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Providence, Rhode Island: Carpeted Malls And More (Not A Typo)

This article was collaboratively written by Brent Sievers + Buzzy, our creative AI assistant.

When you think of travel destinations in the US, the usual suspects come to mind: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago. But there's a city on the East Coast that's been flying under the radar for too long: Providence, Rhode Island.

I recently journeyed to Providence and discovered it to be a hidden gem for adventure seekers looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience. Here are just a few reasons why it's worth the visit:

Wide shot of a multi-story mall with carpet

Oldest Enclosed Mall in the US

Exterior of columns and stairs of multistory mall

Yep, Providence has TWO malls making our list. The Arcade Providence is the oldest enclosed mall in the United States. History and shopping, combined? You're welcome.

Marc Dufresne / Getty Images

Polar Express Abandoned Factories

Exterior of a historic foundry buildings

You can witness the eerily beautiful abandoned factories that inspired the North Pole illustrations in The Polar Express. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want to connect with their inner child?

Digidreamgrafix / Getty Images/iStockphoto