Newport, RI
From left to right
Clayton, Grecia, Ivan, Cadice
On our Rhode trip last summer, we visited the Ocean State. Did you know that Rhode Island is home to over 400 miles of New England Coastline? Beyond the beautiful beaches and fresh seafood, RI was also home to my brother & sister-in-law. Ivan and Grecia are currently stationed in Newport, RI (for the Coast Guard). Thankfully for them, we were able to visit the smallest state with our small budget - we got a free place to sleep! That’s a pretty fair trade, especially when they were graced with our mere presence. This Rhode trip was more than just adventuring, it was time to hang out and spend time together again. Since we did not spend every day exploring or going to new restaurants, we have decided to share a few glimpses of our trip: what to see and where to eat! So… let’s get started!
What to see
Since Rhode Island is so small, it is pretty easy to see a lot of it quickly. Some of the best things to do in RI, include visiting The Breakers, Bowen’s Wharf, and adventuring to other islands or state parks. The Breakers is probably the most well-known spot in Newport, especially since it has the biggest mansions you may ever see! The Vanderbilt Mansion was insanely huge. It is almost unfathomable to believe how a mansion could exist, let alone with such a picturesque view of the coast. You can even tour the inside of The Breakers. If you don’t make it inside, you can still see The Breakers and other mansions on the Cliff Walk along the shoreline. Brenton Point State Park is another place to enjoy the views the Atlantic Ocean has to offer. Although it was very crowded, it was much loved by visitors to take a walk, sit & relax, or fly a kite in the breeze. If you venture to the park or just drive along, look up because you will most definitely see some unique and fun kites.
Newport had a particular feel to it, especially when walking the streets downtown. While downtown, you can stop at plenty of souvenir shops or walk down to Bowen’s Wharf. Along the brick walkway, you will see the marina, several dining options, and even some shopping. We did not eat on the wharf, it was very pricy. Honestly, the restaurants & bars and most shopping were out of our budget. We didn’t spend much time on the Wharf, just a stroll after dinner at Brick Alley. If you have the time, check out the different tours & attractions at Bowen’s Wharf.
Now, if you are looking for a great place to take some photos, or explore, then you may want to visit Fort Adams State Park or Jamestown. The beautiful surroundings of the marina at Fort Adams were picture-perfect, literally. We took an obscene amount of photos there. You can also take the Bay Walk to experience ‘the best sunset in Newport’. If you visit before sunset, you can take a tour of the fort. On Conanicut Island you will find Beavertail State Park. Sitting on Narragansett Bay you will see the 3rd oldest lighthouse. You can visit the museum, or if you are lucky enough you can climb the tower. Otherwise, you can climb on the rocky coastline and take in the splendid views. Clayton particularly enjoyed the views of the geology more!
If you are looking for something fun to do on a slow night, you should definitely do an escape room. RI Riddle Room was so much fun. We made it out in under an hour (just barely). We did the Vanishing Velmont Hotel. We really enjoyed the creativity of the puzzles and that the mystery led us to uniquely different rooms. If you finish in under an hour, they will post your group photo on their Facebook page…and if your post gets the most likes you go on the Wall of Fame. We currently are on the wall until this upcoming August.
Eventually, we crossed state lines and entered the state of wonder: Massachusetts. The city of Boston is a short trip away. It only took us a little over an hour. Before heading into the city, we did stop for the best bagels! Kupel’s Bakery has bagels with cream cheese (A LOT of cream cheese), signature sandwiches, and other pastry items. One bagel was filling enough, but I wish I could have eaten more. While in Boston, we didn’t see many sites or attractions. We went to walk downtown, stopping in different vinyl or vintage/thrip shops. We stopped by Dunkin’s Donuts for a pick-me-up drink. Plus, we were in Boston - you have to get the Dunkin’. There is A LOT of history to explore in Boston, which definitely makes us want to visit again. We also visited Chinatown in Boston. I have been to Chinatown in San Francisco before, and Boston does not compare in the sense of shopping. There were a lot of restaurants or bubble tea shops to choose from though.
Another short road trip away, about two hours, is Salem, MA. Since we went just there for the day, we walked around the city to see the most popular destinations. There are so many tours and museums in Salem that tell a deeper story of the history. The city of Salem is small enough, that everything we saw was just a walk away. We were able to see historic places famous for the Salem Witch Trials, filming locations for Hocus Pocus, browse several shops, and stop to grab and drink & snack from Notch Brewing. Both Boston and Salem are worth the day trip, but they also both earn themselves worthy of their own trip back.
Where to eat
If you are looking for the best lobster roll, then look no further than Blount Clam Shack. The seasonal clam shack rests on the waterfront, so you will not just enjoy great food but, the pleasant sounds of the boats drifting along. Clayton got the giant lobster roll with clam cakes. The lobster was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. For myself, I got the spicy shrimp wrap and I can tell you I have never had shrimp like the Shacks. When you get there, don’t be alarmed by the long line, rather see it as a testament to how outstanding the food is! Before you get in line, you can walk to the beverage truck and get a beer to help the wait go by faster.
Now maybe you are not in the mood for seafood, or maybe you wish to eat closer to the shops downtown, then you should eat at Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant or a smaller establishment Harry’s Bar & Burger. There are an array of places to eat downtown, some pricier than others. Although these two restaurants were both delicious and well-loved by visitors & locals alike. Harry’s is well known for its sliders and hard shakes. Between us all, we probably tried every burger on the menu. Unfortunately, we did not try one of the hard shakes, but that does not mean we weren’t jealous of those who ordered one around us. They look sooooo good! Brick Alley also offers a delicious burger, along with a wider variety on the menu. The first time we went was for lunch and the second time for dinner. Each time we went we were blown away by the food. If you enjoy a nice soup with any meal, then you must order their lobster bisque. This was the first place I ever tried the soup and have yet to find another that compares! The inside of Brick Alley is a completely different vibe than what you see from the street. Inside is plastered with LOTS of different memorabilia from vintage signs to old photos and much more.
While visiting Jamestown, stop by East Ferry Deli for breakfast or lunch. The deli is very small with limited seating, but the views of the marina are breathtaking. The deli has a long list of specialty sandwiches that you can even combine with a soup or salad. Clayton still talks about this deli to this day, wishing he could go back and try everyone on the menu.
How about dessert? If you are looking for the east coasts version of an ice cream special, check out Frosty Freez in Middletown and enjoy one of their Nor’Easters. Or, if you are willing to venture out of Rhode Island, Eskimo King in Swansea, MA has over 350 soft serve flavors to choose from! We probably stared at that list forever and still couldn’t make up our mind on just one.
