Providence is a vibrant walkable city, with a population of about 200,000 and a metro-area population of 1.6 million. The city is also centrally located along the Northeast corridor and is also part of the broader Boston Combined Statistical Area, with over 8 million people within a one hour radius. The city is racially and ethnically diverse, and as such offers a rich array of cultural and dining options, including a renowned culinary school that contributes to its great dining reputation. The Providence (T.F. Green) airport is a 15 minute drive from Brown, and Boston’s Logan Airport is a 45 min drive/Uber or train ride from downtown Providence. The combination of the two airports enables many direct domestic and international connections to the Providence area. This includes flights to Montreal, where the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA) will take place. Montreal is also within driving distance from Providence (about 5.5 hours).
Providence also benefits from its close proximity to the ocean and many beach destinations, making it a desirable place to visit in the summer. Popular beach towns in Rhode Island include Newport, Narragansett and Little Compton. Cape Cod, MA and its many popular summer beach towns (e.g., Brewster, Chatham, Welfleet) are within a 1-1.5 hour drive from Providence.