Newport Rhode Island Day Trip

Do you love long cliff walks, mansions, and an adorable quaint town setting? If so, this post is just for you! Today we’re going on a little adventure – a Newport Rhode Island Day Trip!

We took the boys on a little adventure to Rhode Island last month and it was so lovely! You may remember I shared our first stop on the day trip with you already. Our visit to Green Animals Topiary Gardens.

The day we went down was so sunny and warm, it could have been summer! Look how gorgeous it was – 70 degrees and so very sunny!

Let’s take a peek at all the beautiful sights to take it in!

What is Newport Rhode Island Famous For?

Newport, Rhode Island is a city set on Aquidneck Island. The city is famous for sailing regattas; Gilded Age mansions lining Bellevue Avenue (they are currently filming at several mansion for the Gilded Age TV series); the International Tennis Hall of Fame; amazing shopping and restaurants along Bowen’s Wharf; and the beautiful Cliff Walk.

The city is also home to Salve Regina University with its campus adjacent to the Cliff Walk and mansions. The Fort Adams State Park is now a public park but was a fortification used up until the middle of the 20th century. Castle Hill Lighthouse at the end of Ocean Drive is really beautiful too!

Since we only had a day, we kept our list quite small but plan a return visit for the holidays and in the spring, as well. Newport is only about an hour and twenty minute drive from our home. On this trip we focused on a little shopping, a visit to a mansion and the Cliff Walk.

Visiting the Mansions

I don’t know about you, but I LOVE going through old homes and mansions are even better! I LOVE imagining what life must have been like during the Gilded Age – amazing balls, opulent parties and feasts. I drool over the decor.

Previously we’ve toured The Breakers which is stunning AND very opulent. It was the summer home of the Vanderbilts. We also visited The Marble House when family visited a few years ago. This time I really really wanted to visit The Elms, but it was closed for filming of the Gilded Age. The Mansions are managed by the Preservation Society of Newport so I would look at their website before visiting. We actually got a family membership for the year because it worked out cheaper since we were visiting two properties.

On this trip we visited Rosecliff.

Visiting Rosecliff

Rosecliff was commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs in 1899, architect Stanford White modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles. The house was completed in 1902, at a reported cost of $2.5 million. She hosted many lavish parties and whimsical fetes – one even featured Harry Houdini. Want to take a peek at this beautiful mansion?

Look at those chandeliers and the beautiful moulding and floors! Simply stunning!

Look at the giant palms in the urns!

I love the little details, like this aged cremone bolt.

Can you imagine the men enjoying an after dinner drink in this room by the fire?

I adore the dark wood panneling.

The portraits in this home were quite interesting.

On view upstairs at Rosecliff was an exhibit on the collections of those living during the Gilded Age. I found this quite fascinating. They had Votes for Women Ironstone plates, loads of furniture, and some jewelry. For some reason, I was drawn to this dog portrait:

I also loved this sketch:

Why You’ll Love Newport Mansions

• All our quite different in style and decor. So it’s worth exploring all of them over time
• So much history and beauty
• Exquisite views from many of the mansions out onto the ocean

Lunch at Bar’cino

We enjoyed strolling the home and gardens, but worked up quite an appetite. Next stop lunch!

I’m sure you all know how “hangry” boys can get, especially growing boys!

I first discovered Bar’Cino in March when I went to the New England Coastal Creative Conference at Hotel Viking. Julie Blanner and I went for dinner and I couldn’t believe how amazing and thin the pizzas were. I knew I needed to take my boys who love pizza as much as I do!

Bar’Cino is 100% employee owned. The food is so fresh and delicious. The interior is gorgeous and you can watch your food being prepared in the kitchen. Since it was such a warm day we sat outside.

We enjoyed the prosciutto and fig pizza and the sausage and kale pizza.

The lemon ricotta on the spicy sausage pizza is unbelievable!

The pizza is so thin you cut it with scissors. I’m actually making myself hungry talking about it and can’t wait to go back for more pizza!

Shopping on Bowen’s Wharf

Shopping and boys don’t mix. Well, I should clarify. John likes to shop while Conor is bored out of his mind. Conor was super excited about the fudge shop, while I enjoyed strolling Kiel James Patrick’s Flagship Store.

So many beautiful things! It was decked out for fall when we visited but I imagine it’s decorated for Christmas now.

Walking Newport

My favorite thing to do anywhere is walk. We love to walk and really there is so much to see in Newport just walking. The homes and architecture is just beautiful. We decided to walk from Bowen’s Wharf to the end of the Cliff Walk. I’m not sure where this home was in Newport but just thought it was so different!

The Cliff Walk

The Cliff Walk spans 3.5 miles and I think this was EVERYONE’S favorite part of the day. We love being by the sea! It was also a perfect way to “walk off” lunch! Ha! Ha!

Above is the view of the Cliff Walk from Rosecliff. We started at the very end of the Cliff Walk which is more uneven and rocking terrain. I’d say if you have a hard time walking maybe stick to the beginning part of the walk which is more paved.

Look at the daisies growing out of the rocks! Nature is amazing!

It felt quite magical walking along the water with all the large mansions nearby.

The boys walked on ahead and it made my mama heart happy to spend some quality time together.

They were trying to make me feel tall here! I’m only 5 ft and they’re both much taller than me now…

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning a little more about Newport, Rhode Island. We are very much looking forward to another Day Trip this winter.

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Did you enjoy this post? If so, let me know! Be sure to pin this to remember Newport for later!

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