Newport, Rhode Island in the Winter?!
Decor at the Marriott
Who travels to Newport Rhode Island in the Winter?!?
In the summer it is packed full of well heeled East Coasters with great late night parties and beach days. In the Winter, the majority of people in Newport are the folks that live there full time, the "townies". Like most of the East Coast, it is cold, gets dark at 4:30pm and there is a constant threat of a snowstorm. So why travel there in the Winter? It depends. Do you like crowded restaurants, massive amounts of people and paying high prices for hotels (if you can find one)? If not, then Winters in Newport Rhode Island might be your jam. Don't get me wrong, I think the summers in Newport are pretty amazing, (I went last July too) but if you are looking for a weekend getaway to a super cute town then a Fall/Winter jaunt to Newport might be the best place to find your "chowda" fix.
There is something very real to Newport in the Winter. Maybe it's the heartiness of the locals, or the lack of crowds regardless I felt that experiencing Newport in the Winter was its true face. Newport in the summer felt like a facade.
Since we didn't have to fight the crowds for hotels, we were able to stay downtown at the Marriott on America's Cup Way. They recently renovated the hotel a few years ago so it is beautiful!
The hotel is massive, but notoriously full in the summer. One additional benefit that we received was a $15 credit a day in either the bar or restaurant (another Winter plus!).
We hit up a great place called Anthony's Seafood in Middletown. They have both types of "chowda", New England and Rhode Island Clam Chowder. This place was highly recommended by a local and it's a terrific lunch spot. If you are looking for some good seafood, check it out.
Newport is famous for the Breakers, the summer "cottage" built by the Vanderbilts in the late 1800's. Absolutely massive! Without enough time to do a proper tour, we decided to skip it and cruise around the campus of Salve Regina University and the various private mansions in the area. Salve Regina University is basically a university campus set in mansions. The financial aid building is located in a french style chateau. I don't know about you, but my financial aid office was located in a temporary trailer. Ha, what a difference!
Did you know there is surf in Newport??! Yep, it is cold surf in the Winter but when we were there the surf looked pretty clean. And Men's journal has named one of the waves "Ruggles", one of the six top East Coast surf spots. Another reason to go in the Winter, less people in the line up.
It was nice just cruising around. The summer "cottages" of the rich and wealthy are incredible.
Mansion in Newport RI
The mansion tour made us thirsty. If you are looking for a new place to eat that has very hip cocktails, I would check out Stoneacre Brasserie. We heard from the bartender that it opened up 3 months ago. We just went in for drinks and I had a "Hemingway's daiquiri" -- it was different but quite good.
Overall, Newport RI in the Winter might not be for everyone. But regardless of when you go, it is beautiful and a great getaway for anyone willing to brave the cold. Travel on, brah!
