A long weekend in Newport, Rhode Island was such an amazing coastal getaway. We went in the middle of March, and even though it was chilly, we took advantage of the off-season hotel prices and little to no crowds. We stayed at Gurney’s Newport and it lived up to every expectation I had from stalking them on Instagram. The views from the property of the water and bridge are quintessentially New England. Our room had a perfect view of the bridge. Each morning I would make Shane open the blinds before I got out of bed to enjoy the views.
The view from our hotel room.
DAY ONE
When we first arrived, we took the shuttle from the hotel to the center of town. We started walking along the cobblestone streets and found Brick Alley Pub. The vibe of this place is so lively. It was early afternoon on a Friday and yet the bar was filled. We enjoyed some bar snacks and some local beers. Shane loved this place so much he wanted to go back every time we had some downtime in our days. We walked along Thames Street, Bowens Wharf, and Spring Street before stopping into the White Horse Tavern for a drink. The tavern is considered America’s oldest restaurant, open since 1673 (!!) and you can feel the history the minute you walk in the door.
For dinner, we ate at the Clarke Cooke House. Shane and I are obsessed with oysters and we were excited about being in the heart of oyster land. We honestly ordered a dozen at every meal and we have no regrets.
DAY TWO
Then, the next morning, we walked across the bridge connecting Goat Island to Aquidneck Island. There is the most special hidden gem tucked away at the boatyard right at the entrance to Goat Island called Belle’s Cafe. It’s an order-at-the-counter spot and the food is AHH-MAZING. Their bagel sandwich was one of my favorites. After carb-loading, we headed to The Breakers and purchased our house tour tickets. It included an audio tour and the history of the homes – the stories of the families were fascinating. Shane and I love to do historic home tours on vacations – it gives us so much insight into how the area developed, which must be the urban planners in us. We did The Breakers and The Elms mansions and they were different but equally interesting.
Along the audio tour at The Breakers.
After educating ourselves, we headed to grab a bite at Wharf Pub. This is where I should mention that we were coincidentally there on St. Patricks Day and guys, we had NO IDEA how Irish Newport was. The town basically became a sea of green and there were parades and green beer at every turn. It looks like so much fun, but since we weren’t expecting it, we were a bit overwhelmed. Interestingly, around 4 pm, the chaos disappeared and the slow coastal town vibes returned instantly. We chose the Wharf Pub because it was near the action but not IN the action and we enjoyed some seafood here.
We headed back to Gurney’s to relax before dinner. They had live music and we enjoyed a cocktail with a view of the water. It was heavenly. The bartender suggested dinner at Fluke and I owe him my firstborn for this recommendation. We made a reservation right on the spot and when we arrived at the restaurant, they seated us along the window where we had a perfect view of the boats on the water and got to watch the sunset. The food was phenomenal and the service was so good, we didn’t want to leave.
Drinks on the deck at Gurney’s Newport.
DAY THREE
At the start of Day Three, we headed out for a small road trip to Mystic, Connecticut. I’d never been to Connecticut before and in order to cross the state of the list, I tried to find a small quaint downtown to explore. Mystic did NOT disappoint. The town is where Mystic Pizza was filmed and if you watch the movie, you will recognize the town the minute you get on the main street. We walked up and down the street, crossing the drawbridge, and popping in and out of the small shops. Shane loved Bank Square Books – he always gets lost in the shelves of local bookstores. On the way back to Newport, we stopped at M Bar for a cup of coffee and the decor of this place was so cute. I wished we would have stopped here for a meal because I didn’t want to leave.
After making the 1.5-hour drive back to Newport, we drove to the Cliff Walk. We started at Forty Steps and walked along the coast. I downloaded the free “Visit Newport RI” app on my phone and as we walked, I was able to read the history of the spot. Along the path, there are trail marker numbers that correspond with the app. (In the app, click Main Menu, and select Cliff Walk – World Famous 3.5-mile Walk).
There are so many good photo-ops along the Cliff Walk.
We ended the day with oysters (can’t stop, won’t stop) at Midtown Oyster Bar. This place is so cute and would be perfect for lunch, dinner, or a drink.
DAY FOUR
Our final morning, before heading back to the Providence airport, we stopped at Stoneacre Brasserie. Since it was a Monday morning, we basically had the restaurant to ourselves. The way they decorated the restaurant makes you feel all cozy and Shane and I loved our breakfast orders. Stoneacre would be a great place to grab a bite for lunch or dinner, too.
Breakfast at Stoneacre Brasserie.
Our long weekend in Newport, Rhode Island lived up to every expectation I had. Everything is walkable, which Shane and I loved. The people were so friendly and were always willing to offer recommendations. As we were walking the streets, we were already thinking about when we could plan our next trip back. And maybe next time, we’ll plan to go during the summer so we can actually enjoy Gurney’s pool.
If you’re planning a trip to Newport, Rhode Island soon, I suggest purchasing my Newport, Rhode Island Three Day Weekend Guide. This guide gives you:
– Tips on how to get to Newport
– Three full days worth of activities and restaurants
– Itineraries for every single day of your stay
– My hotel recommendations
– Packing tips
There’s even a bonus itinerary to Mystic, Connecticut, which makes a great day trip from Newport.
