Newport, RI and local questions can be asked here.

[SailBadtheSinner]

Newport RI does not have a cruise ship dock; it is a tender port. Most of the attractions are in walking distance from the tender dock.

 

If you don't mind riding public transportation, there is a city bus route that goes by the mansions. You may want to consider buying advance mansion tickets online.

 

Since Newport is on a island, it is hard to get lost. Find water and then follow the shoreline :rolleyes:.

 

 

SBtS

 

 

[SailBadtheSinner]

Cruisinforasnoozin asked: ..... In your opinion, what would you recommend for 1st timers (visiting Newport)?....

 

I haven't seen CC member Rick02809 post in quite awhile. So I'll try to answer your question(s). Here is my standard list of to dos, pick the ones that would interest you:

 

* Visit one of the Newport Mansions, the Breakers in particular.

http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

* Take a walk on Cliff Walk after visiting a mansion.

http://www.cliffwalk.com/

 

Rent a grass tennis court and play tennis at the International Tennis Hall of Fame - http://www.tennisfame.com/

 

If your visit is in the summer, visit Fort Adams State Park:

http://www.fortadams.org/

 

View an art collection that just happens to be in a mansion, Doris Duke’s mansion & art collection at Rough Point - http://www.newportrestoration.com/roughPOINT/rough.html

 

Take a tour of local waters either on a classic speedboat or a 72-foot schooner - http://www.cruisenewport.com/

 

Take a tour of the restored Rose Island Lighthouse - http://roseislandlighthouse.org/

And then rent it for an overnight stay when you return to Newport for a visit. You will become the overnight keeper.

 

Visit the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) and watch the students restore wooden boats. Sign up for classes on wooden boat restoration - http://www.iyrs.org/

 

Charter a retired America’s Cup 12 Meter yacht - http://www.americascupcharters.com/family_events.html

You & your children do know what a 12 Meter yacht is?

 

Are you interested in Revolutionary (and before) dwellings? All are within walking distance of Newport center.

REDWOOD LIBRARY AND ATHENAEUM. (1748-50) 50 Bellevue Ave

FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE. (1699) 21 Farewell St

HUNTER HOUSE. (1748) 54 Washington St

NEWPORT CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. (1860) Spring and Pelham Sts

OLD COLONY HOUSE. (1739) Washington Square

OLD STONE MILL. Touro Park

SAMUEL WHITEHORNE HOUSE. 416 Thames St.

SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MEETING HOUSE. (1729) 82 Touro St

St. MARY'S CHURCH. Spring St

TOURO SYNAGOGUE. (1763) 85 Touro St, the oldest Synagogue in America

TRINITY CHURCH. (1725-26) Queen Anne Sq., Spring and Church Sts

WANTON-LYMAN-HAZARD HOUSE. (1675) 17 Broadway near Washington Square.

WHITE HORSE TAVERN. (1673) corner of Marlborough and Farewell Sts

ABRAHAM RODRIGUES RIVERA HOUSE. Washington Square

 

Not from the Revolutionary period but…..

 

* St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church (1852), 12 William St, church where Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married

 

There is a Segway rental business: Segway of Newport, 438 Thames St., 401-619-4010, at http://www.segwayofnewport.com/index.html

 

* indicates what I would consider a must do.

 

Have some stuffies, RI clam chowda, scallop chowda, lobster, or RI clamcakes at any of the numerous restaurants near the tender dock.

 

 

 

SBtS

[CMM]

I would not say you would want to walk to visit a mansion. There is a trolley type public bus system that is easy and cheap to use.

 

When you get off the cruise ship there is a short walk to the visitors center. There you can get any info you want get change for the trolley etc. Then for a few dollars take the trolley to whatever mansion you want and pay at the mansion.

 

No need to go through the cruise ship. Save your walking energy to enjoy the spectacular view along the cliff walk that runs behind the mansions and has a beautiful view of the rocky coastline. You can walk as far as you want after/before touring a mansion. We had a great day without an organized cruise tour.

 

I hope you enjoy your trip.

[lilly4350]

Thank you to everyone for their helpful advice on this port. We now have our day planned out. Really looking forward to it.

 

Diane

[grammasan]

your info has been wonderful

 

no one asked about weather - june 13-july 1st 2011

warm & muggy - cool & chilly?

swimsuit & sunscreen weather?

beach weather?

june weather in so calif - foggy mornings, 60's temps

help please

 

thanx in advance

[SailBadtheSinner]

Here are the average temperatures for Newport for June: High - 72°; Low - 56°.

As for beach whether, the water would still be cold but it would be ok to lay on the beach pickin' up some rays. I'm not a big fan of Newport's city beach. I prefer the state beaches that face the ocean on the west side of Narragansett Bay. For sun tan lotion, I would carry a small tube, but it will depend upon what you're doing. There may be a little chill in the morning but it will warm up nicely by noontime.

