Newport, Rhode Island

If you ever go to the New England area, Newport, Rhode Island is one of my favorite places to go! Sure, it can be a little on the pricier side, but it does not have to be if you plan it right. If you're going for a day trip, there are gas stations in the downtown Newport area that let you park there for a $10 fee (which turns out to be a lot more economically sound than parking in a regular parking lot). If you're staying overnight and want to save a little money on the hotel, there are cheaper motels/small hotels in Middletown, Rhode Island. In Newport, though, if you don't mind spending a bit more, the

Marriot is a wonderful place to stay. It's a waterfront hotel and it's located right on Bowen's Wharf, with a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean and all the boats and sailboats docked in the marina. It's also in a prime location; the wharf is actually a pretty cool place to hang out with it's pretty scenery, interesting little shops, and awesome restaurants. Aside from motels and hotels, there are bed and breakfasts available to stay in, but they require a reservation much sooner as they fill up faster.

Now, whichever you choose, park your car for the day and just walk Newport! It's not as lengthy as you think to see the things you want, and if your feet do get tired, there's a trolley that will take you to/or close to the locations you want. I always park at a gas station and walk down Bellevue Avenue to see all the historic mansions (which some allow mansion tours!) All the way down Bellevue, turn left and go toward the water... this is where park of the Cliff Walk is! (Convenient maps of Newport: Citimaps-Newport)  The Cliff Walk is an amazing walk along the ocean. You can see some of Salve Regina University, the Forty Steps, and other various spots. At the Forty Steps, you can walk down to the water and see a cool little cave and if the water is low enough, go out on the rocks. Careful, though, they can be a bit slippery! I love climbing on things, so I always sneak around toward the weird little cave and climb on the rocks there. Just because I can.

There are a good amount of mansions you can get a tour for, all you have to do is look online and schedule properly because they all don't have the same seasonal times. Newport was a prominent port city in the 18th century and many of these mansions are from this era. There is also a lot of Guilded Age history in Newport, but back to the mansions...

Here's the list of some mansions to definitely look into:

• The Elms
• The Breakers
• Isaac Bell House
• Marble House
• Kingscote

But there are also a few more.

Not only are there cool mansions in Newport, there are some awesome antique shops. Even if it's not
the kind of stuff you'd wanna buy, there are interesting artifacts in there, old style clothing from another era, and old magazines/books. (Last time I went, I bought a couple National Geographic magazines from the 1920's.) There's antiques salvaged from old ships and the mansions, old cameras, knives, and jewelry. Pretty much, there's a ton of stuff and it's worth looking through. The biggest antique shop is right in downtown, but there are a couple others scattered around if you feel like searching for them.

There are quite a lot of restaurants in Newport, but one of my favorites is Wharf Pub Newport on Bowen's Wharf. It has a unique take on pub food, the prices are not too high considering, and it always has a great beer list (from all New England breweries). The grilled calamari is delicious and they even have a peanut butter burger! Don't worry, though, if you're not into exploring odd foods, there is normal food on the menu. If you don't want to do dessert at the restaurant you have decided on, go back on the main street and enjoy some sweets from the local fudge shop. It's one of my favorite places to hit every single time I go to Newport!

Last of all, don't forget about the wonderful Newport beaches! The beaches are beautiful, with white sand and cool water splashing on the shore. The mansions are still visible from the beach, giving it an even more scenic view. The prices to park closer to the beach are more expensive, so definitely make note of that when you decide what you are going to do.

I hope you visit and enjoy!

- Nikki Kristan xo


ps: If you're interested in looking into it, help me with my trip around the USA! Just go to my GoFundMe and take a look. Support, in any form, is always appreciated. <3