What is old can still be new, and this is true of Newport today as it was when the first settlers arrived in the harbor, a popular place of trade. Newport's rich cultural diversity comes from these early days of trade from the West Indies with settlers bringing unusual items like pineapples, which became a welcome symbol displayed then and now in the districts of many Newport inns, restaurants, homes and shops. Whether you are visiting Newport for a mansion tour, a music festival, a yachting event or relaxing vacation on the beach, you will want to explore this old city by the sea.
Downtown and Historic District
The downtown area of Newport is considered the historic district with its surrounding residential areas and The Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue in the Cliff Walk section. Newport is composed of rows of colonial homes, shops and eateries and the beaches skirting the city. Historic sites and architectural wonders draw many visitors to Newport. One of the lesser known yet interesting...
While Newport is known for mansions, sailing and seafood, it also has a growing wine industry that often is overlooked by tourists. Newport wines should be high on the must-taste list. A particular standout among Rhode Island wineries is Newport Vineyards, which is located in nearby Middletown. Brother vintners John Nunes and Paul Nunes have the philosophy to preserve their grapes’ natural character and they encourage visitors and natives alike to “taste... Read More
Newport and nearby Middletown are easy to master and maneuver. Several major roads – America ’s Cup Boulevard and Thames Street – run north-south along the downtown wharf area, while several streets from the wharves travel up into the neighborhoods that vary from well maintained colonial period housing to the high society mansions that are open to the public to communities with contemporary housing. Newport is a walking town Newport is a walking town for... Read More
Right across from First Beach (also called Easton’s Beach) is Flo’s Clam Shack, a staple in Newport (actually Middletown) for almost 20 years. Its history, though, goes back about 75 years. To understand Flo’s and its popularity, it is important to understand the fried clam in Rhode Island. New Englanders always ate steamed clams. They were on the half shell or chopped in chowder. On July 3, 1916, someone whose name is unknown to history, suggested... Read More
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National Museum of American Illustration
- Located in a 17th century French chateau admired for its architecture and style, the National Museum of American Illustration has the most impressive...
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Astors' Beechwood Mansion
Mrs. William Backhouse Astor -- the Mrs. Astor, as every brochure and guide feels compelled to observe -- was, during her active life, the arbiter...
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Belcourt Castle
This was the only slightly less grand mansion down the road from Marble House to which Alva Vanderbilt repaired after her second marriage. While...
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