Newport Rhode Island
The thrill of being behind the wheel on an 80-foot schooner, the luxury of sleeping in a comfortable suite at the Admiral Fitzroy Inn and the professionalism of a personal driver like Steve who comes recommended by inns and hotels, are only some of the reasons why Newport Rhode Island is a great place to spend a few days or longer.
Granted, it’s not an inexpensive area, but then, you do get an awful lot for your money. And there are plenty of bargains that make it easier and worthwhile as well. Take the free trolley. You can pick it up anyplace along the route and ride it for one stop or throughout the route then ride again if you really want. It’s all free, and the students at Salve Regina University can certainly take advantage of it going between the many buildings on their vast and very attractive campus. It’s fun to ride just to get a view of the town from its mansions on one side to the shop-filled wharves on the water and busier side of town.
There are also the great shops with the friendly shopkeepers who seem more interested in making you feel comfortable and happy than in actually selling anything. Frazzleberries on Thames st. Is not only a great place for souvenirs and gifts, but they even take phone orders and ship you products overnight. There’s the Anchor Glass Gallery on Franklin St. with its incredible array of hand blown glass in custom designs along with jewelry and other gifts, There’s the great dress shop close to the Admiral Fitzroy Inn on Thames Street that sells lots of clothes and other items for people who love dogs, but also gives away cute magnets that say “As a matter of fact, I do need to pet every dog I see” that dog lovers love. There are all those great shops along Bowen’s and Bannister’s Wharfs. And the very elegant Newport Yacht Club welcomes members of other yacht clubs who want to stop in for a greeting, an afternoon drink or a dinner overlooking Narragansett Bay. Their dining room is a study in art itself., Every table has a hand made model of a tall ship from earlier eras.
There are also sculptures around town, and the benches along well swept sidewalks and clean streets for simply sitting and enjoying the greetings of passersby and the scenery. It seems everyone in Newport puts an effort into keeping the city clean and welcoming.
There are plenty of places to visit as well, including the Redwood Library Museum, which was chartered in 1747 and is recognized as the first library building in the entire country. The portrait gallery is enough to keep you more informed on the colonial era. It’s also home to the state’s first art gallery and has close to a quarter of a million books for circulation and special collections. There’s no fee to tour the museum, visit the library and see the rotating exhibitions in the two art galleries.
Newport’s famous Cliff Walk can be as long or short as you want, as easy or as difficult as you can handle, with spectacular scenery and salty air the entire way, There are all those mansions to visit, the International Tennis Hall of Fame to see, and a Visitor Information Center and Transportation Center to make it all easy to learn a lot and get around.
Newport Rhode Island is definitely worth a visit….out-of-season for more peace, quiet, and fewer crowds
