Anchoring New England’s “Classic Coast,” Newport, Rhode Island, is widely known for its singular Atlantic beauty. But beyond its magnificent waterfront, this quintessential seaside city is also treasured for its palpable history that predates America itself. As one of America’s most important 18th-century ports, “The City by the Sea” abounds with mariner lore, Navy installments, and naturally, ample tributes to its rich sailing traditions.
The city’s legacy is showcased architecturally between striking 19th-century mansions and some of the most Colonial-era buildings in the country. Add cobblestone streets, a world-class culinary scene, and luxe accommodations, and Newport has everything you could ask for.
Luckily, it’s easy to get there: Tradewind offers private charters to Newport from anywhere, year-round.
Private charters arrive at Newport State Airport. The airport lies just minutes away from the best hotels, restaurants, and attractions in the city. Here’s a guide to help you discover them all as you capture the essence of Newport.
Newport’s History
Photo courtesy The Chanler at Cliff Walk
Newport has long been considered a summer sanctuary for the rich and famous. It’s little surprise that some of the city’s most prominent features are its Gilded Age mansions. Modeled after European palaces, many of these opulent estates were designed by renowned New York architect Richard Morris Hunt. They were meant to reflect their wealthy owners’ aptitude for entertaining. Today, you can find these “summer cottages” strewn across the city in the form of tour-able private residences and as some of Rhode Island’s most coveted hotels.
On the eastern coast, the Cliff Walk rambles for three-and-a-half miles along one of New England’s most spectacular shorelines. This is probably why this iconic stretch is home to some of the most famed mansions in the city. Premiere among them is The Chanler at Cliff Walk, which offers 20 distinct guestrooms inspired by different periods in history. Guests of this elegant old-world beacon are treated to unique local amenities like private tours of the property, bike rentals to explore the Cliff Walk, curated beach days, and fitness center passes to the nearby International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Photo courtesy OceanCliff Resort
Where to Stay
If you’re looking for accommodations with a historic setting, look no further than The Vanderbilt, an Auberge Resorts Collection. Once owned by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, this Gilded Age mansion is in the heart of downtown Newport and has been reinterpreted for the modern era as a lively and stylish social destination. The Vanderbilt’s rooftop features Newport’s best harbor views, and also just debuted a reimagining of suites in Spring of 2022.
Perched on the city’s southwest corner, OceanCliff Resort, formerly the Bronson Villa, is an awe-inducing, lavish castle tucked into 10 acres of rolling lawns that seem to tumble directly into the sea. To complement its oceanfront beauty, the hotel emanates with a 19th-century aura while staying on the forefront of contemporary hospitality. (It’s also one of the top wedding destinations on Aquidneck Island.)
One coastal bluff to the west, Old World charm meets modern luxury at Castle Hill Inn. This stately seaside mansion was once a summer respite for a prominent Harvard marine biologist. He studied the sea life around his 40-acre property’s beaches and hidden rocky coves. Surrounding modern-day Castle Hill is a vast oceanfront lawn.
Not all of Newport’s prized hospitality arrangements reside in its Gilded Age buildings, though; there are plenty of other notable hotels and resorts that can be found around the city, too.
Occupying the upper half of Goat Island just off the city’s west side, Gurney’s Newport provides an exclusive enclave surrounded by the picturesque waters of Narragansett Bay. The secluded island resort includes everything you might want in your relaxing Northeast getaway. It has a full-service spa and saltwater pool, and it’s minutes away from Newport’s downtown attractions.
The Brenton / Photo credit Louis Walker III Photography
And if downtown’s central location is where you’re looking to hang your hat, look no further than Newport’s newest luxury boutique hotel, The Brenton. On the corner of America’s Cup Avenue and Long Wharf, the chic, luxuriously appointed seaside haven offers stunning views. Here, you can watch the sun set with your favorite cocktail, and book several exclusive amenities. This includes a Hinckley Picnic Boat available to book for private excursions. Now you can fully immerse yourself in the Newport experience.
Where to Eat and Drink
Each of Newport’s top hotels have culinary concepts of their own, but the town’s dining scene is worth venturing out. To get an authentic taste of the city’s gastronomical spectrum, head for the stretch of Bannister’s Wharf downtown.
