Newport, RI
Our first stop in Colonial America - Newport, RI.
We wanted to spend a weekend in this seaside town because it was both historical, but also offered a touristy vibes. After a long drive, see our post about the Rhode here, we finally made it to the campground about 6-miles (10km for our international friends) from the Wharf downtown. We were exhausted and had our first pizza of the trip. Full disclosure, we absolutely love pizza and this will be the first of many, many pies.
We stayed at the Newport RV Park which was very nice and had everything we needed. Right down the road a mile from the campground is a marina that we caught the most amazing sunset at.
Our campground was right next to this marina with the most amazing sunsets.
On Friday we had to work during the day, but it flew by because that night we had reservations at the The White Horse Tavern - the oldest restaurant in America and the 10th oldest in the world. Spoiler, it’s sensational. If you’re up that way, we’d highly recommend eating there.
The restaurant still has a very old look and feel to it, with old wooden chairs, small rooms, colonial styling throughout, with each step into the building you feel like you’re going back in time.
Saturday we had a full day of playing tourist. We went to the beach, strolled along the coast on the Cliff Walk amongst all the historic mansions (think Vanderbilt, Morse, Goelet, Duke), shopped Thames street and the Wharf, and ate our way through downtown Newport.
Cliff Walk & Ocean Drive
The Cliff Walk was sensational. To walk amongst the mansions is to take a tour of the Gilded Age opulence of some of the most wealthy American’s in our history. While we didn’t tour any of the mansions, and we’d highly advise those visiting to take an extra day and do so, they are equally spectacular from the outside and the Cliff Walk takes you right past all of them.
We drove along Ocean Drive at sunset and it was just amazing. The road swoops and curves and works with the coastline rather than carving a path straight through it. Even the houses are built into the surroundings, many with ice age stones incorporated into their designs and landscaping. For such a small state, Rhode Island was showing off its wealth.
Thames Street & the Wharf
The Wharf in the peak summer months can get absolutely packed, but we were fortunate enough to visit late in the Spring while it was still warm, but before most of the summer crowds. There’s a ton of history here but it’s now turned into your cheesier tourist flair - which we were okay with because that’s why we came!
We loved walking and shopping along Thames St. and bought a number of little things for Guinness and were able to replace Kevin’s sunglasses. Thames had a Charleston Market St. vibe, but fewer industrial buildings and more colonial, cedar shingle homes.
Lobsta
We couldn’t come to New England without indulging in copious amounts of seafood, and we started with the Lobster Rolls and it did not disappoint. We ate plenty of chowda, lobsta, mussels, and washed it down with New England IPAs and wine. Even though it’s touristy, there are some great eats in Newport and even the food in the touristy areas is delicious.
Fresh New England Lobster Roll and Mussels along with our favorite - fries.
Overall Impression
The Charleston of the Northeast, Newport had a fair share of bachelorette parties, tourist traps, and cheesy beach shops, but amongst all of that is some of the oldest history and fine dining in America. We’d definitely come back and would encourage anyone to spend a long weekend here.
For more pictures of Newport click here.
