Newport, a cozy coastal town found on the coast of Rhode Island. Where the rich and famous own “summer cottages”, the only National Recreation Trail exists in the United States, and where you can find seafood on every street corner. A town where the Atlantic Ocean crashes into Eastern America and people are as friendly as ever. What resulted in a one-day stay in Newport has turned into an obsession that will bring me back time and time again.
One Day in Newport – A Day Trip From Boston
One of my favorite things about being assigned a travel nurse contract in Boston is the accessibility of visiting new states, towns, and places. Compared to the West Coast, you can move from state to state in a matter of hours. Uncovering hidden gems and happening across some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. The East Coast has no shortage of quaint beach towns, cozy mountain towns, and more. When I arrived in Boston I immediately started to plan for a trip to Rhode Island’s most charming coastal town – Newport. What resulted was an hour and a half drive south, and the perfect one-day stay in Newport.
Useful Tips for Visiting Newport
Getting to Newport from Boston
If you’re arriving in Newport from Boston, the drive is quick and easy, following the interstate south most of the way. If you need to rent a car the easiest way I’ve found to do so is to rent from the Boston Logan International Airport. There are numerous rental agencies, however, I’ve found Enterprise Rent-A-Car to be accommodating and fair on price.
If you don’t want to rent a car, there is a bus option running from Boston to Newport. Check out Wanderu for different options on arriving via bus.
Staying in Newport
Newport is small, only 12 square miles, and inhabiting just over 12,000 people. The main street in town, Thames Street is Newport’s oldest street and runs parallel to the harbor. It’s here where you’ll find most of the attractions, restaurants, and bars. I would recommend staying on or near Thames Street. The resource I tend to use when finding where to stay in Airbnb or booking.com. (If you’re new to Airbnb, use my referral code for a $55 credit).
What to Do in Newport
For a town that only covers 12 square miles, there are many things to see and do in Newport. The highlights include…
Tour the Mansions – There are currently 10 Newport mansions open for viewing. Depending on which mansions you choose to tour, prices vary. The most famous mansion – The Breakers, was built by the Vanderbilts in 1893 and costs $26/adult to enter. For all information on visiting the mansions, get the latest information from The Preservation Society of Newport County.
Walk Thames Street – Thames Street is the main town in Newport. It runs parallel to the marina and boasts excellent bars, restaurants, and shopping. Don’t miss the lobster nachos from The Red Parrot Restaurant or a sunrise coffee overlooking the ocean from Coffee Grinder.
Drive through Ocean Drive Historic District – The Ocean Drive Historic District is a long street winding throughout the most historic parts of Newport. You’ll pass mansions, cozy summer homes, and drive alongside the ocean. Weather permitting, rent a bike, and bike this ~2-mile road.
Walk the Cliff Walk – The Cliff Walk is a designated National Recreation Trail spanning 3.5 miles of rugged coastline. Where the Atlantic meets the East Coast, you’ll find yourself viewing the mansions from the back and hearing the waves crash as you walk. Make sure to bring comfortable shoes, there are rocky parts of the trail.
When to Visit
Although Newport is a beach town, given its location on the East Coast it sees all four seasons. The best time to visit this cozy coastal town is in the summer when people are out, all the bars and restaurants are open, and you can enjoy a visit to the beach.
My short time in Newport flew by. Filled with driving, long walks, touring mansions that made me feel as though I was back in Europe, and enjoying great food with great company. After all, isn’t that what day trips are all about?
For more day trips from Boston, make sure to check out Provincetown, MA
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Kylee is a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse passionate about making travel affordable and accessible to nurses. Inspiring nurses to travel both near and far, Kylee began Passports and Preemies in 2017 while volunteering in Skopje, North Macedonia as a way to reach nurses and advocate for the prevention of nurse burnout by traveling. Kylee is the original creator of the “8 Day Vacay” – a vacation geared towards nurses who aim to take advantage of the potentially 8 days off between work weeks with no need to use PTO.
