This New England City Is Winning Over Travel + Leisure

Providence is once again getting national attention as a tourist destination, being called one of the "Great Getaways for Less" in North America.

In recent years Providence has been called a top "foodie" city, one of the most walkable cities and even ranked #2 on CNN Travel's "Best Towns to Visit in America" list. Now, Travel + Leisure has also named it one of the most affordable vacation spots.

In an appearance this week on Live with Kelly and Mark, Travel + Leisure editor Jacqui Gifford shared what the travel magazine loves about Rhode Island's capital city.

Gifford's segment on the talk show actually introduced me to a travel term I had never heard of before—Shoulder Season.

What is Shoulder Season?

According to the travel expert, Shoulder Season is the sweet spot between peak season and offseason, when the weather is still good, but the crowds are smaller and the prices are lower. Gifford said spring is great for shoulder season and then offered a few destination suggestions for where to best enjoy this type of travel.

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Spots like Vancouver, British Columbia, Portland, Oregon and even St. Kitts in the Caribbean made her list, but surprisingly so did Providence, RI.

I suppose I shouldn't say "surprisingly", because she makes a very good case for what makes Providence so special in the spring.

What Makes Providence a Great Travel Destination

She mentions the beautiful waterfront, the culture, arts and food scenes, then gets specific mentioning the new AAPI History Museum and the recently opened Track 15 Food Hall with its multiple James Beard award-winning chefs.

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Perhaps most astonishing about Providence being included on this list, is how unsurprised both Kelly and Mark are about the city appearing there. As soon as Gifford mentions Providence, Kelly is quick with an "Oh, yeah" as if this is an obvious choice.

Nice to see T.F. Green airport get a shoutout as well, as Gifford points out just how accessible heading to the Ocean State is.

Perhaps we'll see an uptick in travelers soon, with Shoulder Season hopefully right around the corner.