The Top 6 Things to Do in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island, provides the perfect setting for a weekend away. And while I will say that it is its old New England charm that makes this coastal city a mainstay, recently Conde Nast Traveler included it in its list of U.S. cities that are full of European Charm. This world-class publication compared Newport to Nice, France. I haven’t been to Nice yet, however, I think the weather is a bit nicer there than it can be in Newport in winter. But that didn’t keep us back from visiting Newport in early December. What drew us there was the opulence of the Newport Mansions all decorated for Christmas and they didn’t disappoint! 

Now I cannot wait to return to explore more of this little piece of Europe in Rhode Island. And since it’s only a little over 90 minutes from Boston (and from New York City, it’s about a 3.5-hour drive), Newport is really a quick jaunt, which is why millionaires like Vanderbilt, Astor and Morgan loved to spend their summers there. But Newport is beautiful any time of year for anyone planning a romantic getaway, a spa trip, or a few days of family fun.  Here are the top 6 things to do in Newport, Rhode Island.

1. Visit the Mansions

My favorite thing to do in Newport is tour the Newport Mansions. These grand homes were built in the late 1800s, early 1900s as “summer cottages” for the New York elite. Many of them were purchased by The Preservation Society of Newport County in the latter half of the 1900s and have been opened up to the public. While the most popular mansions are The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, and Chateau-sur-Mer, make sure to check their operating hours prior to visiting as they appear to have a rotating schedule and are not always open.

During our recent trip, The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms were open for tours and we spent most of our time exploring their beautiful halls, learning the history of the families that once called these American palaces home. Though The Breakers is the largest and inarguably the most impressive of the Newport Mansions, my favorite of this trio is Marble House. I think it’s because I am in love with the Chinese Tea House that sits at the edge of the property, looking over the ocean. Funny enough, Arielle was obsessed with the Tea House too!

When we visited in 2010, I fell in love with Rosecliff but that wasn’t open for tours this trip. The mansion hosts a production of The Nutcracker every holiday season. We would have loved to have gone, but due to vaccine requirements at the time they were only allowing guests age 12 and up so Arielle would not have been able to go.

2. The Cliff Walk

We skipped this during our first trip to Newport because we just didn’t have time and boy, was that a bad move. Even as someone who lives near the ocean, I was so taken with this 3.5-mile walk along the Newport coastline. Yes, you’ll have unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, but you’ll also get a different vantage point of many of the city’s most famous mansions as well as the Salve Regina Campus. The path does have stretches of pavement but there is also some rugged terrain and stairs here and there. If you are traveling with a stroller, be prepared for a workout.

The Cliff Walk starts at Easton’s Beach (also known as First Beach) and ends at Bailey’s Beach but there are eight points along the way that have street access for easy entry and exit. If you want to walk the entire path, plan 2.5 hours for one way (so about 5 hours down and back). We only did about an hour of the trail because it was a windy, chilly, day. Next time I’d love to really carve out the time (if we don’t have a carriage) to do the whole thing. I’d also love to check out The Chanler at Cliff Walk, a hotel located in a gorgeous mansion that has sweeping views of the ocean, a gourmet restaurant, and a hot chocolate bar!

3. Bowen’s & Bannister’s Wharves

Bowen Wharf and Bannister Wharf are right next to each other and I just loved the shopping and restaurant options available. I may have spent way too much money at the Kiel James Patrick Flagship Store and Salt Water Living. You’ll also find a central gift shop for the Newport Mansions here as well as a second location for the world-famous Royal Male (you’ll find the original location on Spring Street and it’s idyllic New England architecture is worth a visit even if a $650 blazer isn’t in your budget – and I’m speaking from experience).

While there is nothing super fancy looking about The Coffee Grinder, the amazing coffee, delicious cookies and beautiful location (at the end of Bannister Wharf) will make you believe that not every cafe needs a million menu items. When I put out a call for must-dos for our trip, I received an overwhelming response in favor of  The Clarke Cooke House and everyone was right. Alex and I treated ourselves to a delicious meal in the same setting where celebrities, royalty and famous politicians have dined and the ambiance (as well as the dessert) was second to none.

