Weekend Guide to Newport, RI
Newport is a great destination no matter what season you decide to visit in! But I’ve now taken several trips to Newport in the Summer and the Fall… and I have all the info you need to plan the perfect weekend in Rhode Island!
Morning walks along the cliffs, afternoons at the beach, cocktails at sunset. Even just a few days here (no matter how close to home) can feel like a vacation.
In the last few years I’ve traveled to Newport several times. It became a favorite long weekend spot during Covid-19. During my first trip in high school I mostly explored the Downtown area, “the tourist spots” and did a tour of the Breakers mansion. I remembered it being cute and having good shopping. But I had no idea how much more there was to this little city!
But the next time I went I wanted to see what Newport had to really offer. I gathered some recommendations from friends, did some research of my own, packed my bags, and set out on a mini adventure. Road trip!
Here are some things to know!
Getting there - It’s an easy drive! Newport is only 3 hours away from NYC. I drove from Westchester, with my excellent co-pilot and best friend Tonia helping with the navigation. We spent the whole time chatting, laughing, and listening to music so we never checked the time or felt like it was a long trip. We got there in 2 hours and 40 minutes!
Where to stay - There are several hotels in the area, but more commonly to Newport are the Inn’s! I usually end up renting Airbnb’s, and try to look for one as close to the action as possible! There are so many cute homes right in the middle of downtown and close to the wharf. Here are some of the other options I scouted out:
Castle Hill Inn: A splurge, but so special! Great dining, plenty of activities on the property, and amazing sunset views.
Viking Hotel: Centrally located in downtown, has some beautifully renovated rooms, and a great rooftop view for drinks!
Forty 1° North: Hard to get more waterfront than this hotel! Located right on the harbor, with views of the yachts and boats parked aside it. You can stay in a guest room, suite, cottage, or even a loft that can fit a whole family!
The Vanderbilt: The name alone is so Newport! Since you can’t stay in the Breakers, maybe you’ll want to choose this spot named after Grace Vanderbilt. Located right off of Thames street with proximity to everything, this is a classy and beautiful hotel.
The Chanler at Cliff Walk: Big time splurge but WOW - how picture perfect. It’s discreetly nestled amongst the mansions above Cliff Walk, overlooking the ocean. It’s close to the beaches and still not far walking distance to town. Goals.
The gorgeous Viking Hotel
What to do - Here are a few ideas to start with:
Relax at the beaches
Tour the historic mansions, like the Breakers
Stroll (or hike) the Cliff Walk overlooking the ocean
Shop around downtown
Take a day trip to Watch Hill, with sunset drinks at Ocean House
Sailing or fishing from Newport Harbor
Explore more land by renting a 3 wheeled Scoot Coup from Scooter World
Sunset happy hour at Castle Hill Inn
Bike rides around Aquidneck Island
Outdoor dining at the wharf
Boat ride to Block Island
Check out a winery like Newport Vineyards in Middletown
The scooters look like clown cars, but such a fun way to explore!
Here are some recommendations when visiting Newport in the Summer!
My 3 day trip to Newport was planned at the last minute - we only made final arrangements to go a few days beforehand! Since I was working remote from Newport the first 2 days there was not enough time to book something, like sailing, or to take a day trip. So we picked more casual activities that were not scheduled, and could be done on our own free time!
Rent an Airbnb
Our friends Mel and Clare are experts at finding great rental homes - they successfully plan group trips and share houses every summer out east. So I knew this place would not disappoint! They found an adorable carriage house attached to a larger home with 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2 large patios. It was right in town, in the perfect location
Explore the Mansions at Cliff Walk
The gorgeous Cliff walk starts off very easy at on end, by Easton’s beach off Memorial Ave. But the other end begins by Bailey’s Beach, and half a mile gets very rocky! Pick your preferred path, just wear the appropriate footwear!
The Breakers: probably the most well known and historic mansion. Once owned by the Vanderbilts.
The very grand Chanler Hotel, which overlooks Cliff Walk and the ocean
View of Easton’s beach from the beginning of Cliff Walk.
Relax at Rejects Beach
I was pretty much sold at the name Bailey Beach (because of my dog) but then loved it for its real name even more. The private members only beach is called Bailey’s and the public beach it shares is known by the locals as ‘Rejects’. They are only separated by a thin line of buoy’s in the water, and the public beach is totally free to access. It even has free parking if you are lucky to find it on a nearby street!
It’s apparently not as well known as some of the other beaches like Third or First, but it can still get crowded. When we went, it was absolutely perfect. The day turned hot, and we spent a long time cooling off in the bright blue water.
I could not get over how beautiful this New England beach was. The sand was so soft and fine, Tonia and I couldn’t stop moving our feet and hands through it.
Before leaving we explored the other side of the Cliff Walk, which you can access from Rejects beach. Our jaws dropped at the beauty of these mansions above the trail, and their private access to the ocean.
Happy Hour at Castle Hill Inn
Castle Hill Inn is a beautiful place to stay in Newport - probably the best in town! But even if you are not a guest at the Inn you can still enjoy the property by dining at the restaurant or having drinks at sunset on the Lawn overlooking the bay.
Even if you don’t have reservations you can still snag a few lawn chairs to watch the sunset! We had such a great time, we almost went back the very next night, but instead we decided to try the adjoining beach.