There you’ll find Clarke Cooke House, an innovative American cuisine restaurant nicknamed “the heartbeat of Newport” due its a magnetizing ambiance. Simultaneously quaint, charming, and chic, this beloved harborside spot specializes in true New England classics. Classics include succulent lobster rolls, pan-fried crab cakes, and Newport clam chowder.
Bouchard Restaurant / Photo courtesy Bouchard Restaurant
Just a quarter-mile south, the acclaimed Bouchard Restaurant offers fine French cuisine paired with unstuffy five-star service in a Georgian-style house dating back to 1785. After a glass of hard-to-find French wine, order the filet de boeuf or the Dover sole with classic sorrel sauce, and don’t leave without trying the Grand Marnier soufflé, a melt-in-your-mouth marvel which on its own is worth your visit. (Be sure to make your reservation well in advance—Bouchard is one of the region’s most sought-after dining experiences.)
Thomas Tew Rum from Newport Craft Brewery & Distilling Co / Photo via Thomas Tew Rums Facebook
For a local libation or two, make your way to Newport Craft Brewery & Distilling Co on the north side of the city. This pioneer of Aquidneck Island’s brewing scene has been a local favorite since 1999. This made it the first licensed distillery in Rhode Island in over 135 years. They use the same distilling methods, equipment, and ingredients as Newport’s original distillers, Newport Craft’s Thomas Tew Rum line can now be found at more than 500 locations around the U.S. and is the official rum of the New York Mets. Try a pour at the taproom, and you’ll quickly see why.
Get Active in Newport, RI
Cliff Walk / Photo courtesy Discover Newport
Named one of the “Best Walking Cities in the U.S.” by Condé Nast Traveler, Newport is completely navigable on foot, which means you can begin your leisurely exploration of the city wherever you wish.
That said, the iconic Cliff Walk might be a good place to start. Between admiring coastal estates and breathing in salty air, it’s a spectacular place to get acquainted with the spirit of the city. While enjoying the outdoor views, take a peek inside some of Newport’s most famous homes on a Newport Mansion Tour through the Preservation Society of Newport County. From there, continue your Cliff Walk to Easton’s Beach, one of the area’s top-rated shorelines for lounging in the sand and taking in the resplendent Atlantic seascape.
Newport’s natural beauty has long been a draw for recreationalists on land and water alike. Given its legacy in wind-driven vessels (not to mention its steady sea breezes and signature coastal splendor), it’s easy to see why the port city played as longtime host to the prestigious America’s Cup sailing competition. In fact, Newport is known as the “Sailing Capital of the World,” and proof of this lofty title can be witnessed daily, with hundreds of white sails deployed in any of its given harbors. For an offshore vantage of the city’s most alluring landmarks, climb aboard one of Sightsailing of Newport’s day tours, departing daily for morning, afternoon, and sunset cruises.
Sightsailing tour / Photo courtesy John Hirschler of Sightsailing of Newport
What To Do in Newport, RI
Back on land, the city’s lush scenery made it the venue of choice for the inaugural U.S. Open editions in both golf and tennis, held in 1895 and 1881, respectively. There’s no place more suited than Bellevue Avenue in downtown Newport, then, to house the International Tennis Hall of Fame, a historical building featuring all things tennis, including a museum filled with memorabilia and artifacts, as well as courts and facilities to practice.
Less than a block away, the Audrain Auto Museum offers you an opportunity to see Newport’s most cherished motorized artifacts. “More of an art museum than a car museum,” as their website notes. This eccentric collection is an homage to the Machine Age, a time when automobiles and art were regarded as one. Swing by the showroom to ogle at an immense array of cars spanning from past to present. Some include the rarest on earth.
While you’re in the area, take some time to peruse downtown’s countless quaint shops and charming boutiques. These line its colorful wharfs and cobblestoned streets almost contiguously. Throughout at least 10 distinct yet proximal shopping districts, you’ll find clothing, jewelry, and artwork, as well as unusual gifts.
Before you depart the city, make sure to pay a visit to Fort Adams, a legendary U.S. military fortification that actively guarded the mouth of Newport Harbor during six major wars. Late each summer (save for 2020), the National Historic Landmark also hosts the popular Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival, which have been revered city events since the 1950s.
When it’s finally time to return to the real world, make the short journey back to Newport State Airport. There you can board your easeful Tradewind flight back home. By then, the “City by the Sea” will already be awaiting your next visit.