We also had the opportunity to enjoy lunch at The Black Pearl (another IG suggestion) where I had my first ever hot buttered rum and it was sooooo yummy. Arielle particularly loved the grilled cheese that our server was kind enough to let us order off menu.

4. Thames Street

If you like to shop, Thames Street is the place to be. From well-known stores like Sephora to smaller boutiques and “mom and pop” stores, Thames Street has it all, including a thriving bar and restaurant scene. I was thrilled to find a fudge shop whose sister store is my favorite fudgery in Rockport. I even got to meet Jane who came up with my favorite fudge flavor, Tollhouse!

You also must visit Just Ducky which is right off of Thames Street on Fair Street. For a unique souvenir, you can pick from the hundreds of different rubber ducks they have on their shelves. We were lucky – we tried to visit the shop on a day it’s usually closed but the owners had stopped by to drop off a new shipment and were kind enough to let us in. It is so much fun!

Just a warning that even though it’s only about a mile and a half from start to finish, it can take about 20 minutes to drive the stretch and parking is hard to find. In the cooler months there is much less traffic and a lot more parking to be had. 

5. Bellevue Avenue

Bellevue Avenue runs from the historic Hotel Viking, to Rough Point. You’ll also find the entrances to The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, Rosecliff, and Marble House right off Bellevue. If you’re looking for more opportunities to shop, you’re going to want to check out the boutiques and cafes (especially Empire Cafe) between Mill and Bowery Streets. I just love the Victorian Shingle Style building that houses the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the Audrain Auto Museum. Next time I hope to get in a visit to the Hall of Fame.

6. Ocean Avenue

When we had arrived too late to get into The Breakers for a quick end-of-the-day visit, we piled back into the car, grabbed a hot chocolate and took a long drive along Ocean Avenue. This stretch of road along the coast of Newport is home to some of the most expensive properties on the eastern seaboard. It has great views of the ocean and, when you have a two year old, it is a great opportunity for the little ones to take a nap before moving on to the next stop. In that case that was dinner and she was an angel after getting in a few zzzzs. 

Where to Stay 

As we were traveling with my mom and Arielle, we booked a two-bedroom suite at the Club Wyndham Long Wharf and it was such a great find! While it is not a luxury hotel, the beds are comfortable, the rooms are quiet and clean, and the price is extremely reasonable for the room we needed to make sure that everyone had their privacy. Arielle loved the pool, which is both indoor and outdoor with flap door access. While we didn’t take the time to check out the rest of the amenities, the Movie Theater plays two films a day (usually a kids’ film in the afternoon and something that’s PG-13 in the evening). There is also a game room. It’s definitely somewhere we would stay again and I would highly suggest is for those traveling with kids or extended family. Someday I would love to stay at The Chanler at Cliff Walk, but we’ll probably save that for a romantic getaway.  

Next time I go  …

Newport is doable in a weekend, but you could make a week of it if you really want to get in everything. Next time we go I’d like to try out a trolley tour or maybe a helicopter tour if I’m feeling daring. I’d also like to visit Rosecliff again and have brunch at the Chinese Tea House at Marble House. We are hoping to get back in summer so a trip to one of the city’s beautiful beach’s is a must. I would love to have Arielle ride the carousel at Easton Beach (First Beach) and visit the aquarium.

A note on vaccines and masking up:

The mansions currently require guests age 5 and up to provide proof of vaccination and booster (for guests 12 and up) to enter and all guests must wear a mask at all times. Several restaurants and venues are also requiring vaccines, like the Clarke Cooke House, so make sure you plan ahead and are aware of requirements while making your plans.

There are not many places where Gilded Age mansions and ramshackle lobster shacks coexist. Newport is one of the few, making it a unique destination to visit and one that I cannot wait to see again. For more on Newport, make sure to check out Discover Newport for plenty of information and resources to plan your trip.