Shopping in Newport
There is a lot more to shopping in Newport than the commercial stores you’ll find as you drive into town. There are tons of small businesses and boutiques that go beyond souvenirs. I was truly enjoying the walk around town and hopping from store to store.
Dining in Newport
There are tons of great restaurants in Newport, especially for seafood lovers!
Most people would flock to the restaurants along the wharf in Newport Harbor. This is the center of town, so it’s no surprise it can get busy and difficult to get a table. I would suggest to explore the restaurants away from the tourist area, BUT it seems like some are worth the wait! One I can recommend myself is Clarke Cooke House on the wharf.
We were lead to our seats in the back dining room, but unexpectedly its windows were completely open, creating only a small barrier between our table and the harbor below. We shared delicious plates like a warm brussels sprout salad, beef carpaccio, & a spicy tuna roll. The building is already charming from the outside, but inside it is surprisingly sophisticated. White table cloths, proper leather dining chairs, and candlelight. I loved the whole experience - and I really loved the wine!
Two second floor porches allow for plenty of space for outdoor dining, and beautiful views. This spot is pretty dynamic; come for a quick lunch, rooftop drinks, and especially an indulgent dinner. But make a reservation ahead of time!
The Red Parrot is a pretty iconic spot here! I passed it daily, but since they didn’t have outdoor dining we chose other places for this trip.
SO much outdoor dining at the Harbor on The Reef. It’s a casual spot, but had plenty of full tables even when we went for a late dinner after 9pm!
Here are some other spots to dine, grab coffee or dessert!
Last but not least: Del’s Lemonade
Everyone says to get it, and you must! It’s just sweet goodness in a cup.
Take Yourself on a Home Tour
Maybe you’re like me, if you love to admire a gorgeous house. When on vacation my family loves to go on walks. Whenever we pass a mansion we talk about how many bedrooms we think the home has, what it might cost, or what sort of projects we’d do if it was ours.
So throughout my life I’ve always had an appreciation for special homes with character, and can generally find something beautiful in any style of home.
Objectively, the homes in Newport are beautiful. Some are large, ornate mansions. Others are Victorians with the most beautiful wrap around porches. Some are traditional colonial style homes from the 17th century that sit right on the street. Others are tucked-away charming beach cottages, or coastal Cape Cod’s.
But they are so cute, and I could not stop myself from snapping a hundred pics each time I left the house.
Some of the largest private homes are on Bellevue Ave, like this beauty!
Sunset at the Beach
After work we made sure to wrap up our day by doing something different. Make it feel like a vacation, ya know? Thursday night we packed up some wine, beach towels, snacks and sweaters and took a ride over to Colins beach at the edge of the Castle Hill Inn property. There are several others too, but I would select a beach that faces west so you can see the sun go almost all the way down. The views were incredible.
What a grand finale!
Newport is an amazing summer destination, and there is clearly enough to do there for a long weekend or even for a longer vacation! But in case you aren’t able to make it there when it’s warm, Rhode Island is still a great destination year round. Read on to learn about planning a visit in the Fall!
There is nothing better than New England in the Fall
A sea of red, orange, and yellow foliage. Bright colored mums and pumpkins lining the entrances of homes and storefronts. Fallen leaves on cobblestone walkways. And don’t get me started on the smell of maple coffee and apple treats!
I’ve visited Newport in the Fall a few times now, and the weather has tended to be a little crisp in the mornings with mostly sunshine. Sometimes there is the occasional storm of course, but the weather has never interrupted my plans.
One thing event that may be fun to plan around in the future is the Newport Chowder Festival at Bowen’s Wharf. We had an amazing time checking out all the local food vendors, and tasting some delicious dishes including lobster rolls and oysters from Matunuck Oyster Bar!
We loved listening to live music from the outdoor bars overlooking the water. It was a great day!
Bowen’s wharf often has live music on the weekends, even if you don’t make it to one of their weekend festivals!
Another great activity for a weekend in the Fall is a boat ride around Newport! When I went with a group of friends we decided to book tickets on the Schooner’s Aquidneck Sail Boat. We brought some drinks while the captain took us on a tour around Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay.
We sailed past all the famous sights while the knowledgeable crew called out some key spots like Fort Adams, Hammersmith Farm, Clingstone and Ocean Drive.
Newport is a really great place to plan a weekend with friends, whether it’s celebrating a birthday like we were, or going for a bachelorette party! There are so many great activities for groups.
While my friends and I have often frequented Castle Hill Inn for its beautiful water views, I may have found a new favorite viewpoint on my most recent trip! While attending a wedding at the historic OceanCliff Hotel next door, I was blown away by the gorgeous venue. Have you ever seen a more beautiful sunset? Plus the view of Castle Hill in was gorgeous too.
If you want to check it out you can book a reservation at the Safari Room at OceanCliff for dinner and drinks.
Another great view is from the recently opened Newport Harbor Island Resort which took over the old Gurney’s Newport Property. This is where you can find the adorable lighthouse and fire pits around the property overlooking the bridge.
Of course I highly recommend walks around Newport during this season. Check out just some of the beautiful corners around town on my morning jogs and coffee runs!
So there you have it! Everything you need to know to plan a perfect weekend in Newport Rhode Island. Let me know if you’re inspired to go!
If you’ve traveled there before, what’s your favorite thing to do in Newport?