Newport, RI and local questions can be asked here.

[galliegirlie]

I know the #67 bus has an official stop on Memorial Ave at the start of cliff walk, but my group wants to start at the forty steps and then continue to the breakers. Will the bus drop you off at Narragansett instead if you request it?

[SailBadtheSinner]

if you look at the route map for a route #67 bus outbound here: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/view.php , you will see that the #67 bus does not go to the start of Cliff Walk on Memorial Ave.

 

the #67 bus route includes Narragansett Ave. Just ride the bus to the Ochre Point Rd and Narragansett Ave intersection and walk east to CW. I believe there is a bus stop at the intersection or very close by.

 

 

SBtS

[socialworker]

My husband is interested in doing a sailing excursion while in Newport for a day (Sunday, 9/12/10). Princess offers an "America's Cup Sailing Experience" which begins just a short walk from the tender pier, is 2 hours in duration, and one can just sit and enjoy the ride, or particpate in the sailing. So I'm looking for something similar. I saw americascupcharters.com and classic12metercharters.com. Both appear to be good alternatives to the Princess tour. Does anyone have a definitive recommendation for this type of activity. I think he'd really enjoy the "racing" option.

 

Thanks for your help.

[ewl]

Just a note here, that when you are at the Touro Synagogue, you are just 2 blocks from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 70 Church St. This is the church where Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married.

 

Help! Google Maps is showing St. Mary's in two places-- one at 12 William St. at Spring St. & Memorial Blvd (this is also where the church website points), and the other at 70 Church Street, which would put it nearby to Touro Synagogue as you note. Which is it? Is one the historic church and the other a newer one? :confused:

Thanks!

[SailBadtheSinner]

I am so embarrassed :o:o:o; my face is bright, bright RED. All the years & all the replies that I made, I have been sending the people to the wrong church. The right church is the one on Williams St at the intersection of Spring St. & Memorial Blvd. Thank you for asking the question. No one has ever questioned me on this, congratulations.

 

Now I wonder if people actually read my posts :eek:.

 

 

SBtS

[ewl]

I am so embarrassed

 

Aw gee, that wasn't my intent! :o I have learned so much from this post about the Cliff Walk and mansions and will be putting it to good use next week, so many thanks! But seeing two St. Mary's on Google Maps really threw me. Very strange!

[Lance1224]

Hi,

We did a Canada NE cruise a few years ago. We obtained tickets in advance for the mansion on-line. At the time the Doris Duke Mansion limited the number of people on each tour to 10-12 people. They also give you times for the tours. We had a 11:30 am tour that lasted about 1/2 hours. We walked out the front door to be faced with 2 large Princess tour buses.:eek:

Newport is a nice town with plenty to see and do.

 

Lance1224:)

[SailBadtheSinner]

Hey Lance,

 

we're almost neighbors :).

 

 

SBtS

[DavidF1940]

Hi SBtS,

My wife and I are in early 70's, and one of us can't walk too far (I think Cliff Walk is not for us). We like to do our own thing and usually take bus/taxi/walk when we dock near town, or rent a car when we want to go further afield. Can't decide whether to get car or use taxis this time (Wednesday, October 6th). I don't think anyone has asked you about self drive yet.

 

We would probably like to visit one mansion and then look around town and around. I've seen the '10-mile drive' on a website; do you think this is worthwhile? Also, is traffic and parking reasonable in and around town? Also any suggestions for something out of town? Finally, is there anywhere we can park near the Cliff Walk just to take a look? We are going with friends this time, so economics of car rental makes even more sense.

 

Thanks and regards

 

David

 

(By the way, did you realise what you were letting yourself in for when you offered your services?)

[SailBadtheSinner]

I’ll answer the easy questions first. There are 2 ways to view Cliff Walk assuming you’ve hired a taxi or have a rental. Since you are not visiting during summer season you can park on street east of the start of CW on Memorial Ave or park in the beach parking lot that is just east of CW. Your viewing perspective will be looking up west (do in the AM) and south.

 

The other way to view CW assuming you’ve hired a taxi or have a rental is that any side street that runs east – west and intersects with CW which runs north – south is an entry to or exit from CW. You could drive as close to CW as you want on one of these side streets and park and walk to CW. Here are some of the side streets in order north to south: Narragansett Ave, Ruggles Ave (south border of the Breakers), Marine Ave, Ledge Rd and Bellevue Ave at the south end of CW. All of the mentioned side streets intersects with Bellevue Ave. There are 2 maps at this link showing CW & side streets: http://cliffwalk.com/

 

You could visit Fort Adams State Park : http://www.fortadams.org/ . As the cruise ship approaches Newport, the fort will be on your starboard side and the cruise ship will anchor just to the north of it and the tenders will go right by it on their trips.

 

Once you leave Fort Adams, you could continue on to Bretton Point State Park which, as the cruise ship approaches Newport, the park will be on your starboard side. This will be before Fort Adams. http://www.yelp.com/biz/brenton-point-state-park-newport

 

Once you leave the park, keeping the ocean on your right, you’ll have started the 10 mile drive which will connect to Bellevue Ave where the mansions are located.

 

You’ll be about 1H 45M from Mystic Seaport in Connecticut as well as the 2 Indian casinos, Foxwoods & Mohegan Suns in eastern Connecticut.

 

There are no car rentals within walking distance from the tender dock. Just Google car rentals Newport RI and try to make arrangements to be picked up at the Newport Visitors’ Center which is located one block north from the tender dock. For taxis, Google taxis Newport RI and try to make arrangements to be picked up at the NVC.

