♪ TED: AH, THE OCEAN STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.
KNOWN FOR ITS BEACHES BUT THE NATION'S SMALLEST STATE HAS A LOT MORE TO BRAG ABOUT.
WE START IN THE CAPITAL CITY ON AN OPEN AIR BOAT TOUR ALONG THE PROVIDENCE RIVER.
>> THEY NAMED IT THE PROVIDENCE RIVER AFTER THEIR SETTLEMENT HERE.
ROGER WILLIAMS SAID HE FOUND IT TO THE PAST SPRINGED FLOUT THE CITY.
>> YOU CAN SEE BRASS DATES ON THE WALL.
1938, 1954.
THE LINES REPRESENT THE HURRICANE TIDE LEVELS HERE IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE IN THOSE YEARS.
TED: HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE OWNED AND OPERATED THE PROVIDENCE RIVERBOAT COMPANY FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.
>> THE LARGE DAM-LIKE STRUCTURE IS THE FOX POINT HURRICANE BARRIER AND THIS IS WHAT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAME UP WITH AS A SOLUTION TO THE HURRICANE FLOODING OF 1938
AND 1954 TO PROTECT DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCE FROM FUTURE HURRICANE TILED SURGE.
>> WE LOVE ACTIVITIES WHERE WE CAN GET OUT AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS AS A FAMILY.
WE LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY ON A BOAT RIDE LIGHT -- LIKE THIS.
>> A LOT OF THAT ARE THINGS I ALREADY KNOW -- KNEW AND OTHERS I HAD TO LOOK UP OVER THE YEARS.
TED: THE CITY HAS SEEN A LOT CHANGE OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES.
>> THE CITY DECIDED THAT THE RIVERS WHICH HOME RUN THROUGH DECADE OVER IT WITH BRIDGE WORK.
PRIOR TO 1988 THIS WAS ENTIRELY COVER.
IN 1988 THEY WILL BEGAN TO TEAR THESE NEW PRINCE -- BRIDGES WHERE WALKWAYS WERE OPEN AND DEDICATED IN 1993 AND 1994.
TED: NEARLY 20 ACRES OF LAND WERE FREED UP FOR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING THE NEW PROVIDENCE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE OLD SINCE 2019.
IT CONNECTS THE CITY'S EAST AND WEST SIDES.
NEXT AT THE WALKWAY, YOU CAN STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE LEMON AND GRAB A FROZEN DELL'S LEMONADE.
FURTHER EAST IS PROVIDENCE'S WHALEN SQUARE WHERE YOU'LL FIND AN ARRAY OF SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS AND BOOKS ON THE SQUARE.
>> YOU'RE WE'RE AN INDEPENDENTS BOOKSTORE.
YOU CAN WALK IN AND FIND SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WANTED OR EXPECTED TO FIND.
THE STORE, STACKED WITH 12,000 BOOKS, STATIONERY, GAMES, AND THE PRESENTLY VERY POPULAR PUZZLES.
>> SINCE COVID HIT, PUZZLES HAVE SKYROCKETED.
NOOLY WE WOULD SELL ABOUT 300 PULLSLES A YEAR.
WE'VE SHOWED -- SOLD OVER 500 IN TED: THE STORE HAS BEEN HERE SINCE 1992.
A BOOKSTORE WITH STANDING COMPETITION FROM ONLINE RETAILERS.
GOOD FOR THEM.
A TREELT THING JENNIFER COMMITS TO ONE THING -- >> OUR COMMUNITY.
TED: JUST NEARBY IS MARE ROOFTOP RESTAURANT.
>> FOR A FEW OF THE BAY.
TED: THE EATRY SPANS 4,000 SIDE.
RON SUSPECT GENERAL MANAGER.
>> WELL 60 TO 70 FEET OF OPEN AIR.
TED: THE MENU IS SEAFOOD FOCUSED.
OFFERING ILL GRILLED OP OCTOPUS PLUS, A LOT NEAPOLITAN OVEN TO MAKE PROCHUTEY AND ARUGULA.
>> IT TOOK A CRANE TO BRING IT UP HERE TO THE FIFTH FOR.
TED: MARE IS HOPING TO BECOME A MAINSTAY.
>> WE WANT IT TO BECOME AN ICONIC PART OF THE STIFF.
TED: AFTER YOU DO PRESUMABLY LEAVE ON YOUR WAY BACK HOME, TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME FOR A DOUBLE FEATURE AT THE RUSTIC TRI-VIEW DRIVE-IN.
YES, FLEE SCREENS OFF ROUTE 146 IN NORTH SMITHFIELD NEAR THE MASSACHUSETTS BORDER.
>> THIS IS SCREEN ONE.
. TED: THE GENERAL MANAGER HAS BEEN COMING HERE SINCE SHE WAS A KID.
>> I'VE MOAN THIS PLACE A LONG TIME.
IT'S A BIG PART OF MY CHILDHOOD AND MY KIDS' NOW.
TED: HER DAUGHTER CONTINUES THE FAMILY TRADITION, WORKING HERE AT THE SNACK BAR.
>> WE GET A LOT OF CHILDREN THAT ALLOWED TO WALK AROUND AND DO THEIR THING.
YOU GET FRESH AIR.
HE'LL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
TED: AND AT $27 A CAR, THE PRICE IS PRETTY FAMILY-FRIENDLY DO.
>> WE DO PRETTY MUCH SELL OUT EVERY NIGHT.
MY FAMILY COMES, EVERYONE'S FAMILY COMES.
IT'S A LOT OF FRIENDS THAT ARE ALWAYS HERE.
I KNOW SOMEBODY EVERY WEEKE