Newport, Rhode Island is an excellent weekend trip destination if you like being on the water and taking in local history.
It features many activities and places of interest that will make you want to come a second time.
You can tour mansions and experience how America’s wealthiest spent their summer vacations.
If sailing is more your thing, you can book a sailboat cruise and experience the beautiful sights Newport has to offer.
Newport has everything you need to have an enjoyable summer weekend getaway.
History of Newport
Newport, Rhode Island is a coastal town located a little over an hour South of Boston, Massachusetts, and 3 hours west of New York City.
It is situated right on Narragansett Bay. That reason alone makes Newport a very nautically focused area.
It is a heavily demanded New England summer tourist destination.
Newport, Rhode Island allows access to beaches and extravagant estates once owned by America’s wealthiest families in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Fun Weekend Activities You Have to Try While in Newport, Rhode Island
Sunset Cruise of Newport from Bowens Wharf
Since Newport is a nautical town, taking a cruise tour of Newport Harbor is a highly suggested fun activity you have to do on a weekend trip.
Navigate to Bowens Wharf to find sloop sailboats that offer sightseeing cruises of Narragansett Bay.
If you are with your significant other, a sunset cocktail cruise on the Sloop Madeleine is our recommended activity to take in the best sights that Newport has.
You depart Bowens Wharf and head north towards the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. Near the time of sunset, the backdrop of the bridge creates beautiful photos.
The Madeleine then heads South toward Fort Adams, the home to Rhode Island Jazz festival.
You then make your way back to Bowen’s Wharf where you will get a closer look at the million-dollar yachts anchored in the Harbor.
The whole trip takes about an hour.
Once you get off the boat, Bowens Wharf nightlife comes to “life” as people head to the various bars and restaurants.
Click here to take a deeper take on our experience aboard the Schooner Madeleine.
The Cliff Walk
If you opt to take in Newport by foot, you are also in luck. Newport is very accessible on foot.
A requirement for a weekend trip to Newport is completing the famous Cliff Walk.
The Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile path that follows the coastline region of Newport, with beautiful views of Narragansett Bay.
It starts at Bailey’s Beach on the east and finishes at First Beach to the west.
You will think you are walking along a mini version of the Pacific Coast Highway.
The main attraction of the Cliff Walk is the view of the Gilded Age mansions.
You will be able to see most of the mansions from the Cliff Walk.
Some of the owners of these estates grew hedges that block the views due to the Cliff Walk’s sheer popularity as a tourist attraction.
We highly recommended that you wear comfortable sneakers. There are portions of the Cliff Walk that will require you to walk across rocks.
However, the majority of the trail is paved. It is a great experience for adults and children.
Follow our guide to experiencing Newport’s Cliff Walk Here.
Visit Rhode Island Mansions
All along the coast of Newport are some of the most extravagant summer homes that were once owned by America’s wealthiest individuals. It very much rivals Long Island’s Gold Coast Mansions.
Newport features 14 mansions that are all available to be visited and toured.
The two recommended mansions to tour on your weekend getaway to Newport are:
- The Breakers – built during the late 1890s and served as a summer home to Cornelius Vanderbilt. The mansion is 70 rooms across 5 floors. It’s on the United States Register of Historic Places and is open for tours year-round thanks to the Newport Preservation Society.
- The Elms – opened in 1901 and was built for coal guru Edward Julius Berwind. It took 1.5 million dollars ($525,000,000 in 2023) to build. The Elms was one of the first houses in America to be electrified with no backup generator. It was also one of the first houses to have an electric ice machine. It was added to the United States Register of Historic Places in 1971.
Sample Newport’s Excellent Food Options
There are many restaurants along America’s Cup Avenue and its neighboring streets that you can go get food at.
A tip would be to get your reservations in advance, especially during the summer season.
Newport is a very crowded area and most of the more popular restaurants will have wait times.
Newport’s Recommended Breakfast Spots
The locations below are our recommended breakfast spots.
- Franklin Spa – the Franklin Spa is a very small breakfast spot that looks like it is family-run. If you’re looking for an experience that best mimics what the locals would go to, Corner Cafe might be your breakfast destination. The food is very good as well.
- Corner Cafe – The Corner Cafe is a popular breakfast location. You may experience a wait time so make your plan ahead. The food tastes very good. The Franklin Spa has a coffee shop atmosphere.
