Meredith and I had the fantastic chance to visit Newport this month for a wedding (at the mansion from The Great Gatsby, no less), and after a weekend of frozen lemonade, beautiful boats, a dramatic coastline, stunning mansions, a spectacular sunset, and of course delicious food and a great place to stay, I’d say we covered our bases – especially given the fact that we were there for less than 36 hours!
Newport is one of those towns where American history literally surrounds you everywhere you look. Colonial areas of the downtown are rife with historical landmarks from around the time of the American Revolution, and the registry for the Bellevue Avenue Historic District reads like a who’s-who of early 20th-century American royalty. I’d have a hard time imagining that there is a better example of the history of the Gilded Age anywhere.
Everywhere you look in Newport, there are things to see and do, and 36 hours was only enough time to get a proper sampling. I think we’ll definitely be heading back to explore the rest of town and the surrounding areas (especially the fantastic village of Jamestown) in the very near future.
Flo’s Clam Shack
On your way into Newport, the first thing you need to do is visit Flo’s Clam Shack and grab one of their signature clam rolls. You won’t regret it. View pictures and read more about Flo’s Clam Shack here.
Del’s Frozen Lemonade
You might ask how a frozen beverage deserves its own callout, and I might reply that you have obviously never enjoyed the tasty slice of heaven that is Del’s Frozen Lemonade. Oddly enough, we were introduced to this delightful treat in school at North Carolina, where they serve it at the football and basketball games, but after graduating have not had it in nearly 4 years. We rectified that with two trips in less than twelve hours, and are now scheming on how to buy into a Del’s franchise for Maine.
Mill Street Inn
I don’t know how she does it, but time and time again, Meredith seems to find the perfect boutique inn or hotel for us to stay at. Map & Menu would be drastically-less helpful without her excellent research skills, and in the Mill Street Inn, she did it yet again. Less than a block away from Trinity Church (and a block more to the waterfront), this converted mill, mixed style, comfort, and convenience to provide us with a spectacular jumping-off point for our brief adventure. View pictures and read more about the Mill Street Inn here.
Fluke
We thought that a celebration dinner in Newport would make the trip even more special, and Fluke turned out to be the perfect setting for our festive meal! View pictures and read more about Fluke here.
The Cliff Walk
What would a trip to Newport be without the Cliff Walk? This 3.5 mile trail offers stunning views of the Newport craggy coastline… that is if you can take your eyes off of the towering mansions from some of America’s wealthiest families of the Gilded Age. Put your walking shoes on, and be prepared to be amazed.
On your next trip to Newport, please try our Newport hotel, The Attwater (www.theattwater.com) and eating at Thames Street Kitchen is a MUST!