<p>how often do people normally head out to the big cities?</p>
<p>is google maps correct in predicting journey times?</p>
<p>is there any point - does providence cater to any nightlife/dining/entertainment requirments anyway?</p>
<p>I can only answer a couple of these, but…</p>
<p>Boston is roughly 60-80 minutes by train, depending on whether you go with the T or with Amtrak.</p>
<p>Providence gives many people (myself excluded) a small city feel. By city law, everything must close by 2 (at least, that’s my understanding). I’m not really sure how much nightlife there is (the most popular option was closed for providing alcohol to people under 21, for instance). The Providence Place Mall is nice for entertainment (large movie theatre, shopping, restaurants), but Providence is really no Boston or NYC.</p>
<p>Googlemaps is accurate/overestimates long drives since it won’t take into account if you like to drive over the speed limit.</p>
<p>I’m from NYC, so PVD is small to me, but I still never went to Boston or NYC (except during the summer) because I enjoyed being at Brown so much. There are a bunch of clubs in downtown PVD but you’ll definitely need at least a fake ID to get in. On Thayer st there are a few couple bars that people will frequent, and when you turn 21, you’ll get access to the best bar in the world in the basement of grad center.</p>
<p>I head to Boston a few times each semester to stay overnight with friends at colleges there. Been to NYC once for a conference (IvyQ) held at Columbia.</p>
<p>What about cars?</p>
<p>I know freshman arent allowed cars, but do someone bring them anyway and park them at offcampus lots?</p>
<p>You can rent a space from someone, but it’s not really cheap.</p>
<p>A car really isn’t necessary unless you live off-campus or have somewhere you need to go often that isn’t served by public transportation. RIPTA (Rhode Island’s public transportation system) is free for Brown students and covers the entire state pretty well. If you do anticipate the need to occasionally have a car, sign up for ZipCar - it’d be much cheaper in the long run than renting a parking space.</p>
<p>How much do you think renting a spcae would cost? Im just a really big fan of cars 
even if i only use it once a week, then still :p</p>
<p>We live in NYC and daughter came home at least once a semester (she’s a senior) to take a break. In fact, she is home this weekend. She woke up yesterday morning and decided to come home for the weekend. She will head back tonight. It’s pretty cheap by bus and an easy trip.</p>
<p>ipixel, unless you know someone, expect to spend around $75-125/month for a spot within walking distance of campus</p>
<p>“Im just a really big fan of cars even if i only use it once a week, then still”</p>
<p>As a freshman (at least if you’re anything like me), you’re likely to use your car a lot less than once a week. Brown is a campus campus, and most stuff happens within walking distance. Especially if you don’t want to pay a fortune for a spot, your car is probably going to have to be parked a reasonable distance from your dorm, so you lose even that convenience.</p>
<p>Here’s my suggestion: try life without a car for a year, and see how it goes :)</p>
<p>iPixel, where are you expecting to go with a car? I promise you that you’ll probably be too busy to do that much off-campus, especially in your first year. I would take mgcsinc’s advice and try your first year without a car (or with just a ZipCar membership). You’ll save a lot of money. Instead, try a bike and public transportation.</p>
<p>I also endorse Zipcar. Everyone should be a Zipcar member, if only for the peace of mind of being able to grab a car whenever you need one in most major US cities (plus some in Canada, plus London!). I’ve used it at the last moment to do fun things, like:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Drive a friend to pick up my own car, which had been towed.</p></li>
<li><p>Run out for a silly late-night IHOP trip.</p></li>
<li><p>Joyride in a cute little convertible MINI on a boring night in DC.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>convertible mini ey? :D</p>
<p>interesting, wonder what other cars they have.</p>
<p>I am planning on getting to know my way around campus and providence first obviously, maybe a few months in, or a year.</p>
<p>Most of the ZipCars on campus are a little less interesting - they’re based on what college students need. I know they have a couple Priuses, and most of the others are basic sedans. There are also a couple minivans for if you have a bigger group of people.</p>
<p>Hmm, still not quite like owning your own.</p>
<p>I think ill get to brown and figure it out as i go along :)</p>
<p>I’ve been to NYC once each semester to visit a friend, and Boston a couple of times each semester to spend a day or so with family I have nearby. People don’t get off College Hill all that much, to be honest.</p>