We had a BLAST in Newport! It was the perfect location for a Labor Day Weekend getaway. When I started planning our trip, I reached out to my readers and got great feedback on recommendations, so I wanted to compile and share what we did to act as resource if you ever find yourself planning a trip to Newport, RI.
I have to start by saying the COVID guidelines in Newport are very well advertised and implemented. Although uncomfortable to wear a mask at all times, it immediately put us at ease knowing it would be a safe place to vacation during these times.
accomodations
I used booking.com to make our reservations at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina. I will start with the positives.
-The location could not have been better! It was so easy to walk pretty much everywhere we needed to go which was great with kids and a stroller! Walking places made for a fun activity in itself for the whole family.
-Onsite parking was included with the stay and readily available every time we needed it.
-VIEWS! We have harbor view which was beautiful and made for the perfect backdrop.
-We took advantage of the indoor pool a few times so nice to have but would have been even better to have an outdoor one.
–Spin classes available on the deck which would be great to take advantage of!
-Crib available which was perfect for Stella! We got a double room and had them bring up the crib for us.
So, all in all, it was decent place to stay! However, it is a bit outdated and noisy. The walls seem pretty thin and being so close to the marina means a lot of activity and noise throughout the night. We were with children so we obviously turned in earlier than most but that is something to consider if you are a light sleeper.
the itinerary
sunday
We arrived earlier to Newport than expected so we were able to check in early and walk around Thames Street before our lunch reservations. Thames Street is great for shopping and walking! We picked up a few souvenirs to document our trip and then headed to 22 Bowen’s for lunch. The scenic view from our table was just what we were looking for! We got to people watch along the wharf and look out into the beautiful harbor. The food and service were excellent! I definitely give it a must visit!!
After lunch, we head to Newport Sticks & Cones for a delicious treat for the kids. While walking there, we stumbled upon a new hotel, Hammetts Hotel and took advantage of their terrace bar. Steve and I were able to enjoy a few cocktails while the kids ate their ice cream. After that, we headed back to the hotel for a swim and some take out for dinner from Bar Cino.
monday
We started our day off at Belle’s Café which was highly rated. It was the perfect spot for an outdoor breakfast at the Newport Shipyard. It is also open for lunch so be sure to check it out! They even have gluten free bread, so I was able to order my favorite breakfast dish; lox sandwich. From there, we headed to our boat cruise which was a treat in itself! The staff on the Gansett Mimosa Cruise was fabulous. Our tour guide, Patrick was very informative and had a great sense of humor. I personally enjoyed drinking a few mimosas on the cruise!! I definitely recommend doing some sort of cruise or boat ride! It was fun for the whole family but could also be a romantic experience if you are going as a couple. We ate at the Landing Restaurant which was conveniently located right where our boat cruise docked. They also had a lot of gluten free options for me! It was a little pricey and not the best meal we ate but had prime location for what we were looking for.
We quickly gathered our things together after lunch and head to Easton’s Beach for a little fun in the sun! There was beach parking that you paid for at a kiosk. There were also restrooms and a burger shack nearby. I believe you could order you food ahead of time and pick it up once it was ready! The one thing I was hoping for was an umbrella rental stand but didn’t see one. It appeared most people brought their own chairs and umbrellas so keep that in mind if that would make you more comfortable at the beach. After the beach, we opted for more pool time! After, we got cleaned up and went on a nice stroll on Thames again! We were trying to play dinner by ear and ended up with pizza from a place I can’t even recall the name of lol sorry, but it wasn’t worth sharing anyways 🙂
tuesday
We grabbed a quick breakfast and hit the town early so we could get to The Breakers! Upon arrival, we realized it didn’t open until 10 am (whoops). But that is okay! It gave us time to enjoy the Cliff Walk which was in fact STROLLER friendly so that was a major plus! It was serene, and I am so happy we were able to enjoy it first thing in the morning.
We headed back to The Breakers for the garden tour because strollers are NOT allowed inside the mansions. Guys, this was my biggest disappointment!! The gardens were lacking hugely in my opinion! There was hardly any landscaping to look at and on top of that it was not well maintained – tons of weeds!!! I was in shock! I am sure the inside was amazing, but I wish the outside reflected the same. Don’t get me wrong, the view from the mansion was INCREDBLE but keep in mind I also saw it from the Cliff Walk. Anyways, even though you could take a stroller through the gardens 1. It was hard to push because there were gravel paths and 2. They weren’t worth it! So there you go haha!
After that, we visited the famous Castle Hill on the lawn. The view was worth a million bucks!!!! The oysters we had were delicious, but our meals did knock it out of the park like I had hoped. I would definitely try it again due to ambiance and reputation though! The lawn was a fun place for the kids to play around on while I finished up my mimosa. Our lunch at Castle Hill concluded our trip to Newport.
We really enjoyed our time there! It was a much-needed family vacation after being in quarantine for soooo long! We had some high and lows obviously because well, KIDS! But I think they had a blast. So overall, my tips would be:
- Reservations are a must HAVE! I used my Open Table app to book things so it would sync in my calendar.
- Enjoy walking places, that’s half the fun!
- Eat as much seafood as you can stand.
- Do a boat cruise for sure, added bonus if it is one with alcohol 😉
- The Cliff Walk is peaceful in the morning so I would check it out during that time of day
Anyways, feel free to share your favorite things in the comments below or let me know if you are planning a trip and have questions!
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