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Newport

Experience the Gilded Age on the Atlantic

 Newport has long been a summer haven for the wealthy and prominent, including past presidents. Luxurious mansions stand on rolling green hillsides as the blue waters of the Atlantic extend across the horizon. Those who can’t live this opulent life can still get a taste of it with an architectural tour of Newport’s finest Gilded Age mansions.

One of the most stunning historic homes is the Breakers, a summer home of a member of the Vanderbilt family, where visitors can marvel over 70 rooms of Italian Renaissance magnificence. Continue over to The Elms or the Marble House for more elegance. Wrap up your tour with a stroll along the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile public walkway that takes you along the shore or take a drive along Ocean Drive. Both will treat you to epic ocean views and visions of grand strands of gleaming mansions.

Beachcombing

Once you have had your fill of Newport’s architectural gems, you’ll find much more to explore in this seaside town. Located at the southern tip of Aquidneck Island, Brenton Point State Park is the perfect place for outdoor recreation. Aside from the sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay, Brenton Point is known as the place for kite flying. Recline back on the grass and watch the colorful kites dance in the skies for a perfect example of summertime in Newport. Better yet, take your own and join the fun. During low tide, explore the fascinating aquatic life found in the tide pools. Round out your visit with some fishing, hiking, or picnicking.

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More outdoor adventures can be found at Fort Adams State Park. With a prominent location near the entrance to Newport Harbor, this area was an important fortification point long before Fort Adams was officially built in the early 1800s. Today, the park offers a guided tour of the remains of this Army fortress, as well as the Eisenhower House, known as President Eisenhower’s “Summer White House” in the late 1950s. Renowned for its expansive views of the sunset, a stroll along the Bay Walk is the perfect way to cap your day. Music fans will want to visit during the famed Newport Jazz Festival (August) or Newport Folk Festival (July).

Newport’s Past

Get your educational fill at one of Newport’s many museums or cultural spaces. The National Museum of American Illustration, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Audrain Automobile Museum offer surprisingly interesting views into the topics they cover. With interesting architecture of its own, the Newport Art Museum is another gem, and the Newport Playhouse and Cabaret is the place for live performance.

Shoppers and foodies will find themselves at home on Thames Street. With cobblestone streets and quaint storefronts, this is the perfect place for a relaxing stroll. Views of boats gliding by in the harbor add to the New England ambiance. Some of the town’s best restaurants are found here. Enjoy a taste of freshly caught seafood with your seaside views for a quintessential Newport experience.

For More Information

Discover Newport

800-326-6030

www.discovernewport.org

Visit Rhode Island

www.visitrhodeisland.com