Convergence 2009 will be held at Hotel Viking, located at One Bellevue Ave. in Newport, R.I.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

• From Boston: Follow Route 93 South to Route 24 South which merges and becomes Route 114 South (West Main Road). Follow 114 South for approximately 6 miles until you enter Newport. Route 114 South then becomes Broadway. Follow Broadway past the Newport Hospital (on the left). After a few blocks, you will see a Dunkin Donuts on the left. Take your first left on Ayrault Street. Follow to the first stop sign and turn right onto Kay Street. Follow Kay Street to the traffic light and Hotel Viking is located straight through the intersection.
• From T.F. Green Airport (roughly 30 miles): Take I-95 South to Route 4 (Exit 9). Follow Route 4 South, which becomes Route 1 South, to Route 138 East. Cross the Jamestown and Newport bridges. Take the first exit off Newport Bridge toward Scenic Newport. At the base of the exit, turn right. Follow to the second light, and turn left. At the stop sign, turn slightly right onto Thames Street. Follow to the first stoplight, and turn left onto Touro Street. Follow to the second stoplight. The hotel is on the right-hand side.
• From New York: Follow I-95 North to Rhode Island. Take Exit 3A (Route 138 East), and follow until you come to the junction joining Route 1. Take a left at that junction and stay on Route 1 North for about a mile. Take the right-hand exit back onto Route 138 East. Follow signs for Jamestown/Verrazano Bridge and Newport/Claiborne Pell Bridge. (There’s a $2 toll to cross the Pell Bridge). Take the first exit off the Pell Bridge (sign says “Scenic Newport”). At the base of the exit ramp, turn right onto Farewell Street. Follow to the second traffic light and bear left. At the stop sign, bear right onto Thames Street. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Touro Street. Follow up the hill to the second traffic light. Turn right into the Hotel Viking’s driveway at One Bellevue Avenue .

AIRLINE SERVICE

The closest airport to Newport is T.F. Green Airport, located just south of Providence. Airlines served at T.F. Green include: Air Canada , American Airlines, Cape Air, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and USAirways.

RENTAL CARS

Rental cars are available from T.F. Green Airport. Companies available include: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrift and U-Save.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority provides ferry and bus service from Providence to Newport.

• The Providence-Newport ferry takes approximately one hour and makes several trips a day, seven days a week. One-way fare for one adult is $9; round trip fare for one adult is $18. The ferry departs from Conley’s Wharf (180 Allens Ave.) in Providence and arrives at Perrotti Park (Americas Cup Avenue ) in downtown Newport, which is a half-mile walk down Touro Street to Hotel Viking. Seven-day-a-week free parking is located at Conley’s Wharf. For reservations, call (866) 453-6800 toll free or visit http://www.nefastferry.com.
• The #14 bus travels from T.F. Green Airport to Gateway Center (Americas Cup Avenue) in downtown Newport, which is about a half-mile walk down Touro Street to Hotel Viking. The trip takes roughly an hour and runs steadily throughout the day. Base fare is $1.50; there is no service on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased on site at the RIPTA ticket window.