Newport, Rhode Island - You Have to Go !

Thinking of going to Newport? Don't think any longer, just go. If you are within driving distance of Newport, Rhode Island, you have to make the trip. You'll kick yourself for not doing it sooner. The drive is great, thought the last part of it does seem longer than it should. The bridges you have to travel over the Narragansett Bay really make you feel like you are on vacation, but be patient, it's a slow trip. Newport is a wonderful, friendly, upscale but low key place to visit. As a water lover, my personal favorite was just walking by the Newport Yacht Club and looking at these amazing vessels and all the activity that goes along with yachting. If you check out the website, you can get an idea of events taking place and try to plan your trip accordingly. Even in the off season though, you might be lucky enough to see some work being done on a yacht suspended above the water. There is also the International Yacht Restoration School in town. You might also see a cruise ship making a stop in Newport, a common occurrence.

Newport is incredibly easy to get around and you can easily walk just about any place you would want to go. We stayed at the Newport Hyatt Regency, which was very nice but did make for a slightly longer walk in to town. If I were to go again, I'd stay at the Marriot which has a better location. Of course there are also bed and breakfast options and vacation home rentals. Newport has a great selection of restaurants. You can say well fed and happy on any budget. You can enjoy a big breakfast inexpensively at a number of small diner type places. There's also a Panera. The Brick Alley Pub and Restaurant is a wonderful place with great food and while it was high end for our meager budget, it was actually quite affordable at under $20 per person. There is also a subway in town, where the line is long with Salve Regina students.