planning a trip to new port this summer

We are planning on the first part of July July 9 or 10 arrival,

We love history and nature and would like some time to do a little shopping. How may days to you suggest is 3- 4 days enough or to much?

We are looking for suggetions of things to do?

We also would like a clean / reasonabably priced room $150 or under near Newport.

We need a sea food place tha also serves other dishes. I due to medical condition I can not eat sea food but friend loves it. Some place casual would be good.

Thanks

planning a trip to new port this summer

This is the busy time and I assume rooms in downtown will be at a premium. This being a sea town, there are plent of fish resturants all over the harbor. There are so many fine places it is difficult to reccomend one at this time, it depends on where you stay.

There is never a lock of things to do in Newport. Just pick up a local weekly paper or look in the Newport Daily News for postings of what to do. If you%26#39;ve never been to the mansions, I%26#39;d reccomend the Breakers as this is the largest and most famous of the tour. Gateway Bus center on the northern part of down town, on Americs Cup Ave, can give you a guided bus tour of the mansions and the island

planning a trip to new port this summer

The town of Middletown is a great home base to use for Newport. You%26#39;ll get better priced hotels, and it is 5 minutes to Newport from most locations in Middletown. Use the Middletown location on Trip Advisor to get hotel names.

If you love nature and history, you picked a great place! For the nature part, you must walk the Cliff Walk, and take a drive around Ocean Drive, maybe have a picnic at Brenton Point State Park. Sachuest Point and/or the Norman Bird Sanctuary are beautiful too, lots of bird-watching, trails, they both have small musuems to explain the local flora and fauna. They are both in Middletown, but if you look at a map of Aquidneck Island, you%26#39;ll see that it%26#39;s a relatively small area you%26#39;d be covering. For history, I don%26#39;t even know where to start. There%26#39;s tons to do in Newport historically. I agree with the last poster about the Breaker%26#39;s, out of all the mansions, it%26#39;s the most elaborate.

While in Middletown, I would suggest Anthony%26#39;s Seafood restaurant, it%26#39;s very casual but very fresh seafood, and great prices. Not a ton of atmosphere, it%26#39;s not down on the water, but awesome clamboils, lobster, fried clams, etc. They don%26#39;t offer a lot of non-seafood dinners though, other than burgers and buffalo chicken. If you%26#39;re looking for something more Newport-on-the-water with a bigger menu, I would suggest the West Deck, my favorite restaurant. It%26#39;s casual, but fan-tas-tic food, it%26#39;s not inexpensive, but I think for what you get it%26#39;s very reasonable for Newport, the service is always great, everything I%26#39;ve had there has always been wonderful.

For shopping, just walk the length of Thames St, from Long Wharf to lower Thames, everything you could possibly want to buy is along that one mile stretch--all of the wharfs are along the same stretch too.

I think you%26#39;ll love Newport and Aquidneck Island, you%26#39;ll find plenty to do. 3 days will fly, but you can always come back!

Ditto Sachuest Point, Bird Sanctuary, state parks in Jamestown, and the Redwood Library if you really like history. If you like US history you will truly appreciate Npt.

In summer maybe try Bay Willows Motel or Las Palmas B%26amp;B although I%26#39;m not sure how good they are. There is a Motel 6 at the Npt/Middletown line, any of the rooms, especially those in the back are not bad at all, considering how exp. everything else.

The least expensive option:book Motel 6 early . Come in the middle of the week, if you can (cheaper stay, less people), use a cab to get to Newport, sometimes it may not be available though- too busy

Remember, however, driving in Newport could be a problem: one way narrow street entangled together with too much traffic as some people just come for the day; parking sometimes not available and expensive, some streets only residential parking sticker required,

Newport is best for walking, it is very pleasant; and,if you%26#39;d like a couple of drinks late at night it may cost you a lot!!! to drive back to Middletown, they have plenty of police cars.

So, you may save a bundle on a hotel outside of Newport, but it will take all the fun away from your vacation. That explains, why families bite the bullet and pay a lot to be in downtown: daddy can go for a beautiful jog in the morning, mom can take kids to the pool or to feed the seagulls, fly a kite on Brenton Point (you need to drive there), the car will be parked for an additional fee at the hotel for a piece of mind and convinience. You have plenty of simple meals on the go, or fancy dinner choices, hotels may provide babysitting with advance notice. In the middle of the week try Priceline, ask for 4 star hotel in Newport, they offer sometimes very limited number of rooms just to say in the ads, that they can get you for 150, when regular prices 350$, but I would not bet on it.

