Looking for a New England getaway? Newport, Rhode Island fits the bill. Called the City by the Sea, this New England summer resort is best known for its rich sailing history and its historic mansions. But make no doubt about it. This city of about 25,000 residents offers something for everyone. Today, visitors enjoy this town, exploring its history, eating amazing seafood, and pretending to be one of the rich and famous. Before you arrive, however, here are some tips to help make your trip the best it can be.
Helpful Tips Before You Go:
- Bring good walking shoes. Newport is a walkable city. However, for those who need assistance or just a break from pounding the pavement, there is a seasonal free trolley that runs along Bellevue Ave, stopping at key points of interest. Ride shares, buses and taxis are also available.
- Take a trolley tour. I always advise people to take a walking tour when visiting a city. Newport does not offer these, except for some ghost tours. So, the trolley is the next best thing. We did and it was worth it.
- Book a Bed and Breakfast. Most of these establishments reside in historic homes, providing the perfect New England vibe.
- Sample the seafood. After all, you’re in New England. Try the lobster, clams, and, of course, the Rhode Island calamari made with banana peppers. Yum!
- Visit during shoulder season which for this town is early fall or late Spring. This travel couple visited midweek in late May. The weather was beautiful, the crowds were non-existent and everything was open. Perfect!
Now that we got some handy travel tips out of the way, join us on our three-day getaway to the City by the Sea starting with…
Day 1- Architecture, Cliff Walk and Lobster
Newport is about a 3.5-hour car ride from NYC, depending on traffic. We arrived in Newport in time for lunch. Too early for check-in at our B&B, Marshall Slocum Inn, we parked in their lot and headed over to The Corner Cafe for some grub. Our walk from our B&B to the restaurant gave us our first taste of this city’s beautiful New England architecture.
After eating some delicious food, it was time for check-in so we headed back to our B&B, cleaned up, and unpacked. Then we were off to the famous Cliff Walk, a 3 1/2 mile scenic path along the coast with beautiful views of the ocean, beaches, and century-old mansions. A word of warning. There is limited, and I mean, limited street parking to explore the Cliff Walk. Parking in the beach lots is quite expensive so either get here early or find alternate spots along the way to start your journey.
The Lobster Bar was our choice for dinner and we enjoyed lobster rolls as well as some calamari as we gazed out on the water and sailboats going by.
With our bellies full, an evening stroll exploring the city was in order. Taking in the stunning architecture, and some historic spots including Trinity Church, the oldest Anglican church in Rhode Island, and Touro Synagogue, the oldest Synagogue in the United States, capped off our perfect first day.
Day 2 – Tennis and Mansions
Calling all tennis lovers! Newport is home to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Housed in what was once a casino, visitors are treated to beautiful grounds with grass courts that anyone can rent to play a game or two. The building itself houses anything and everything associated with tennis and its famous players. Interactive exhibits are also part of the fun.
After immersing ourselves in all things tennis, we headed over to ROOT and enjoyed a delicious and healthy lunch.
A 3-hour trolley tour of the island was next on our itinerary. Shout out to our guide who was funny, and informative, offering up some trivia, recommendations to eat, as well stories about the island’s history. We stopped at Fort Adams State Park to stretch our legs and take some photos. Next up was a drive along the historic Ocean Drive to admire the beautiful coastline and mansions lining it.
Included with the trolley tour was a choice of a mansion tour. No visitor can leave Newport without exploring at least one of these homes. Newport was, after all, the summertime playground of the rich, including the Astors, the Vanderbilts, Doris Duke, and more. Anyone who had any money descended on the famous sailing town for socializing and climbing back in the early 20th century.
We chose to tour The Breakers, the Vanderbilts “summer cottage.” All I can say is WOW! Our tour guide gave us about two hours to explore on our own before being picked up. It was just perfect.
After a full day, we were ready to chow down on some food. Reservations at the Brick Alley Pub and some delicious burgers, calamari, and drinks were perfect.
An evening stroll around the waterfront and the historic streets ended a perfect day.
Day 3 – Birds and Wine
Today’s first stop was a filling breakfast at Annies, a popular breakfast spot in Newport. After some delicious eggs and omelets, our next stop was perhaps not one on most visitors’ Newport itinerary.
The Norman Bird Sanctuary.
For these nature lovers, this was a great choice. We enjoyed hiking around the grounds, and taking in the birds and nature that surrounded us.
After a nice hike, we headed over to the Newport Winery. With no expectations, this couple wound up spending several relaxing hours among the vineyards, tasting wine and beer flights, and enjoying the beautiful day. Some Mexican fare at Diego’s was in order for our last dinner in Newport.
Day 4- Goodbye to Newport
Until we meet again. After breakfast, we headed home with wonderful memories of this lovely island.
