A TRAVEL GUIDE TO NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND

The Steele Maiden: Travel Guide to Newport, Rhode Island

 

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!).

The Steele Maiden: Travel Guide to Newport, Rhode Island

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!

The Steele Maiden: Travel Guide to Newport, Rhode Island The Steele Maiden: Travel Guide to Newport, Rhode Island

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.

The Steele Maiden: Travel Guide to Newport, Rhode Island

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3 MUST HAVE COATS FOR FALL TRAVEL

The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel

This past weekend, Adam and I took a last minute trip to Rhode Island. I’d only been to the state once before (to Providence in the depths of winter.. so I had a lot to make up for) and Adam had never been – so we were excited to jump into Newport on a crisp Fall weekend and expand from there (full travel guide coming soon!).

We were only in Rhode Island for about 36 hours in total so I did my best to pack light. And while Fall is one of my favorite times to travel, it can definitely be tricky to know exactly what to bring with you. In one weekend alone we had chilly mornings, warm sunny afternoons and a few hours that were windy with heavy rain. With that in mind, I teamed up with Lands’ End (one of my favorite sources for all weather outerwear), to share 3 must have coats for Fall Travel.

The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel

1. THE PUFFER COAT: Heavy enough to keep you warm on brisk Autumn mornings, but lightweight enough to add layers and easily roll into your suitcase or weekender bag, the puffer coat is essential. I love that this one feels as pretty as it is practical with a roll collar and floral print. Even more fun when you mix it with classic stripes.

The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel

2. THE RAINCOAT: Tucked in your car’s backseat or your carry-on, if you’re headed out of town this Fall you probably shouldn’t leave home without a raincoat. This one is super thin so there’s no excuse not to bring it along and I can’t tell you how happy I was to have it when it started pouring and we were still a quarter mile from the car.

The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall TravelThe Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel

3. THE TRENCH COAT: A completely season-less, wardrobe staple the trench coat is perfect for a million situations including your Fall travel. Not only is it a great in-between weight (not too light, not too heavy), a trench coat works just as well with jeans and a sweater as it does with a cocktail dress and heels. Meaning you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck and space in your suitcase.

The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel The Steele Maiden - 3 Must Have Coats for Fall Travel

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