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Newport County, Rhode Island

A Year-Round Destination


Read about more great things to do & places to visit in this region!

Newport, also known as The City by the Sea, and the Newport region have been among America's premier vacation destinations for centuries. Within this historic city are excellent restaurants, interesting shopping venues like lower Thames Street and the Brick Market Place, and picturesque wharves that remind visitors of the city’s dynamic seafaring past and present.

Visitors come from far and wide to tour the Gilded-Age mansions like Rosecliff, The Elms, The Breakers, Marble House, Kingscote, and several others. Several of the mansions have gorgeous gardens, and the major properties host beloved annual events, like the springtime Newport Flower Show and a variety of sparkling, festive celebrations at Christmas. During the summer the city buzzes with activity from waterfront shopping and great New England dining, and the sounds of the city's famous music festivals, featuring leading jazz musicians and folk music legends.

The Newport Historical Society conducts interesting walking tours that show the places and tell the stories of Newport's pirates, rum runners, Colonial structures, food, and, of course, ghosts. Lodgings like historic inns and B&Bs are perfect for a romantic getaway or any other kind of vacation.



Newport's Pell Bridge & Goat Island Lighthouse Bannister's Wharf - A Newport Shopping & Seafaring Destination

Fun Things To Do in Newport, RI

Newport, RI, is a lovely coastal town with a rich history, stunning beaches, and fun shops. As you drive into this charming town, you’ll drive across the iconic Newport Bridge, making sure to take in the beautiful views. For nature enthusiasts, visit the Cliff Walk as you drive into town, and walk along the water while enjoying the well-preserved mansions that line the cliffs. Newport is filled with natural beauty, with pristine beaches and stunning houses.

For more active excursions, Newport also offers various activities, including sailing and hiking. After working up a sweat, explore the bustling waterfront filled with shops, galleries, and restaurants. History enthusiasts can enjoy the city’s Historical Society or spend some time exploring the Old Quarter. The Redwood Library and Athenaeum, one of the oldest libraries in the United States, is a treasure trove of rare books and artifacts. When the evening rolls around, Newport comes alive with a fun nightlife and exquisite seafood. The city is a must-visit destination for those seeking natural beauty and coastal charm.

Read about more great things to do & places to visit in this region!

Front Exterior Rough Point Mansion Newport Rhode Island
Rough Point

680 Bellevue Avenue Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-847-8344

Tour Doris Duke’s art-filled mansion on Newport’s waterfront

Take yourself back into the Gilded Age when you tour Rough Point, the oceanfront estate of philanthropist and art collector Doris Duke. When the heiress died in 1993, she left her seaside home, originally built for a Vanderbilt in 1887 in the English manorial style, to the Newport Restoration Foundation to be opened as a public museum. It is preserved as she left it, with French furniture, European art, Chinese porcelains and Flemish tapestries from her global travels. An eclectic collector, she combined her treasures with those of her family to decorate her home. Visitors may take a 75-minute guided tour or a self-guided stroll through the mansion and the magnificent formal gardens, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Open seasonally March-early January - For information about operating hours please check the Rough Point website.
Aquarium Boy - Save The Bay - Narragansett Bay, RI
Save The Bay

Multiple Centers & Dock Locations Providence, Newport, Westerly, RI and Fall River, MA Phone: 401-272-3540

Wow your kids with a visit to the Hamilton Family Aquarium!

Save The Bay's new Hamilton Family Aquarium in downtown Newport, RI is an ideal place to whet the interest of young kids in the mystery and value of marine life. This expansive center shelters 40 species from Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island waters, and kids may meet some of them via touch tanks and dozens of exhibits. Skates, dogfish sharks, urchins, crabs and lobsters, seahorses, turtles, and more!
Boat tours depart from Newport, Westerly, and Providence RI.
New Loft Suite - Mill Street Inn - Newport, RI
Mill Street Inn

75 Mill Street Newport, RI, 02840 Phone: 401-849-9500 Toll-Free: 800-392-1316

Small comforts by the sea

This small boutique hotel, housed in a building named a National Historic Landmark, is perfectly set on the scenic harbor steps away from waterfront shops and restaurants in the Historic Hill neighborhood of Newport. This all suite hotel features 23 spacious and luxurious suites with original beams and exposed brick walls combining combine contemporary design and technology with historic charm. Each offers down feather beds with 400 thread count linens, free wireless internet, flat screen TV's, marble bathrooms, plush bathrobes, mini-bar and fridge, and complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon tea. You may also request suites with balconies, living rooms and gas fireplaces. A rooftop patio for sunny morning breakfasts give guests an expansive view of this beautiful city by the sea.
Daffodils - Newport County Chamber of Commerce - Newport, RI
Newport County Chamber of Commerce

35 Valley Road Middletown, RI, 02842 Phone: 401-847-1600

Newport County is steeped in history and beauty. The City on the Sea, in addition to the famous mansions, has the distinction of having more authentic colonial era structures than any other American city. The region, which also includes Jamestown, Portsmouth and Middletown, features beaches, vineyards, scores of great and interesting shops, an array of restaurants, luxury hotels and quaint inns and B&Bs. Beautiful parks and dramatic vistas are found along Ocean Drive. Also not to be missed are the Tennis Hall of Fame, Fort Adams, and Newport’s world famous folk, jazz, and classical music festivals. The Newport County Chamber of Commerce can provide you complete information and help in planning your visit.
Wine & Beers - Newport Vineyards - Middletown, RI - Photo Credit Annabelle Henderson Photography
Newport Vineyards

909 East Main Road (Route 138) Middletown, RI, 02842 Phone: 401-848-5161

Beers at this brewing company meant to be enjoyed right away to capture the freshness factor

When you sample one of the craft brews at Taproot Brewing Company, at Newport Vineyards, you’ll be tasting a beer that went right from the farm brewery to your glass. Equipped with a state-of-the-art, seven-barrel brewhouse, Taproot, established in 2018, proudly makes unfiltered hop-forward beers in small batches. It’s the kind of beer meant to be enjoyed right away for the ultimate in freshness. Come by the brewery restaurant space, or The Overlook, on the upper level with views of the winemaking area and vineyard, to enjoy a hazy IPA, a cranberry sour, a blonde ale or an Irish red lager along with some delightful food options from the vineyard’s farm-to-table menu. Check the website for special holiday and weekend events.