Destination attractions things to do in newport

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Newport, Rhode Island is a city that everyone loves to visit. Located on a peninsula that is between the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay, Newport became an important maritime center in the 18th century, and is still known for its boating and yachting. Newports Golden Age was in the early 1700s, and homes and businesses from that era are well-preserved on Historic Hill and in the Point. In the late 1800s, Newport became well known again as the rich and famous of that time built huge summer cottages and lived lavish lifestyles there. Here are some attractions you may want to visit in Newport.

Sailing, windsurfing, sea kayaking, yachting, and fishing are some of the water sports popular in Newport. Even if you dont want to be a participant in a water sport, watching the sailboats in the bay while you eat at an outdoor caf can be very pleasant. If you do want to sail, rentals, charters, and passenger service are available on catamarans, schooners, day-sailers, and even 12 meter Americas Cup winners on both the bay and the ocean. Powerboats and excursion boats that will take you for a tour of the bay are also available. Charter boats, and smaller boats with guides, are available for saltwater fishing for many different kinds of fish. Freshwater fishing is also available in the many ponds found in Newport.

Bowens Wharf and Bannisters Wharf, 18th century historic areas lined with cobblestone and brick streets, are both still working wharfs. Located off of Americas Cup Avenue on the bay side of Newport, both wharfs have a number of restaurants, galleries, and shops where you can buy everything from scrimshaw and hand-blown glass pieces to scrumptious chocolates and unique clothing. A favorite lunch treat of mine is eating an Italian sandwich at Caf di Mare at Bowens while sitting outdoors watching the boats; topping it off with a cannoli or one of their many ice cream flavors is a perfect end to a lovely afternoon of shopping. You can catch a sightseeing boat or sailing tour of the bay from Bowens or Bannisters, or a ferry from Bowens to go over to Goat Island, Fort Adams, Rose Island or Jamestown. Theres a marina at Bannisters where you can moor your yacht, no matter how small, and guest rooms are also available.

One of Newports most popular attractions is the Cliff Walk, a 3.5 mile walk along the coastline that begins at Eastons Beach; there are several exit sites along the way. The walk, along the eastern Atlantic shore of Newport, allows you to see both the spectacular ocean views and the backs of the many mansions that line the rugged coastline. Eastons Beach is a public beach that has many amenities, such as a concession stand, a bathhouse with showers and restrooms, picnic areas, a carousel and play areas for children, and lifeguards.

In the late 1800s, many wealthy New York families such as the Belmonts, Astors, and Vanderbilts chose Newport as their summer resort destination and built unbelievably ornate summer homes along the Atlantic coast. Many of these mansions can be toured, and you can buy single tickets to each, or combination tickets if you want to tour several. There are guided tours available that will tell you all the details about each home, and each tour usually lasts from 1 to 1 ? hours. Some of the mansions are only open on weekends, or during certain seasons such as the Christmas holidays, so if youre interested in a certain home, check for details first.

A good first step in deciding which mansions to see is to visit the Visitor Information Center on Americas Cup Avenue, where you can view a 30-minute film on things to do in Newport and buy tickets for most attractions and events. Brochures, free maps, and other information that will help you plan your itinerary are all available at the visitor center.

Some of the mansions you may want to tour are the Belcourt Castle, which is unusual in that it has stables built into the main house, The Breakers, a home Richard Morris Hunt designed for the Cornelius Vanderbilt family, and at 70 rooms is the largest of the Newport summer homes, Chateau-sur-Mer, another Richard Morris Hunt design with a Chinese moon gate, Hammersmith Farm, which dates back to 1640 and was used as a wedding reception site and summer White House for John and Jacqueline Kennedy, Rosecliff, designed by Stanford White, with the largest private ballroom in Newport and a heart-shaped staircase, The Elms, with its beautiful sunken gardens, and Marble House, the most elaborate of all the Richard Morris Hunt homes; it was built for the William Vanderbilt family. Do some research on websites or at the library to decide which mansions you want to visit, or tour a few each time you visit Newport; youll surely want to return after your first trip.

Other attractions you may want to visit in Newport are the Armory and Military Museum and the Naval War College Museum, if youre interested in all things military, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the worlds largest tennis museum, the Newport Art Museum, housed in an 1854 mansion, and many of the nations oldest buildings. The White Horse Tavern, on Marlborough Street, is the nations oldest operating tavern, the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House, on Broadway, is Newports oldest house, and Touro Synagogue, on Touro Street, is the oldest synagogue in America.

Newport has many annual festivals, including the Newport Winter Festival for 10 days in February, which has food, music and other entertainment, the Newport International Film Festival at Bowens Wharf in June, Secret Garden Tours, in which private gardens can be viewed in June and September, the Newport Music Festival, a series of chamber music programs held in July in the Newport summer cottages, the JVC Jazz Festival in August at Fort Adams, Christmas at the Newport Mansions and Victorian Christmas tours, when you can view the mansions decorated for the holidays from the middle of November until the beginning of January. Other events include yachting and sailing regattas, polo, childrens festivals, and festivals involving music, food, and other sports. Check websites for dates and details of events.

Newport is a city that combines the best of historic homes and buildings with beautiful coastal scenery. You will be entertained and educated on a visit to Newport; you can tour historic neighborhoods while shopping, see shipbuilding and restoration of old vessels while savoring an outdoor meal, and enjoy an invigorating walk as you view historic mansions. Check websites or the Visitor Information Center in Newport for information on the many tours and other attractions that Newport has to offer.