Day Trip: Newport, Rhode Island

If there’s one thing about New England, there’s never a shortage of places to visit on a tank of gas.

One of my favorite places to visit is Newport, RI, just a 90-minute car ride from Boston. I may be partial because it is my home town, but I think you’ll agree, it’s worth the trip.

The City by the Sea is, of course, known for its coastline, but it has something for everyone…family entertainment, a flourishing nightlife, local shopping and loads of history…so make this the next stop on your day tripping list.

Besides the obvious walk along Cliff Walk or visit to the mansions, here’s a short list of other things to do when you’re in town.

• Easton’s Beach (First Beach)  

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  Once upon a time this was the main beach in town, complete with a boardwalk and roller coaster, but that was blown across the street by Hurricane of 1938. Today, the beach houses a carousal, touch aquarium and a ballroom/rotunda. During the summer, they offer a family concert series and a children’s night. Parking is available for a daily fee. 

• Brick Market Place 

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  Located in the “Downtown” area of Newport, this outdoor shopping center is full of national chains and local stores you’re sure to love, not to mention delicious local cuisine and original cobblestone road. 

• Ryan Family Amusements 

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  I can’t even tell you how much time I spent here as a child because I don’t think I can count that high. The games are newer, but you can still spend hours playing arcade games and racking up tickets to get the very best item from the glass case. 
• Brenton Point 

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  Brenton Point, along Newport’s well-known Ocean Drive, is a state-run park that offers incredible views of the ocean, where Narragansett Bay meets the Atlantic. It’s wide expanse of land is conducive to picnics and sunbathing and it’s a wonderful spot for fishing and kite flying. 

• Sightsailing

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  You truly do not want to miss the opportunity to go for a sightseeing tour via sailboat. Offering a unique view on the “Sailing Capital of the World” and allowing you to partake in a true Newport past-time. 

• Fort Adams State Park 

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  Home to annual Jazz Festival and Folk Festival, Fort Adams allows visitors a one of a kind view of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. This site offers swimming, sailing, picnicking, soccer fields, fishing and its home to the Eisenhower House, the summer White House of Dwight D. Eisenhower. 
• The White Horse Tavern 

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  “America’s Oldest Tavern,” opened in 1673. 

• Forty Steps 

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  Originally built in the 1880’s, its proximity to Bellevue Avenue mansions made this the perfect gathering spot for servants to gather for dancing, drinking and socializing. 

• International Tennis Hall of Fame and Museum

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