Newport, RI
3D2N: Newport is best known for many of the Gilded Age mansions. While summer is the most popular time to visit, we have visited in the winter and the lack of crowd provided a more peaceful experience. The itinerary below highlights the best of Newport during our past visits. While Newport makes a great destination for a long weekend, given its close proximately to Boston and Cape Cod, you can easily turn this into a week-long trip!
* Highly Recommended
Day 1
Drive to Newport from NYC (3.5 hrs with a stopover at Brandford service area)
Lunch @ Newport Lobster Shack*
Check-in @ The Newport Lofts - 546 Thames Street*
Summer season: Gooseberry Beach* ($25 daily parking per car; clean bathroom & shower)
Other seasons: Rosecliff Mansion (see tips below for admission cost; 30 mins with audio self-guided tour)
If weather permits: Sunset cruise with Gansett Cruise* ($32/p includes champagne and stuffy; 90 mins trip)
Walk around Bowen's Wharf
Drinks @ One Pelham East (good place to kill some time when waiting for dinner reservation)
Dinner @ Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant
Day 2
10am: Rough Point House & Museum tour* ($25 for 1.5hr guided tour including outdoor garden or self-guided tour for $10 from 3-5pm)
Coffee @ Cookie Jar
Brunch @ Diego's (cocktails are better than food here)
Shop on Thames Street (check out Tibet in Port)
Visit The Preservation Society Newport Mansions (see tips below for admission costs):
Ocean Drive (take the direction from Castle Hill towards Gooseberry Beach)
Dinner @ Scarpetta Newport
Day 3
Brunch @ Cru Cafe Newport*
International Tennis Hall of Fame* (the ground is free to visit; museum entrance $15)
Drinks @ Smoke House*
Walk around downtown Newport:
St. Mary's Catholic Church (closes on Monday; the site where the Kennedy got married)
Frozen Lemonade @ Del's Lemonade*
Hotel Viking (check out the rooftop bar)
Cliff Walk* (see map in the photo section below):
Narragansett Ave to Marine Ave (see tips below on where to park)
40 Steps
Newport Creamery* (black cherry was delicious!)
Drive to New Heaven:
Dinner @ Soul de Cuba*
Drive back to NYC (stopover & lottery @ Greenwich Service Area)
Other points of interest & food
Drinks @ Castle Hill Inn (there was a private party on the day we were visiting so we couldn’t get in)
Castle Hill Lighthouse (3 mins hike from parking lot, If you park toward the back of the lot you'll see an opening for the trail that will bring you to the lighthouse)
Breakfast @ Belle’s Cafe
Bakery @ Rosemary and Thame Cafe (closes Monday)
Tips
For Cliff Walk, you can find free parkings on Shepard and Webster streets
Pricing as of 2018: The Preservation Society offers 5 house ticket for $35, 2 house ticket for $29 (including The Breakers) or single house for $17.5. The Breakers only is $24.