- Belle’s Cafe – Belle’s Cafe is located in a shipyard towards the northern end of Newport. It has both outdoor and indoor seating. However, if it is a nice day and you decide to sit outside, you’ll be surrounded by lots of beautiful sailboats. This breakfast spot is great for all boat lovers.
Newport’s Lunch Spots
There are plenty of restaurants where you can satisfy your seafood appetite. You can find many locations that serve lobster rolls, New England clam chowder, etc.
The following destination is a recommended lunch spot if you want to take a break from seafood.
- Diegos – If you’re looking for something other than Seafood, Diegos is a great spot. It is a Mexican restaurant located in the middle of Bowen Wharf that offers various types of sandwiches and burritos. Their pulled pork sandwich is one of the best-tasting sandwiches and we recommended giving that a try if you are in the mood for barbecue.
Dinner in Newport
You must set up a reservation for a dinner spot! Newport comes alive in the evenings and night hours and you’ll be gambling your luck trying to find a free table at some of the restaurants.
The following destinations are our recommended dinner spots.
- The Mooring Seafood Kitchen and Bar – This is one of Newport’s most popular seafood restaurants. It was nearly impossible to get reservation days in advance. The Mooring Seafood Kitchen was packed to the point that the only available seat was at the bar. Very excellent seafood though!
- Sardella’s Italian Restaurant – If you’re looking for Italian food that mimics New York-style Italian, Sardella’s is your spot. The atmosphere was excellent. They had live music. The food was great and it came out very quickly!
Where to Stay in Newport on a Weekend Getaway
Hotels in Newport tend to get very pricey. Make sure that you reserve your room in advance to avoid paying top dollar as the demand for hotels increases as the summer gets near. The following hotels we recommend you stay at.
These hotels put you right in the middle of the action in Newport. They are located very close to all the restaurants and shopping that Newport offers.
You can also opt to stay at Newport’s numerous cottages and bed and breakfast spots. These are recommended smaller establishments to consider.
- Bellevue House – this is the oldest hotel in Newport.
- Attwater Hotel
How to Get to Newport for a Weekend Getaway?
Fly Direct to Newport State Airport
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Newport by major airlines.
The only airport in the region, Newport State Airport is served by a small airline called, Tradewind Aviation.
Tradewind Aviation is a charter airline that flies to Newport from White Plain’s Westchester Airport.
That means you either need to catch a connecting flight to White Plains or fly into one of New York City’s major area airports and drive to Westchester Airport.
The added cost and travel times make this option not as worth it for most.
Boston – Logan International Airport and Drive
The largest area airport is Boston Logan International Airport.
It is located about an hour’s drive North on Interstate 95 from Newport.
If you coming from anywhere in the United States or Internationally, Boston-Logan is your best bet.
It is served by most domestic major airlines as well as being a popular destination for flights originating from abroad.
T.F Green International Airport in Providence and Drive
If you are looking to cut the drive in half from Boston to Newport, perhaps you should consider flying to T.F Green International Airport in Providence.
Providence is about a 40-minute drive North of Newport.
T.F Green International Airport is served by some major airlines, although a lot of the flights are only served on a seasonal basis.
Tweed New Haven Airport and Hartford International Airport
Two less recommended options for flights are Tweed New Haven Airport and Hartford International Airport in Connecticut.
Both of these airports are about 1-½ – 2 hours west of Newport.
Tweed New Haven is an up-and-coming reliever-type airport.
It is solely being served by Avelo Airlines, which uses the airport as a hub for its growing amount of destinations.
Hartford International Airport similarly to TF Green International Airport is serviced by quite a few air carriers, however with destinations depending on the seasonality.
Direct to Newport by Boat
If you truly want to experience a nautical theme weekend getaway to Newport, you can take a ferry to Newport Harbor.
Newport is served by two ferry lines that originate from Block Island off Long Island and Providence.
The Providence-Newport Ferry operates seasonally between June and October. The overall trip takes about an hour.
The Block Island – Newport Ferry line brings you from one vacation spot to another. This is another seasonal ferry.
Block Island Ferry offers a high-speed ferry that drops you offer near downtown Newport. The ferry ride time is about 25 – 35 minutes.
Ideally, you can commute to Newport from Long Island utilizing the Block Island Ferry, as the company has ferries that run to the east end of Long Island.
Conclusion
Newport Rhode Island is an excellent place to visit for a weekend getaway during the summer. Newport will not disappoint you if you are into history or being on the water.
After you visit Newport for the first time, you will want to come back to experience it once again.
