The Best Things to Do in Newport, Rhode Island
The Best Things to Do in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport may be best known for its stunning Gilded Age mansions that were once home to famous families like the Vanderbilts, Kennedys, and Astors, but beyond its excessive exterior, the city and its surrounding area offer an enviable range of activities and destinations. From taking a stroll along the Cliff Walk to sampling the most unique dessert in town, here are the best things to do in Newport.
Play tennis on a grass court at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
In 1881, the Tennis Hall of Fame—then a social club called the Newport Casino designed by the noted architectural firm McKim, Mead & White—hosted the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championships. Today, that tournament is the US Open, which takes place on hard courts in Flushing Meadows, Queens. For the original experience, the Tennis Hall of Fame's grass courts are open to the public for play. Rates and instructions on how to make a reservation can be found here.
Walk the Cliff Walk.
This 3.5-mile walkway runs along the ocean and offers the best vantage point to see some of the city's most spectacular Gilded Age mansions. The Cliff Walk is free, open to the public, and open daily from sunrise to sunset. Its entrances can be found on a map here. (Note that due to structural damage to a section of the Cliff Walk, detours will be in place between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street for the foreseeable future.)
Sleep in a lighthouse.
Rose Island Lighthouse offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to spend the night and experience life as a lightkeeper on the 18-acre island in Narragansett Bay. Reservations can be made here.
Tour the Breakers.
The largest and grandest of the Newport Mansions, the Breakers was built between 1893 and 1895 as Cornelius Vanderbilt II's summer "cottage." The 125,000-square-foot house and 13 acres of grounds are open daily for self-guided tours.
Finish your Clarke Cooke House meal with a Snowball in Hell.
As far as Newport restaurants go, it doesn't get more authentic than the Clarke Cooke House on Bannister's Wharf. Its SkyBar is also one of the only remaining restaurants that requires a jacket for gentlemen. Whatever you order, make sure to leave room for a
Snowball in Hell. The decadent dessert consists of chocolate roulade and vanilla ice cream served in a goblet coated with Callebaut chocolate and coconut. It's been a staple on the menu since the 1970s.
Take a bike tour along the rails.
WIth Rail Explorers, you can pedal the rails that track along the coastal tip of Aquidneck Island, which encompasses Portsmouth, Middletown, and Newport. It's an activity that anyone can enjoy—no matter their age.
Take in a music festival.
Newport has three prestigious ones: the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and Newport Classical.
Visit the Blue Garden.
Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and opened in 1913, the Blue Garden was restored in 2014 thanks to the generosity of Campbell Soup heiress Dorrance Hill Hamilton. The garden is open only on Thursdays from June through October. Advance reservations, which can be made here, are required.
Stomp the divots at a polo match.
The Newport International Polo Series matches are held each Saturday from June to September. Book your tickets here.
Go wine tasting at a vineyard.
There are three in the area to choose from: Newport Vineyards in Middletown, Greenvale Vineyards in Portsmouth, and Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyards in Little Compton.
Go beer tasting at a brewery, too.
Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Company was founded in 1999 by four college friends. Today, the brewery serves more than 10 beers on tap at its tasting room. Guests can also sample spirits from the distillery side of the operation, including Thomas Tew Rum, the official rum of the New York Mets.
Have dinner at one of the oldest restaurants in the world.
The White Horse Tavern began serving guests in 1673, making it the oldest restaurant in the United States and the tenth oldest in the world. It serves a farm-to-table menu for dinner nightly.
Peruse the stacks at the Redwood Library.
The Redwood Library and Athenaeum is America’s first purpose-built library (dating to 1747), and the oldest continuously operating one in its original location. This year, it celebrates 275 years as Newport’s intellectual center.
Sail in Newport Harbor.
Newport is known for sailing and offers boundless opportunities to get out on the water. America’s Cup Charters operates the largest fleet of America’s Cup Winners in the world, for instance, with both scheduled cruises and private charters available.
Attend America's oldest Fourth of July parade.
Founded in 1785, Bristol's Fourth of July Parade is the oldest continuous July 4th celebration in United States.
Go for a scenic joyride on Ocean Drive.
Ocean Drive offers 10 miles of commanding coastline with breathtaking views—an ideal route for a leisurely drive.
Chow down on a lobster roll.
Enjoy a warm buttered lobster roll at Easton’s Beach Snack Bar in Newport or the Blount Clam Shack in Warren.
Visit Newport's new sailing museum.
The Sailing Museum is one of the latest additions to Newport. It's open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can take a quiz to find the boat that best suits their personality and tour exhibits including one that showcases the sailing community's top designers, shipbuilders, historians, Olympians, sailmakers, and champions.
Shop and eat on Newport's wharfs.
