Exiled by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Roger Williams journeyed six miles south and founded the city of Providence, R.I. in 1636. Three hundred and seventy years later, the city has flourished, making it worthy of a visit, even without an issued banishment. Home to Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence combines history, art, fine dining and a youthful core to make the archetypal college town.Located just 55 miles down Interstate 95 from the Brandeis main gate, Providence makes an excellent day trip destination. With gases prices at $3.07 per gallon of regular (the price at the station in Waltham where we filed up), it will cost a car that gets 30 miles to the gallon less than six dollars each way on the 50-minute drive. For those without a car, the commuter rail from South Station will get you to Providence in just an hour and 20 minutes for six dollars a ticket.

Once there, feel free to park your car for the day. Providence is small enough to walk anywhere you want to go, and if you want to, you can take the $1.50 trolley around.

11:30 a.m. Pizza, Pizza

What would a college town be without a good pizza place? After making the forty-five-minute drive from Waltham, you're going to want food. And if you are a Brandeis student, chances are you are going to want a lot of it, quickly, and for as little money as possible. Enter, Antonio's Pizza (256 Thayer St., 401-455-3600). Located right near the Brown campus, this small pizza parlor is used to catering to the young and hungry. Here, a slice of plain big enough for Zeus himself costs only $1.75, but nobody goes for the cheese. For the meat-eaters out there, try the $3 slice of BBQ steak pizza, and for the vegetarians, try a slice of the fresh mozzarella, mushroom and pesto pizza for the same price.

12:30 p.m. A Little Culture

After eating, you should take a little time to walk around the Brown campus. You can relax on one of the many grassy knolls, toss around a Frisbee or hit a Wiffle Ball without ever being asked if you attend the school. Once you've digested, walk down the hill to the RISD museum (224 Benefit St., 401-454-6500). It's only a three-dollar entrance fee if you bring a college ID, and if you find someone from Brown or RISD to go with, it's free. Once inside you can see up to 80,000 works of art from Ancient Greece, through the Impressionist period, to contemporary pieces. Some parts of the museum feel like rooms of a house, while others look like they are part of the Metropolitan Museum. The only difference between this museum and those in New York is the utter lack of a crowd. In fact, sometimes there are more people working security than there are visitors, so don't try and steal anything.

3:30 p.m. Under the Sea

For those of you who think that if you've seen one museum you've seen them all, not only should you try and get a little class, but also you should go to the Russian Submarine Museum (Collier Point Park, 401-521-3600). Tour this 300-foot-long submarine from the Cold War, and see what it was like to be in the Soviet Navy.

4:45 p.m. Game Time

After all these museums, it's time for some good ol' mindless fun. Not only does the Providence Place Mall (One Providence Place, 401-270-1017) offer shopping from Abercrombie to Zales, but it is also home to the famous Dave and Buster's Arcade chain. If you were forced to take the train to Providence, get your driving fix with the newest "Cruisin' World" or spend your time shooting the already-dead in "Ghost Squad." Games can cost as little as a quarter or as much as a couple of dollars.

5:45 p.m. Providence's North End

As evening approaches, it's time to slow things down a bit and seek a more romantic activity. After walking around the canals and maybe catching Water Fire (bonfires alongside the river), take a stroll through the quaint traditionally Italian neighborhood named Federal Hill. After walking through a stone arch topped with a giant bronzed pinecone, you will find yourself surrounded by intimate cafs and various fine dining options. For relatively inexpensive but upscale dining ($20 entres) check out Camille's (71 Bradford St., 401-751-4812). It's as nice a meal as a college kid can expect without having to break the bank. If you're over 21, Camille's also boasts a wine list so long, you will get bored reading it (but not necessarily drinking it).

7:30 p.m. Not Just a Theater

It's now time to catch an evening movie at the Cable Car Cinema (204 South Main St., 401-272-3970). This theater was once a garage and is now filled with couches, artsy movies, and unlimited popcorn refills. For just $8.50 a ticket, you too can be surrounded by RISD students at a showing of L'enfant (the Child) or some other hard-to-find movie. It could just be the funkiest movie theater you'll ever see.

10:30 p.m. Something Fishy

For those of you who need to satisfy that party-craving that Brandeis just cannot speak to, check out the Fish Company Bar (515 South Water St., 401-421-5796). Every Wednesday night is Brown night and every Thursday night is Providence College night ($1 Coronas). In other words, if you can hear each other over the blasting music, you can meet some college brethren (or whatever the female equivalent of brethren is). If you go to Fish Co. to drink, make sure you find a local to go home with so you don't have to drive back to Waltham. It's pretty much what everyone is doing there anyway.