommended), use it during the trip, and use it after you come back.
  • Don't miss a thing: You will get everything with the app - a complete itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated audio stories, story script, images, videos, deep dives, hidden gems, exciting locations, recommendations for hikes, adventure, activities, treks, and stop-by-stop direction.
  • Private tour: You can use it in your car or rental car. No worries about groups or crowds. Start the tour app on your phone. And it will direct you step by step. You can stop for as many breaks as you like. Take a break for Instagram photos, and take a break for lunch/snacks. Go on a hike. The tour will wait for you and start when you start again. You can even do the tour over multiple days. Go at your own pace.
  • Easy to use: The stories play themselves as soon as the GPS is activated. It requires no use of your hands at all. You can get HELP by calling, chatting, or emailing any time of the day.
  • Offline: There is no need for a cell signal or Wi-Fi while touring. App’s GPS map works offline.
  • Expiration/go again: The tour will last for the rest of your life on your phone. It is available for use on any day of your next trip.
  • Use pictures for a photo book: Create a photo book using clean (no crowd) app images of each spot to make a memorable trip. All the photos and the correct sequence is ready in the app for you to use.
  • Social media: Share clean (no crowd) images with friends/family.
  • Devices supported include iPhones with iOS 13 & above, Android phones with version 9 & above and all cellular-enabled tablets & iPads.
  • Face masks required for travellers in public areas
What To Expect
1
Rhode Island Convention Center
Our Providence adventure sets off from the Convention Center downtown! We first head into the historic Federal Hill area -- home to both history and the city's best restaurants.
2
Federal Hill Heritage Exhibit
As World War I was breaking out, food prices spiked. A mob attacked wholesale grocer Frank P. Ventrone’s business block here, smashing windows and hurling macaroni into the street. Commonly known as the “Macaroni Riots,” five violent clashes over two weeks manifested the desperation of Providence’s immigrant working poor.
3
Holy Ghost Church
We'll approach the historic Holy Ghost Church and learn about the diverse communities it serves.
4
AS220
Next, we'll see AS220, an arts organization that grew from a single room to three buildings and helped define Providence as "The Creative Capital".
5
Trinity Repertory Company
This brings us to Tony Award-winning Trinity Rep, one of the last resident acting companies in the U.S.
6
Rhode Island State House
Our journey continues to the Providence State House: one of the grandest statehouses in the U.S. belongs to the country's smallest state!
7
Providence City Hall
This brings us to the Providence City Hall, made of cast iron and masonry.
8
Providence Performing Arts Center
Our journey takes us past the vibrant Providence Performing Arts Center, innovative Wexford Science & Technology Building, and historic Doyle House.
9
Providence Children's Museum
We'll also pass the eye-catching Providence Children's Museum - you definitely won't miss this!
10
John Brown House Museum
Success, ambition, and glamour dominate Benefit Street. We'll see John Brown's house next. The Brown family became wealthy from the shipping business, which included privateering, the Triangular Slave Trade, and the China Trade.
11
First Unitarian Church of Providence
This brings us to the Providence First Unitarian Church, a Federal-style building with classical arches and urns combined with soaring pointed Gothic-style windows with delicate tracery decoration.
12
Providence Athenaeum
We'll also see the Athenaeum, once frequented by Edgar Allen Poe.
13
The Stephen Hopkins House
We'll also see the Hopkins House. Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence, a ten-time governor of RI, and Chief Justice of the RI Supreme Court bought this house in 1743.
14
Brown University
Our journey brings us to the peaceful greenery of Brown University's campus! We can admire this Ivy League's quaint architecture as we drive by.
15
Providence Art Club
Providence’s tightly-knit community of artists and collectors created this art club to congregate, create and display art. It’s the second oldest art club in the country; the Salmagundi Club in New York City is the first. Among the founders was Edward Mitchell Bannister, a celebrated African American landscape painter.
16
Swan Point Cemetery
Fittingly, we'll end the tour at Providence's historic Swan Point Cemetery. You've now covered every part of this historic city!
Show 13 more stops
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveler Photos
Reviews (13)
Garrett_V
Jun 2022
I'm moderately technologically savvy and I couldn't get the thing to work as described. Furthermore, it was difficult to use while navigating busy city streets. I have the distinct impression the app developer never actually used it.
Response from Host
Jul 2022
Sorry for the inconvenience Garret, it appears that the route was difficult to traverse due to a GPS issue. We would be more than happy to issue a refund if you contact us using the information in my app.
C3593RHstevel
Jun 2022
The integration with iPhone maps apps was unsuccessful after numerous attempts. We later attempted to use the go-to button however the app did not include the go-to button as described in the Q&A. Though the content was what I wanted, the lack of turn by turn rendered the app practically useless. This was a fail.
Response from Host
Jul 2022
Hello, I'd love to learn more! Please provide the iPhone version so we may obtain more information about the issue. I'd be glad to put this right with a refund or exchange, please contact me via the information in my app.
John_G
Apr 2022
It is a good concept, but issues with the app (no “go to” icon) and delayed GPS tracking left us without any real memorable moments, although we were able to find most of the stops.
Response from Host
Apr 2022
Thank you for your comments! Getting about Providence may be difficult, and our new audio instructions should assist. Due to work along the route, we had to temporarily rearrange the tour and instructions, but most of it is now back to normal.

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