Stroll along the Bowen’s Wharf and Bannister’s Wharf, which feature iconic Newport dining destinations like the Black Pearl and the Clarke Cooke House. Get your preppy shopping fix at Kiel James Patrick and find nautically inspired goods at the Sail Loft and Sea Bags too.
Go fly a kite.
The kite-flying conditions are perfect at Brenton Park State Park in Newport, which overlooks Ocean Drive. So perfect, in fact, that a Kite Festival takes place there every July.
Enjoy a lobster boil followed by a sunset sail on a tall ship.
The 101-foot classic Schooner Aurora offers a unique opportunity to have a lobster dinner dockside and then set sail for a relaxing and scenic cruise around Narragansett Bay. Reservations can be made here.
Head to the beach.
Located at the start of the Cliff Walk, Easton’s Beach—also known as First Beach—occupies a quarter-mile-long stretch of sand. Sachuest Beach—or Second Beach—has a mile of sand. Both beaches have concession stands, bathrooms, changing areas, showers, grills, and picnic tables.
Tour some of America's earliest houses of worship.
Founded in 1698 as the first outpost of the Church of England in the Rhode Island colony, Trinity Church (pictured here) hosted George Washington when he worshipped there in 1781. Just two blocks away is Touro Synagogue, the earliest synagogue in the United States. Another favorite of history buffs is the Roman Catholic parish St. Mary's Church, where John F. Kennedy married Jacqueline Bouvier in 1953.
Have an al fresco cocktail.
Enjoy a drink al fresco at one of Newport's many scenic spots like Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina on Goat Island, the Chanler at Cliff Walk, OceanCliff, and Castle Hill Inn (pictured here), where the Lawn features its own menu.
Watch a movie outdoors with a crowd.
NewportFILM Outdoors organizes outdoor film screenings of documentaries accompanied by live music, interviews with filmmakers and subjects, and food.
Take a trolley tour of the city.
A trolley tour offers the opportunity to see the city from a new angle, and Viking Tours has three options: a 90-minute Scenic Overview Tour, a three-hour Grand Mansion Tour, and a four-hour Vanderbilts' Newport tour.
Attend the Newport Flower Show.
The annual Newport Flower Show takes place in June and showcases floral design, horticulture exhibits, garden displays. The event is supported by the Preservation Society of Newport County and tickets are available here.
Learn about Newport history on a walking tour.
The Newport Historical Society offers walking tours centered around topics like "Rogues and Scoundrels" (which covers why Aquidneck Island was once known as "Rogue's Island") and "Golden to Gilded" (tracing Newport’s colonial Golden Age to the Gilded Age). The tours run from 75 to 90 minutes and tickets can be booked here.
Get out and about during Daffodil Days.
More than 1,200,000 daffodils bloom in Newport during Daffodil Days, celebrated every April. Among the events are the Newport Rhode Races marathon, half marathon, and 5K through daffodil-lined streets; a parade of 50 daffodil-decorated classic cars; and the Tour de Jonquilles bike ride and private garden tour.
Learn how to sail.
Sail Newport is New England's largest public sailing center, and its one-hour Try Sailing experience offers novice sailors in groups of up to four adults or two adults and three children the opportunity to get out on the water. More information, including rates and how to book, is available here. Adult intermediate and adult advanced classes are also offered weekly from mid-May through August on Sail Newport's fleet of J/22s.
Visit Blithewold.
Blithewold, an estate in Bristol with views of Narragansett Bay, includes a 45-room mansion and 33 acres of scenic gardens and grounds open for tours. The property was once the country house of Pennsylvania coal magnates Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle, who purchased it in 1894. They specifically chose Blithewold because it offered a place to dock their 78-foot steam yacht from Herreshoff, a noted boat firm in Bristol.
See some prized automobiles.
The Newport Car Museum and Audrain Auto Museum aim to please even the most discerning car enthusiasts. The Audrain hosts an annual Concours & Motor Week where esteemed judges honor cars that pay homage to history, luxury, and sport. Jay Leno regularly participates in the event.
Organize a clambake.
Host a classic clambake with McGrath Clambakes & Catering, a full-service catering company with more than 50 years of experience. McGrath's uses a traditional cooking process passed down from early New England Colonists.
Take in the view from Beavertail Lighthouse and Museum.
Beavertail Lighthouse and Museum in Beavertail State Park, on the southernmost tip of Jamestown, offers one of the most beautiful viewpoints along the New England coastline. Beavertail also has some of the best saltwater fishing in the area along with hiking trails and a naturalist program.
Have a rooftop cocktail.
Enjoy a drink at a scenic rooftop bar like the roof deck at the Vanderbilt, a recently renovated Auberge Resorts Collection property, or Top of Newport Bar + Lounge at Hotel Viking.
