Newport RI sits at the southern end of Aquidneck Island at the mouth of Narragansett Bay as it opens up to the Atlantic. It is best known as the former stomping ground for the wealthy and elite of the Gilded Age and their opulent “summer cottages” along Bellevue Ave. Those mansions, many now open to the public as museums, draw visitors from around the globe. Other main attractions in this small city are drawn from the amusements of this elite past, most noticeably its renowned sailing culture and home to the America’s Cup for decades.
Somewhat buried in all this opulence and elite yachting is Newport’s colonial and Revolutionary history. In the heart of the city, you’ll find streets full of colonial and Federal era buildings and structures. The Point Historic District (“The Point”), north of downtown, is one of Newport’s oldest neighborhoods. It features one of the earliest examples of planned street grids in colonial America and one of the nation’s largest concentrations of pre-Revolutionary War houses. The Hunter House is here, an 18th-century mansion long preceding the Gilded Age, and the only Newport Preservation Society’s mansion outside the Bellevue Ave area.
The Historic Hill District, spanning out from the lively Bowen’s and Bannister’s Wharves, is known for its concentration of 18th- and 19th-century homes, churches, and public buildings. A few of the many landmarks here include Touro Synagogue, Trinity Church, the Colony House, and the iconic Newport Tower.
The southern end of downtown transitions from the Fifth Ward, historic home to the city’s working class Irish, to the mansions district, along with open country best known for the spectacular Ocean Drive and Fort Adams.
There is a LOT to do and see in Newport – you could spend an entire year here and never be bored. The sheer number of events is enough to keep you entertained if you get tired of mansions, museums, water excursions, restaurants, shops and walks in beautiful parks and neighborhoods. But the good news is that you can spend just a day and get a good taste of all that is Newport, though a couple days is best, and a week is even better.
Many visitors look for places to stay that are close to the mansions, but you’re better off being downtown, with its concentration of lodgings, restaurants and shops. If you’re here for just one day, or lodging further afield, there are a number of parking lots around the city, but they fill up quickly and are not cheap.
The city tries to direct the tourists to the Gateway parking lot, and that’s usually going to be your best bet, but if you can snag a spot at the Mary St parking lot, you’ll save some money. Your best bet for a day trip (or if your lodging is further afield) is to drive to the mansions, as they all have free parking, cruise Ocean Drive, then park downtown for strolling. This will minimize your parking fees.
If you’re situated in lodgings downtown, you can drive to the mansions, but traffic tends to be heavy. RIPTA (Rhode Island Public Transit Authority) can be your friend. Bus #67 goes from downtown and has stops at all the mansions. Bus #68 heads out to Easton Beach and to the northern and eastern neighborhoods. Both are free from late May through October and run every 15 to 20 minutes.
RIPTA has a convenient trip planner on its homepage – just plug in where you are and where you want to go and it will provide the route that will get you there and direct you to the nearest RIPTA stop. If you’re heading out of the downtown and mansions area, it’s best to take the car, or rent a bike or scooter.