 

If you’re into lighthouses, you could tour the Rose Island Light http://www.roseislandlighthouse.org/

On your way in to Narragansett Bay, Point Judith Light will be on the port side in the distance, Beavertail Light on the port side just after you pass Bretton Point State Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beavertail_Lighthouse , Castle Hill Light will be on your starboard side just before Fort Adams: http://lighthouse.cc/castlehill/index.html

 

If you’re a tennis fan, you could visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame - http://www.tennisfame.com/

 

Another place to visit is St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church corner of Spring St and Memorial Ave, church where Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married.

 

How about a visit to TOURO SYNAGOGUE. 85 Touro St, the oldest Synagogue in America: http://www.tourosynagogue.org/

 

Parking and traffic would not be a problem in Newport

 

 

SBtS

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DavidF1940]

Thanks a lot.

 

David

[gracecarmo]

Since Newport is our first stop, would there be any drugstores in the area of the tender dock? I will not have time pre cruise to get shampoo etc.

[SailBadtheSinner]

I can't think of any drug stores within walking distance of the tender dock. My suggestion would be to walk east from the tender dock, turn left at America's Cup Ave, walk north to the light and cross walk and cross America's Cup Ave. There should be Panera Bread on your left and 2 long buildings facing each other. There may be a convenience store located there. If not, continue to walk east until you reach Thames St. You'll recognize it because it is cobble stone covered. Turn south on Thames and you should fine a convenience store as you walk south.

 

 

SBtS

[yayvacation!]

 

 

You could visit Fort Adams State Park : http://www.fortadams.org/ . As the cruise ship approaches Newport, the fort will be on your starboard side and the cruise ship will anchor just to the north of it and the tenders will go right by it on their trips.

 

 

 

 

Something to keep in mind is if you are visiting Newport on a Saturday or a Sunday places like Fort Adams and the Mansions may be shut down for private events.

[Love2Roam]

I heard that the clam chowder at the Black Pearl is not to be missed. Can you give me directions from the port? Thanks!

[SailBadtheSinner]

From the tender dock, walk east to the street (America's Cup Ave) that borders it, and turn south (make a right). Follow the sidewalk for about .2 mile; look for the sign for Bannisters Wharf which will be on your right. The Black Pearl is located in there but not facing America's Cup Ave. http://www.blackpearlnewport.com/

 

 

SBtS

[Love2Roam]

Thank you so much!

[SailorJM]

Just returned from our Arabella (three-masted schooner) cruise out of Newport (which was fantastic!), and I want to thank everyone for their tips about Newport. We spent extra days there, and we especially want to underscore making a visit to the the International School of Yachting. So much to see and learn...and we were lucky enough to find students at work! Truly amazing to be able to climb up to and walk around the massive sailing vessel Coronet, more than 100 years old, which is being restored there. There is so much to be done to bring her back to her former glory, but the workers are so proud of what they are doing....and there is so much to see, and her history is well-detailed. Anyway...if you are in Newport, I highly recommend a visit here. And don't miss the gorgeous all-wood library upstairs! The ISY is on Thames, about a mile from the turnoff from Americas Cup. On the water, of course.

Thank you for directing us there!

[SailBadtheSinner]

SailorJM -

 

Thanks for posting, I'm glad you enjoyed your visit to IYRS. Whether you got the idea of a visit there from my list of 'to do' suggestions or elsewhere, I'm still happy to hear back from someone that actually made the visit.

 

Whether you enjoy sailing or woodworking, it is a worthwhile visit. IMHO. Anytime I'm in Newport, I always include a stop there.

 

I'm going to update my 'to do' list making a visit there "a must, highly recommended by CC member SailorJM". Who??? :D

 

 

 

SBtS

[SailorJM]

SBtS, we went there specifically on your recommendation.

 

By the way, we are from San Diego, where we thought there were boats aplenty, but Newport puts us to shame. We are pikers compared to what you have!

 

Again, thank you for your tips....we also went to Red Parrot twice. Lunch was great, including service. Then we went to dinner, and it was aa different story. Service was horrid, food only average. Can't figure out why. Guess we all have our bad days.

[safein]

Sailor JM, like you, we went to the Red Parrot for lunch. I had walked into one of the souvenir shops who said they had the best chowdah, which they did. We also had the lobster club that was also good. Only went there the once for lunch, so I can't say anything more about the dinner service. A lot of locals went there as did a group of dancers/entertainers from the ship too.

 

Anita

[jkw2765]

Does it happen often that the Newport stop is cancelled due to weather? We will be there on October 10. I want to pre-purchase Oli's Trolley tickets, but have seen where you take a risk in not being able to tender. I understand weather is unpredictable, but was wondering how often this actually does happen. Thanks for any input!

[SailBadtheSinner]

Well which is it? Oli's Trolley is not in Newport but Bar Harbor. The BH stop has been canceled but very infrequently, and I would have to say the same for Newport.

 

 

SBtS

[jkw2765]

Well which is it? Oli's Trolley is not in Newport but Bar Harbor. The BH stop has been canceled but very infrequently, and I would have to say the same for Newport.

 

 

SBtS

 

Sorry about the confusion, my BIG mistake. It is Bar Harbor, not Newport, obviously. Thanks for the input. I guess I will take the risk and book the tickets ahead of time for the trolley, as it appears it is often sold out. Thanks SBtS for all your input on these boards!

[Love2Roam]

Sorry about the confusion, my BIG mistake. It is Bar Harbor, not Newport, obviously. Thanks for the input. I guess I will take the risk and book the tickets ahead of time for the trolley, as it appears it is often sold out. Thanks SBtS for all your input on these boards!

We will be in Bar Harbor on the same day as you and I specifically called Olli's Trolley to inquire about the cancellation policy if we miss the port. Turns out that when you pre-reserve your tickets they don't take any payment from you. You have to wait in line when you get there and pick up your tickets and they take payment at that time. Long story short - book it - you have nothing to lose ;)