You are planning to take a walking tour of Providence, Rhode Island and have decided on Providence Ghost Tours LLC. Thank you so much! We want you to have an ideal experience, so here are seven tips of things to know before you go!
Read on, Little Ghosties!
- College Hill
College Hill is…A hill! To the best of our knowledge, all ghost tours currently in the city traverse College Hill. This is the area near RISD and Brown U. It is the oldest settled section of the city with some of the best architectural preservation in the nation. Given its age, it lends itself nicely to four centuries of hauntings!
With most old cities, the streets are a little crooked. Tree roots push against sidewalks, bricks have shifted over time, weather has caused wear and tear. Despite being well-maintained, the walk can be uneven and does ascend and descend a portion of the hill.
At Providence Ghost Tours LLC, we offer two primary ghost tour routes:
- Providence Ghost Tour (our flagship tour, started in 2006)- This begins and ends at Prospect Terrace Park on Congdon Street. It descends a portion of the hill, then ascends it. The steepest section we ascend is George Street or College Street. We walk at a comfortable pace and adapt to our guests. We pause to tell stories as we walk, which also allows folks to catch their breath. This is suitable for most levels of fitness, but could be tricky if you have a respiratory challenge or mobility challenge. We have had folks complete the tour in wheelchairs and with assistive devices like walkers, but it isn’t for everyone.
- Haunted Benefit Street– This is our newest route and it walks on Benefit Street. This is a fairly flat street, with just a few little dips and rises. There are uneven sidewalks (ahem…We call them charming) and curbs. Most people are able to manage this walk without issue. We have had guests in wheelchairs and with mobility devices who have successfully navigated this route. Some need assistance on the curbs, but it is generally accessible. We don’t offer this route all the time, but if you need a flat route and don’t see something scheduled, please reach out! We can try to schedule something to meet your needs.
In addition, our history tour Parasols and Pocket Watches strolls along Benefit Street, so it is fairly flat and suitable for most levels of mobility.
2. Shoes
Leave your cute shoes at home. It is a walking tour, so grab your comfy clompers and don’t get a blister. Remember, old city= old streets and sidewalks. You want stable, well-fitting footwear. Our tours are generally about an hour and a half to an hour and 45 minutes. Give your feet some love and choose shoes that will be kind.
3. Bathrooms
Our city is generally a bit low on public restrooms. It is an area we would love to see improved. Please go potty before you arrive for your ghost or history tour. If you need to use the bathroom during your tour, you will need to exit the group to find a bathroom (folks often run down the hill to restaurants on North or South Main, or up to Thayer Street, but we can’t guarantee their availability).
4. Weather
Rhode Island weather changes dynamically! We can have 30 degrees in April, then hop up to 80 in a day or two. Providence is humid and hot in the summer and can be very cold in the winter. Try the onion method of dress for the weather- layers! Have light layers you can strip down to and something you can add over top.
Providence often gets passing rain showers. It is rare to have all-day rain, but a shower can certainly interrupt us. Providence Ghost Tours LLC does not shut down for a bit of rain, so when you are packing your suitcase, add an umbrella, weather-appropriate footwear, and/or a raincoat. We usually have limited umbrellas and rain ponchos available, but to be sure of availability, please bring your own.
If weather will be unsafe (lightning right over head, hail, snow, etc), we may cancel the tour. You will be offered the opportunity to reschedule or be refunded if we cancel your walking tour. We may also push tour times back by as much as 30 minutes to wait out a passing storm. Evening thunderstorms are common in the hot months (late June through August), but are typically brief!
Pro Tip: When booking your tour, be sure to leave us a phone number you really use and will answer, and an email you will be able to check. If we cancel or delay a tour, this is how we will reach out to let you know.
5. Water and Food
Bring a water bottle and a snack if you need one! It is always wise to have a little something on hand in case your blood sugar gets low or you just feel a little hangry. In the chilly months, a thermos of coffee or hot cocoa is a nice addition to a wintery walk! Please note, public intoxication is not permitted and Providence does not permit open containers of alcohol.
6. The Ghosts
We do not manufacture ghosts or spectral activity. Many guests do capture something on camera, have sensations like being touched or tapped, or hear things while on tour, but of course we cannot guarantee this. Any tour that guarantees activity should raise your suspicions.
7. Cameras/Videography/Audio Recordings
Pictures are wonderful! Take many! Share them with us via email, tagging on social media, or sending it to our phone as a text message. We look fantastic and love to see ourselves (and any spirits you capture) in photos!
Videography is prohibited. This is a copyright issue. If you are uncertain about this, please talk to us.
Audio recordings are also prohibited. Please be respectful.
Need More Info?
Never hesitate to reach out. We love this city, we love our tours (both haunted and historical), and we love our guests. Let us help you have a successful visit!