 

 

SBtS

[Go-Bucks!]

We'll be in Newport from 10a-6p in June. Would like to see some mansions, but have heard that we might have a hard time making it back to the ship on time if we do these on our own vs. ship tour. We would like to do them on our own, if possible.

 

Questions:

1) If we do this tour independently, would it be reasonable to do one tour in the morning, then lunch, then one in the afternoon or is it feasible to see more?

2) If we take the public bus, is traffic likely to be heavy in early evening when we need to return to the ship?

[SailBadtheSinner]

Yes, you could DIY tour of the mansions; and no, traffic is not a problem unless there is some type of special event scheduled in Newport center the day of your visit.

 

The furthest mansion from the tender dock is only 2.5 miles away, All others are closer. The Breakers is only 2.1 miles away. The bus route (#67) that serves the mansions runs every 20 minutes, weekdays. The only way you would miss your cruise ship departure is if you overstayed your visit.

 

Since the mansions are located in the same general area (Bellevue Ave area), I would try to do them in sequence. The problem is, is that there are no fast food eateries in that area so you'll be wasting precious time & travel looking for a place to eat. 2 of the mansions have sandwich shops.

 

The mansions will take a tour group first and walkup guests second. You could purchase your tickets in advance that would save some time. Figure each tour lasts about 60 minutes. If you want to go to the head of any line at the mansions, purchase a Preservation Society membership; see info at link below

The bus schedules are here: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/schedules.php

The mansions web site is here: http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

 

SBtS

[Go-Bucks!]

Yes, you could DIY tour of the mansions; and no, traffic is not a problem unless there is some type of special event scheduled in Newport center the day of your visit.

 

The furthest mansion from the tender dock is only 2.5 miles away, All others are closer. The Breakers is only 2.1 miles away. The bus route (#67) that serves the mansions runs every 20 minutes, weekdays. The only way you would miss your cruise ship departure is if you overstayed your visit.

 

Since the mansions are located in the same general area (Bellevue Ave area), I would try to do them in sequence. The problem is, is that there are no fast food eateries in that area so you'll be wasting precious time & travel looking for a place to eat. 2 of the mansions have sandwich shops.

 

The mansions will take a tour group first and walkup guests second. You could purchase your tickets in advance that would save some time. Figure each tour lasts about 60 minutes. If you want to go to the head of any line at the mansions, purchase a Preservation Society membership; see info at link below

 

The bus schedules are here: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/schedules.php

The mansions web site is here: http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

 

SBtS

 

 

Thanks so much. I think we'll tour 2 or 3 mansions first, then go have lunch and do a little town sightseeing before heading back to the ship. I did download the map of Newport which should help us do it in a logical way as you mentioned.

[galasdax]

Wondering if anyone has used the Newport History Tours. I like the idea of a guided walking tour, but am just wondering if people have had good or bad experiences with them. Thanks!

[tannes]

Thanks for all the helpful information on this thread! We are booked for a Sept 24 cruise. I had a question - my ancestor, Josue David was in the Narangansett Colony ( I have a map where his property was located). Is there any kind of historical sites with information on this colony in Newport?

Thanks in advance!

[SailBadtheSinner]

Wasn't the Narragansett Colony located on the west side of the bay? If so, I think you would have better luck contacting the historical societies in the communities on the west side of the bay. Since you have a map, where was the property located?

 

Here is the site for the Newport Historical Society: http://www.newporthistorical.org/

 

Good luck on your search.

 

 

SBtS

[Rick02809]

If you are referring to the Hueguenot Emigration to America, I would contact the RI Historical Preservation Society at www.RIHS.ORG Hopefully they might be able to help you. A quick Google search of the Narragansett Colony shows what Sinbad The Sailor (Who unselfishly took over minding this thread ) states, It was most likely located in the "West Bay" as we refer to it as... On the map (North Kingstown area)

 

Thnaks StS for being vigilant... I totally abandoned my fellow cruisers,,,shame on ME!!

 

Thanks for all the helpful information on this thread! We are booked for a Sept 24 cruise. I had a question - my ancestor, Josue David was in the Narangansett Colony ( I have a map where his property was located). Is there any kind of historical sites with information on this colony in Newport?

Thanks in advance!

[Rick02809]

A quick Google search reveals this book online with Respect to Josue David:

http://books.google.com/books?id=TtR-AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA310&lpg=PA310&dq=Josue+David+narragansett+colony&source=bl&ots=UF87kv4i_N&sig=azu0JRDrog5GVXs_1mmiXOWm7kI&hl=en&ei=Lv4oTt2TGKjV0QGJm8TlCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Josue%20David%20narragansett%20colony&f=false

[Seabreeze8]

Can anyone suggest a good place for lunch? We love seafodd and like to try local specialities.

