Newport, RI Weekend Vacation Getaway

Things To Do

Too often people go away and stumble around trying to determine what there is to do and where to do it. What a waste of precious time! We tell you what there is to do and with whom to do it. Whether it is the best golf course, where to charter a boat, what museums not to miss, you’ll know what you want to do and where to do it before you ever get there.

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Golf

Newport National Golf Club. Mitchell’s Lane Middletown. The Orchard course is a 7,200 yard par 72 links style course with views of the Atlantic Ocean and Sakonnet Passage. $125 weekdays, $150 weekends including cart. Golf Digest’s “Best New Private Course”. 2003.

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Tennis

International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. Bellevue Ave. Open 9:30am-5pm. Play on grass courts from May-September. Visit the Hall of Fame and Museum.

Baseball

Amateur baseball rules at the delightful downtown McCoy Stadium and the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox are just a short ride away. April-September.

Watersports

Newport Watersports, Inn on Long Wharf. Everything you might need; waverunners ($105/hr), 14’ Boston Whaler ($60/hr), kayaks (double $25/hr), 23’ sailboat (1/2 day $130). They can also arrange private speedboat and sailing tours, sport fishing charters ($100/person 1/2 day includes rods and bait)

Horseback Riding

Newport Equestrian Academy, 287 Third Beach Road, Middleton. 1 1/2 hour private ride by the beaches $100.

Sailing

Try a sunset cruise on the 78ft. schooner Adirondack II, a replica of a turn-of-the-century twin masted schooner.

Antiques

Nearly a dozen good choices. Among the best; Aardvark Antiques. J.T. Connell Highway, Cottage & Garden, Bridge Street and JB Antiques, Franklin Street.

Tours

Behind-the-Scenes at the Elms. Bellevue Ave. What life was like in the mansions during the Gilded Age from the perspective of the servants. Other mansion tours available from same source. Access Tours has more than 15 different tours available. Private, small groups, comfortable vans. Priced from $20-$70. Viking Tours. Narrated tours, including the mansions, on an open trolley. From the Visitor’s Center on America’s Cup Ave. $20-$42.

Museums

International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, Bellevue Ave... Artillery Company of Newport Armory and Military Museum. Clarke Street. Military uniforms and artifacts from all over the world. Museum of Newport History. Thames Street. History of the people of Newport. Closed Tuesdays. Touro Synagogue is a National Historic site, the oldest synagogue in America and the only one to survive the colonial period.

Galleries

There are nearly 20 galleries in town. Some of the more prominent include; William Vareika Fine Arts. Bellevue Ave. Nationally recognized gallery of American art. Onne Van der Wall Gallery, Bannister’s Wharf. Newport and nautical photography. Roger King Gallery of Fine Art, Bowen’s Wharf. 19th and 20th century American art.

Theatre

The Astor’s Beechwood Mansion. Bellevue Ave. Actor’s portray Astor family members for a look at life during the Gilded Age.

Shopping

Lots of shops and boutiques. Some of our favorites; Runcible Spoon, Bellevue Ave. Unique kitchen and table store. Annabelle, Thames Street, Fine lingerie. Portobello Jewelers. Voted “Best” Jeweler in Newport.

Festivals

February - Newport Winter Festival
March - St. Patrick’s Day Parade
April - Daffodil Days
May - Newport Boat Show
June - Newport Polo Series; Newport Film Festival; Secret Garden Tour
July - Newport Music Festival; Newport Regatta
August - Newport Folk Festival; Newport Jazz Festival
September - Newport International Boat Show
October - Columbus Day Parade
November/December - Christmas at the Mansions
December - Holiday Stroll

Jim Flyn's BestWeekends

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