A couple of weeks ago (very much burnt out on work and needing a bit of an escape), Adam and I decided on a last minute trip to Newport, Rhode Island. I’d been wanting to visit for ages, and with the summer tourists cleared out but the weather still nice we decided to go for it. Let’s just say – it won’t be our last visit to this town.
WHERE TO GO HOUSE-HUNTING:
If you regularly troll the #Ihavethisthingwithdoors Instagram feed, then you’re going to want to take a walk through historic Thames Street. Right into town when you come off the Jamestown Bridge, we parked the car and strolled along the beautiful old homes tucked into narrow side streets before heading further down Thames Street to the main midtown area of Newport.
SHOPPING & EATING ALONG THE HARBOR:
Along the harbor you’ll find lots of cute boutiques to pop in and out of plus enough restaurants and bars to keep you full. We walked along the harbor for a bit before grabbing lunch at Diego’s (a Mexican restaurant with great margaritas and unexpected menu combos). The next evening we had a standout meal at Midtown Oysters (Adam’s vote for best lobster roll of the summer!).
THINGS TO DO:
A visit to Newport feels like it wouldn’t be complete without a tour of one of the many mansions. Leftovers from the Gilded Age – these homes were the ‘summer cottages’ of some of the wealthiest families in America. We toured The Breakers (once home to the Vanderbilts) but we heard good things about The Elms, Marble House and Rosecliff. Stunning interiors and architecture, a bit of history and a great activity if you end up having a rainy afternoon too!
After touring The Breakers, we headed just north up the coast to the Cliff Walk. With 3 miles of rocky cliffs to hike along, this is a beautiful way to take in Rhode Island’s coastline. The next day – we saw the western coast by taking a scenic drive along Ocean Drive (also known as ‘Ten Mile Drive’). Peppered with glimpses of gorgeous homes and stunning views of the coastal beaches – this drive nearly topped our similar memories of Malibu – which says a lot.
The drive ended with a trip to Castle Hill Inn, a hotel property that sits on a hill overlooking the water and Jamestown Bridge to the north. While they have a full restaurant inside, it’s their lawn area offering full drink service (note: this perk is closed in the late fall/winter) that was a highlight of our trip. Adirondack chairs are first come first serve, and we ended up with front row seats to watch the sailboats go by while sipping local beers. A perfect end to a weekend in Newport.