 

Also I'm planning to do the Cliff Walk in late September, what would the weather be like? Would it be better to do it in the morning or in the afternoon?

 

Thank you in advance!

[SailBadtheSinner]

I would consider the weather in September to be the best time to be in New England, not too hot, not to cold, just right. For me, I would be wearing shorts. For doing Cliff Walk, in the AM, the sun will be rising over the ocean; in the PM, the sun will be high. Since you are on a cruise, you have limited time, I would say fit it in your day at anytime.

 

For the best seafood restaurant, everyone has their favorite. I would suggest the Black Pearl http://www.blackpearlnewport.com/ at Bannister's Wharf. As you leave the tender dock, turn south and walk along America's Cup Ave. Bannister's Wharf will be on you right; can't miss it.

 

Enjoy Newport & your cruise!

 

 

SBtS

 

[Seabreeze8]

Thank you, SBtS! Would I be able to get scallop chowder there too? You mentioned stuffies earlier, what is that? Is there something different about NE clam chowder? We love to try local specialties whenever we can, especially if it is seafood. Thanks again!

[SailBadtheSinner]

I did not see scallop chowder listed on the Black Pearls menu; however, scallop chowder is on the menu of the Mooring Restaurant http://www.mooringrestaurant.com/ which faces America's Cup Ave and is just past Bannister's Wharf. I had the scallop chowder there, and it was excellent.

 

Stuffies are baked stuffed quahogs (or clams) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffed_clam

 

For clam chowder, I prefer the Rhode Island CC or the Hatteras style CC because they are both clear. Check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clam_chowder

 

I'm including this link for Flo's Clam Shack if you want good seafood but the place is not fancy: http://flosclamshack.net/ Would suggest taking a taxi there.

 

In your other thread, you asked about hot dogs. I have lived my entire live in New England and I can truthfully say that I am not aware of any special hot dogs except for the Fenway frank which is the frank served at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox. I don't really consider the Fenway frank anything special. The only special hot dog that I am aware of is the NY System Wiener served in Providence http://www.olneyvillenewyorksystem.com/ which I go out of my way to have anytime in Providence.

 

 

SBtS

[Seabreeze8]

Great suggestions and links! My mouth is watering already, can't wait to try all the goodies. Didn't know there are so many different kind of clam chowder. Unfortunately Flo's Clam Shack is closed while we are in town, but definitely check out Mooring's Restaurant. Thanks again for all the wonderful information.

 

Suzie

[macfin]

Must try the Red Parrot a short walk from the cruise terminal, the Black Pearl is good, but expensive, if the Smoke House is open(ifo Mooring) try the award winning clam and corn chowder.

 

If mexican is your pleasure a must is Diego's on Bowens wharf in back of the Cookie Jar (speaking of the Cookie Jar, Great home made cookies)

 

If you want a sail boat tour take the Madeline on Bowen's wharf it will take you all around the harbor out toward fort adams ....

 

When are you going, labor day weekend is a Irish Festival at the Yachting center in the middle is the newport international boat show....

 

there are quite a few small tour operators that you can diy a tour of newport.....:cool:

[tannes]

Thanks for all the links on my question about this colony and also for the link to the Josue David info. in the History of the Hugenot emigration. That information would confirm my records that my ancestors were in New York. I am a beginner at geneaology and appreciate your help on my question!

[glenbrook]

How far a walk is Bowen's Wharf from the tender dock? My DH is recovering from an Achilles Tendon injury so don't want to force a very long walk. Thanks for all the updated information on Newport.

[SailBadtheSinner]

The distance from the tender dock to the beginning of Bowen's Wharf is about .1 mile. When you leave the tender dock. walk east to America's Cup Ave and turn south and just follow the side walk. BW will be on your right.

 

 

SBtS

 

[mommas]

Is it difficult to find some place for lunch when doing the mansions after October 10th? My research shows me that the few places within the mansions that serve food are closed by the time we get there.

[SailBadtheSinner]

From the last mansion you visit, head north on Bellevue Ave. There is a nice food place (soup, sandwiches & ice cream) just before the intersection of Memorial Blvd and Bellevue Ave in the strip mall on the west side of Bellevue Ave opposite the Tennis Hall of Fame. The name of the place is the Newport Creamery http://www.newportcreamery.com/ , the food is OK & ice cream is good.

 

If you walk past the Newport Creamery to Memorial Blvd and turn right there would be other small restaurants including a pizza parlor.

 

Of course, you could return to the harbor area where all the restaurants there are still open.

 

 

SBtS