Find all nine lighthouses on the Classic Coast.
The nine beacons around Newport include Beavertail Lighthouse and Museum, Castle Hill Lighthouse, Dutch Island Lighthouse in Jamestown, Rose Island Lighthouse, Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse in Portsmouth, Ida Lewis Rock Lighthouse in Newport, Newport Harbor Light (Goat Island Light), Prudence Island Lighthouse in Portsmouth, and Sakonnet Point Light in Little Compton.
Go birding at Norman Bird Sanctuary.
Middletown's Norman Bird Sanctuary is a 325-acre oasis of diverse habitats featuring seven miles of hiking trails appropriate for all ages and abilities.
Go for a ride along the East Bay Bike Path.
Inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2009, the East Bay Bike Path runs 14.5 miles between Providence and Bristol. India Point Park in Providence is a great place to begin your ride.
Get a bird's eye view of the area.
Newport Helicopter Tours offers thrilling views of Aquidneck Island and the surrounding area from 1,000 feet up in the sky. The Mansion Tour ($85 per person) includes views of Rosecliff, Marble House, the Elms, other famous Newport properties.
Explore Tiverton Four Corners.
Tiverton is known for Tiverton Four Corners, the quaint assortment of shops at the center of the 18th-century New England village that was placed on the National Register in 1974.
Go for a walk around Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.
Middletown's 242-acre Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is an important stopover for 200 species of birds that visit the refuge seasonally.
Visit the Naval War College.
Founded in 1884 by Rear Admiral Stephen B. Luce, the Naval War College is a graduate-level facility that now educates leaders from all U.S. military services, U.S. government agencies and departments, and international navies. On its campus—in a National Historic Landmark building that was the original site of the College—is the Naval War College Museum, which collects, preserves, and exhibits artifacts and documents dating from the 1500s to the present day. The Museum covers the history of naval warfare and the naval heritage of Narragansett Bay, which begins with the nation's colonial roots. It's open to the public year-round Monday through Friday. Advance reservations are required and additional information is available here.
Celebrate Christmas in Newport.
The Christmas in Newport festival, which began in 1971, is 31 days of celebrations hosted by residents and shopkeepers who raise thousands of dollars for charity. Highlights includes Holidays at the Newport Mansions—with The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms decorated for the season—and the Newport Illuminated Boat Parade.
Visit Fort Adams State Park.
One of the most popular activities at Fort Adams State Park is taking a 2.5-mile walk around the fort and soaking in the stunning views of Newport Harbor. Guided tours are offered daily, and the site is also the perfect location for watching sunsets, sailboats, and cruise ships.
Explore Newport's burgeoning restaurant scene during Newport Restaurant Week.
November's Restaurant Week has an assortment of deals and delicious dishes offered across the city. See a list of participating restaurants here.
See some awe-inspiring topiaries at Green Animals.
Besides an incredible display of more than 80 topiaries in the shape of animals and geometric designs, Green Animals Topiary Garden is home to a remarkable array of flowering bulbs, perennials, annuals, and shrubs that bloom brightly throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
Find your favorite new burger at Burger Bender.
Burger Bender takes place for 10 days every February, with local chefs creating mouthwatering burgers of all varieties.
Take a Newport Foodies tour.
Go on a Newport Foodies Stroll around Lower Thames Street and you'll sample seafood and other coastal delights from five of the top locally owned restaurants.
Get scared on a ghost tour.
A lantern-led tour of Olde Town with Ghost Tours of Newport will reveal some of the city's dark and haunted past.
Choose your favorite food festival—or attend them all.
Food festivals like Newport Oyster & Chowder Festival in May and Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival in October focus on some of the destination's delicacies.
Go ice skating at a rink with a view of the Newport Bridge.
When temperatures drop, Gurney's Newport Resort and Marina transforms its North Lawn into a wintry wonderland complete with an ice skating rink as part of the property's Après Skate Winter Wonderland pop-up. Glide across the ice with unobstructed views of the Newport/Claiborne Pell Bridge, Goat Island Lighthouse, and Newport Harbor.
Choose a pumpkin at the Trinity Square Pumpkin Patch.
It's officially fall when the Trinity Square Pumpkin Patch pops up on Queen Anne Square in October. The patch features more than 1,000 pumpkins, live music, baked goods, lunches, and a pumpkin smashing center where visitors can take out any frustrations.
Have a picnic on a Newport Mansion lawn.
The Preservation Society of Newport County’s “Stroll the Gardens and Grounds” gives visitors the opportunity to picnic on the historic grounds of The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House in Newport, and Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth.
From the most impressive Gilded Age mansions to tour to the restaurants you can't miss, here are the best things to do in Newport, Rhode Island.