Gilded Age mansions and world-class jazz make this seaside city stand out.
America’s Gilded Age industrialists put Newport, Rhode Island, on the map. They constructed oceanfront “cottages,” which are, in reality, jaw-droppingly opulent estates. In more modern times, Newport has gained fame for its historic city center, harbor, beaches, food scene and the annual Newport Jazz Festival. Add the International Tennis Hall of Fame and you’ll see why Newport’s a summertime paradise. But fall is prime time, too, when you can wander the neighborhoods in their autumnal splendor. And, during the run up to the holidays, nobody decks the halls quite like Newport’s historic homes and estates.
Explore Newport
- Cliff Walk
- Newport Harbor
- Middletown
Cliff Walk
Overview
Here’s your chance to see Newport’s Gilded Age mansions from a 3.5-mile-long cliffside trail that gives you a peek at the backs of these homes, as well as their rolling lawns and gardens. Some of the estates are also open for tours, including the Breakers and Rosecliff.
Known For
Hiking Trail, Historic Homes, Beaches, Views
Newport Harbor
Overview
Newport’s busy harbor district is the big, beating heart of town. And it’s highly strollable both by day — when hopping a sailboat for a guided tour is an option — and at night, when the restaurant scene is a seafood lover’s dream. Enjoy the best of what the city has to offer with picturesque views as the backdrop.
Known For
Sailing, Views, Restaurants, Shopping
Middletown
Overview
Adjacent to Newport proper, laidback Middletown is known for its beaches, brews and views. For kitesurfers and windsurfers, Second Beach is a favorite, while kayakers and other boaters dock on Third Beach. Plus, history buffs can get their fix by visiting Colonial-era sites, including the historic Prescott Farm.
Known For
Beaches, Views, Restaurants, Pubs
Stay in The Center of it All
Immerse yourself in your destination at these centrally located hotels.
Explore Historic Newport, Rhode Island
See Newport From the Sea
Check out the Newport Harbor district, strolling up and down its many wharves to take in ocean views, along with a side order of seafood. The area is also home to outfits offering harbor and open-ocean sails, in the morning (with mimosas), evening (with Champagne) and throughout the day.
Stroll the Cliff Walk
Stop by the International Tennis Hall of Fame, then hit the Cliff — the Cliff Walk, that is, a 3.5-mile-long elevated trail that gives you a peek at Newport’s Gilded Age estates, as well as spectacular ocean views. Take a tour inside the Breakers, or one of the other opulent homes.
Bike, Beach and Beer (or Sail)
Rent a bike and — weather permitting — cycle over to Easton’s Beach, a pretty stretch of sand that also boasts a 1950s-era merry-go-round. Cross over into Middletown, at the end of Easton’s Beach, for lunch and a visit to a brewpub (or another sail on Narragansett Bay). Then settle in for a Sunday seafood supper at Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf.