This summer, it's no secret that travel looks a little bit different. So many of us have had cancelled trips and adventures we're all mourning. That being said, there is still a lot to be seen a short road trip away! Newport Rhode Island is a perfect example of this! Only 2 hours from Boston and CT and 3 from NYC, Newport is close but feels a world away! A perfect New England Summer destination! I've always loved a weekend getaway to Newport, but this time, it was even more special as it was our first post quarantine trip!
As far as safety goes,Rhode Island is a state with one of the smallest amounts of cases. Most people were wearing masks everywhere and all establishments required masks for service. In regards to our Hotel, for COVID purposes, it felt very safe, however I wouldn't recommend the Ramada Inn in Middletown for other, customer services related reasons. Overall, I felt very comfortable throughout Newport in this new COVID travel world.
Some COVID travel advice before your first trip:
-Make sure you know that states travel restrictions (quarantines, need for negative test results etc). Rhode Island currently does not have a quarantine or travel restrictions in place for visitors from New England or the Tri-state area so its perfect for us to visit, it does however have restrictions in place for many of the "hot spot" states!
-Make sure you know what Phase of re-opening that state is in so that you know what you can actually do when you get there. You wouldn't want to travel all the way to a new destination to be stuck in your hotel room the whole time! I researched this extensively prior to going. Right now, Rhode Island is in Phase 3 meaning there is indoor and outdoor dining at a smaller capacity than normal and beaches are open. Other attractions like the Mansions and Boat tours are open as well at smaller capacities. I HIGHLY recommend making reservations for ANYTHING you are planning on doing as capacity is limited. Do some research ahead of time and pick any restaurants or activities you want to do before you get there!
- Where your Mask, DUH!
Now lets get into the good stuff! My top 8 fav things to do in Newport, Rhode Island! (in no particular order)
Take a Boat Ride in the Narragansett Bay- Whether you're into a morning mimosa cruise or a sunset cruise, any time of day is a great time to hit the water! I'm always happiest on a boat! This last visit, we used Gansett Cruises and it was perfect! Very safe regarding COVID with decreased capacity and masks required. They also had wait services so no-one was up and about during the cruise. We sipped cocktails and had a great tour guide giving us some Newport History. The boat is also covered in parts in case of any summer rain and there were only a few steps so we were able to easily transfer Stath in! The best part is, it was only 28 dollars for an hour and a half cruise! BoujE on a Budget!
2. Stroll Around Bowens Wharf- Probably one of the most famous areas of Newport, Bowens Wharf is lined with water side restaurants, shopping and cobblestone streets. Most people donned masks as they strolled along and it was the perfect place to feel like you were really away on a vacation! If you decide to use Gansett Cruises, the boat departs right from Bowens Wharf!
3. The Mansions- Is any Newport trip complete without a trip to the Mansions? Stand in awe at the gorgeous "Summer Cottages" of the rich and famous during America's Gilded Age. My Favorites are The Elms, The Marble House and of course , the Breakers. Often times, one ticket will get you into multiple Houses and the tickets are around 30 dollars. Refer to newportmansions.org for more information! They are open now for business!
4. The Cliff Walk- A Gorgeous 3.5 mile walking trail alongside the beach and the Mansions with views to die for! You can walk off all that delicious food you'll be eating and its the perfect social distancing activity!
5. Eat!- Newport has SO many amazing restaurants! Its hard to choose! Some of my favs are The Black Pearl, Diego's, 22 Bowen's Wine Bar and Grille, The Landing, Smoke House and The Red Parrot, just to name a few! Don't forget to make reservations!!
6. Newport Vineyards- This is probably my favorite place in Newport! A beautiful Vineyard with delicious wine, now with a Brewery and an incredible restaurant! Make a reservation way ahead of time as it's tough to get in now with the limited capacity and try the Great White! It's like Summer in a bottle! A trip to Newport is not complete without a visit here!
7. Shop- Newport has great shopping! Downtown is filled with little coastal shops and Boutiques. Some of the ones I loved were Kiel James Patrick Flagship Store, Mandarine Boutique, Monelle, The Salty Babe and the Pink Pineapple. Save your money as some of them are a bit of a splurge, but its always fun to window shop!
8. Beaches- Newport and the surrounding area is lined with over 400 miles of coastline with gorgeous beaches, perfect for a summer getaway and perfect for social distancing! The beaches are limited to when the parking lot is filled up, so get there early. First Beach (Easton Beach) is probably the most famous Newport Beach and the beginning of the Cliff Walk.This is probably your best bet as a tourist as some of the other beaches will be limited to residents only this summer!
Pro tip- Save yourself some money by staying in nearby Middleton or use an Air BnB. The hotels in downtown Newport can be VERY expensive and its better to spend your cash on actual activities! If you do want to splurge though, I hear Gurneys, Castle Hill Inn and Hammetts Hotel are amazzzzinggg! If you don't want to break the bank, you can still visit these places to check out the gorge views!
Well now you're in the know to book your perfect Newport getaway! Happy Travels!
Thanks for reading!
Xoxo
Elisa
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