Hello readers! Summer is around the corner and if you are thinking of taking a trip to soak up some sun and enjoy epic views of the sea, look no further than Rhode Island. After exploring the creative capital of Providence, Gil and I wanted to check out the beach. Living in the city, the skyscrapers, and urban neighborhood can feel overwhelming at times. I needed to see the ocean! Allow me to introduce you to the towns of Narragansett and Newport.
Narragansett
Narragansett is a gorgeous town full of beaches, hiking trails, and delicious seafood restaurants. Gil loved this part of the state for the beach houses and hotels set along the coast. The beach is right next to The Towers, a venue used for events. We couldn’t try out the seafood here due to most of the food spots being closed in the middle of the day. I believe these hours are in place until after Memorial Day when summer “officially” starts.
We spent a lot of time in Narragansett Town Beach. It had been so long since my feet touched sand! I took off my socks and shoes and enjoyed the feeling while breathing in the sea air. The wind was chilly in this area, so I kept my hoodie on while searching for seashells to add to my collection. I managed to find a few in perfect condition. Gil enjoyed watching the surfers ride the waves. We also made a stop at Roger Wheeler State Beach where people were taking a swim. I want to give a big shoutout to my Fitbit that decided to stay in the Town Beach. It slipped off my wrist due to a faulty band and I did not notice. Hope it’s having a good time.
Newport
Now we come to my favorite part of the trip: Newport. Newport is an island within Rhode Island that is home to incredibly designed mansions, nature walks, and colonial-era ports. In case it was not made clear in this blog post already: Rhode Island loves seafood! It is known for it. I am not a seafood lover, but I had to try the famous clam cakes at Flo’s Clam Shack, and it was delicious!
There are three major mansions you can visit in Newport: The Breakers, The Elms, and Rosecliff. Gil and I chose to see The Breakers since it’s the most popular one. It’s a mansion that was built by Richard Morris Hunt for the Vanderbilt family in the late 1800s. There were more than 70 rooms and I lost track of the number of bathrooms. The tour is self-guided with the help of an app that provides the audio history of the place. I loved the gardens and the grand balcony. Tickets can be upgraded to visit the other two mansions, but those locations were closed. After touring the Vanderbilt’s former home, we took a drive around the area to admire the other mansions.
The biggest experience we did at Newport is the famous Cliff Walk. People come from all around the world to tackle the Cliff Walk and now I know why. It is 3.5 miles (one way) of a nature walkaway surrounded by several breathtaking views of the ocean. Part of it cuts behind The Breakers and other private property of the gilded-era mansions. There was some rocky terrain we had to get through and two creepy tunnels. We started the journey at Easton Beach and made it all the way to the end at Bailey’s Beach. I wanted to walk back to Easton Beach, but the Cliff Walk was tougher than I expected due to the large rocks we had to climb over. Thankfully, there was a bus that left us close by to the starting point. The driver was great and gave us some history about the mansions.
Note: please prepare yourself well if you decide to do the Cliff Walk. Wear appropriate footwear. The sand can make the rocks slippery. Sunscreen, water, comfortable clothing, and protein snacks are a must if you want to do the whole thing. There are other entry points along the route. I plan to walk it round trip next time I visit!
After resting our feet in the car, the last thing we did in Newport was the Ocean Drive. It is a 10-mile stretch down Ocean Ave where we got to watch the sunset and see more beautiful homes. There was so much more to do in Newport, but the Cliff Walk took up most of our time there. I can’t wait to go back!
Rhode Island is on the top list of my adventures so far. It really is one of the best places to allow the sea breeze to embrace you.
Photos: Rosa Elena Burgos and Gilberto E. Burgos
Last Updated: May 20, 2022