Wear good shoes, bring your appetite, and be ready to fall in love with our vote for the most quintessential coastal town in New England. The state of Rhode Island is tiny and full of islands. You dont even have to stay or camp here, you can drive to Newport for the day. That is how we explored Newport the past couple of times we have been.
Where to Brunch:
You MUST stop at The Corner Cafe in historic Newport. As you drive over you will pass historic row houses and buildings that should not be missed. We enjoyed a delicious Latte and breakfast outside, but they also have indoor seating. From pancakes, breakfast tacos, omelette, home fries and a wonderful variety of other choices. Even if they have a wait, its worth it.
Where to Explore:
You can tour historic mansions, have a drink at the oldest tavern in the US, and walk the Cliff Walk. The cliff walk is not for bikes or skates as there are stairs and it gets quite narrow. You will have views of the gorgeous rocky cliff side with ocean spray and views of the mansions. You will definitely want to drive down ocean drive for a similar experience. Along the drive, you will see multiple pull offs that you can get out and explore tide pools with the kids (wear good shoes, its slippery), share a picnic lunch on a blanket, or set out some lawn chairs to take in the view.
Where to Sunset:
The Dining Room at Castle Hill:
If you want to feel like an heir or heiress, make your reservations for brunch or dinner here. This place has epic sunset views, and access to a quaint lighthouse. With COVID restrictions, its reservation only. So you will want to plan ahead for this one. We tried just driving out for the sunset and lighthouse walk, but could not enter. This is also a good place to stay overnight as they have an Inn.
Brenton Point State Park:
You will find long narrow parking lots along ocean drive that are part of this state park. We parked and walked across to the rocky shore to take in one of the most beautiful sunsets we have experienced. It’s pretty unusual to have such a great sunset spot on the East coast.
Where to stay:
You can camp nearby, use harvest host, or stay at one of the historic bed and breakfasts. They looked so charming, it made us want to give up our own beds and try it out. If you have a favorite Bed and Breakfast, let us know for next time!
This is one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the US. Why else would so many rich and famous people choose to have property on this gorgeous coastline? Newport checks all our boxes from amazing grocery stores, its not a large town or city, it has scenic views, and a is a foodies dream.