BTW, I agree Anthony has good food, but it is a fish store with few tables, it is useful, when you hungry and drive by towards Newport vineyard for vine tasting or Polo match on Saturdays, but I won%26#39;t recommend the place as a destination.

Rainy Day 1: take a trolley tour of Newport, visit a mansion, dine at 22 Bowens or Black Pearl (both expensive), go for a night cap and /or dancing

Sunny hot day: Go to the beach very early with the picnic basket, take a boat for a harbor cruise or go to the movies in the afternoon, go shopping on Thames (a lot of walking) in the evening, have dinner at Mama Louisa%26#39;s or Bouchard%26#39;s -expensive, worth it

Sunny pleasant day: Take a Cliff Walk to the end, put on comfy shoes, sun block, hats, take a sandwich, plenty of water, cell phone to call a cab as you may be tired to walk all the way back and your camera for beautiful pictures, you may spend all day there, there are benches once in a while, or you can seat on the rocks and watch the waves. Take a swim at Poor Man%26#39;s Baileys beach, which neighbours the upscale and private , you guessed it : Baileys beach! Eat at the wateredge of the West Deck-exp, Black Pearl%26#39;s open air bistro, 22 Bowen%26#39;s outside bar fare or Vincent%26#39;s on the Pier, outside; or inside Marriott%26#39;s Fathoms - great view, if seated by the windows.Later listen to the music at the Blues Cafe.

Rainy day2/sunny day: visit Green Animals Topiary garden and Toy Museum, you need to drive there 20 min, taste/buy wine at Newport Vinyards, check Chaves garden store across from them;

or drive to Saconnett Vineyards at Little Compton through Tiverton%26#39;s 4 corners, pretty drive for an hour for another vine tasting and Rhode Islands best ice-cream ( at Grey%26#39;s in Tiverton) Have dinner at Brick Alley if you can get in: great food, wine and value!! Place is where locals go!

And I did not even mentioned golf, sailing, International Polo matches, and that you coming, I beleive, during Tennis week (Campbells championship) at International Hall of Fame in Newport. And I would go for a ghost tour at the Belcourt Castle in the evening, the only private mansion opened to the public in Newport, and one must see the Marble house( read book ';Alva';) and the Elms, and Classic Music Festival in many Mansions and even on the boat , sunset cruises, old fashioned game of baseball on Tuesdays-local team, the Gulls. I can go on and on... I love Newport!

Do a lot of reading, watch ';Great Catsby'; again, it will help you to get to know and love Newport, check links

http://www.gonewport.com/

http://www.newportmusic.org/

newportfestivals.com/Sunset-Music-Festival/

http://www.tennisfame.com/

http://www.newportblues.com/home2.asp

Thanks for all of your great advice!!!! We decided to stay at a Comfort Inn in Newport and save $ on parking or taxi fare! I can not wait to get to Newport!!!

Comfort Inn is a great choice. The beach is right across the street. Flo%26#39;s for fried clams is a must, or what every sea food you enjoy. Alantic Grill for the best breakfast on the island is right around the corner. Alantic Beach Club across the street has excellent portioned $10 early bird dinner specials Monday-Thursday. The walk to down town NPT is about 1 1/2 miles.

Agreed, good choice....another good thing is that the Summer Trolley will be running and it runs right down Memorial Blvd (right next to the hotel) right to Downtown. Could be an option for you.

I stay at the Travelodge in Middletown...it%26#39;s quiet and clean and on the bus line...a short hop downtown and I don%26#39;t have to worry about parking.

There is also the Jane Pickens theater...it%26#39;s a lovely place...as well as the White Horse Tavern...the oldest continuously operating tavern in the country. The food is very good.

Thanks for the tip on Anthony%26#39;s...I%26#39;ll be trying it when I go back end of April.

Just walking around Newport is lovely. Enjoy your trip.

oh my! clams at flo%26#39;s....slurrrrrrp!!!

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