Newport, RI and local questions can be asked here.

[south seas sue]

Rick and others familiar with NE weather, give my your opinions about the likelihood of bad weather around the end of Sept. Our cruise leaves Montreal on 9-24, and travels down through Bar Harbor, Boston, Newport, ending in NY on 10-4. Of course I will have seasick remedies with me, but would like some input about weather - choppiness, storms, temperature, rain - at that time of year.

 

I know this is a crystal ball question. But if you could just speak from experience, it would help me be prepared.

 

Thanks so much!

[Woody9]

SBS and 138E,

Thank you for the information. I am interested in taking my children to see Brown University. Newport sounds a bit more convenient as a starting point, but the car rental might be a problem. Somewhere in the boards I saw mention of a ferry between Newport and Providence. Do either of you know anything about that? Any other public options from Newport??

Kathe

Brown, class of '83

[SailBadtheSinner]

There is a seasonal ferry (6/22 to 10/18; 2009 dates, 2010 dates have not been posted yet) run by RIPTA. Here's the link for RIPTA which has not been updated for the 2010 seasonal schedule http://www.ripta.com/programs/index.php?section=30. The ferry departs Newport from about the same location as the tender dock. You will land in Providence at a wharf on Allens Ave, and you will need transportation to the downtown and then to BU; taxi maybe???

 

There is a better write up here with the 2009 times and fares: http://gonewengland.about.com/od/transportation/a/aanewportferry.htm

 

There is a bus service by RIPTA for Providence – Newport, route #60. Here is the link for the schedule: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/view.php

SBtS

[sarahc78]

Are there any pubs near the ship? Any inexpensive things to do right in town?

[SailBadtheSinner]

Here are some local pubs. All within walking distance of the tender dock. The furthest would be O'brien's, the closest Brick Alley or Buskers

 

O'Brien's Pub, Thames St, http://www.theobrienspub.com/

Brick Alley Pub, 140 Thames St., http://www.brickalley.com/

Mudville Pub, 8 West Marlborough St.

White House Tavern (est 1673), 26 Marlborough St, http://www.whitehorsetavern.us/

Buskers Irish Pub, Thames St, http://www.buskerspub.com/

 

Some inexpensive things to do:

Are you interested in Revolutionary (and before) dwellings, here's a list:

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 Sq

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), 70 Church St, church where Jacqueline Lee Bouvier and John F. Kennedy were married

 

Take a walk on Cliff Walk, will require bus fare, and you'll have a view of the mansions from the back. http://www.cliffwalk.com/

 

Visit the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) on Thames St; and if you are lucky, you'll get to watch the students there restoring wooden boats. http://www.iyrs.org/

 

Take the Newport Harbor front walk. http://www.newportharborwalk.com/

 

 

 

 

SBtS

[Woody9]

There is a seasonal ferry (6/22 to 10/18; 2009 dates, 2010 dates have not been posted yet) run by RIPTA. Here's the link for RIPTA which has not been updated for the 2010 seasonal schedule http://www.ripta.com/programs/index.php?section=30. The ferry departs Newport from about the same location as the tender dock. You will land in Providence at a wharf on Allens Ave, and you will need transportation to the downtown and then to BU; taxi maybe???

 

There is a better write up here with the 2009 times and fares: http://gonewengland.about.com/od/transportation/a/aanewportferry.htm

 

There is a bus service by RIPTA for Providence – Newport, route #60. Here is the link for the schedule: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/view.php

SBtS

Great info, thanks SB! It seems like the bus would take less time than the ferry + cab to get to college hill, so we might go for that.

 

From looking at some images online, I see things have changed a lot in Providence since I was there last. It's a little discouraging to note how upscale Thayer street has gotten. I suppose the old soda fountain and the calzone/stromboli shop are long gone. I would like to have a nice lunch around there with my family--nothing too fancy or "Californian." Do you have a favorite restaurant/deli/diner in the area??

 

Kathe

[SailBadtheSinner]

I'm kinda a blue collar guy so my favorites, when in RI, are New York System Wieners, all the way, http://www.olneyvillenysystem.com/ at the Olnyville Square location; pizza at Caserta's Pizzeria http://www.casertapizzeria.com/ , Federal Hill; the Cheese Cake Factory at the Providence Place (mall in front of the state house); chowder & RI clam cakes at Flo's Clam Shack http://www.flosclamshack.net/ , behind First Beach, Newport and seafood at George's of Galilee, Galilee http://www.georgesofgalilee.com/ .

 

I know you would need a car to visit most of these; maybe you'll remember them. Since Thayer St was not my stomping grounds, I can't be of much help. Providence has changed a lot since your last visit; I even get confused when I"m in downtown. That is why I stay away from it.

 

All the best on your cruise.

 

 

John

 

 

[macfin]

hello

 

 

No more ferry service to Povidence from Newport. also for best chowder go to the Black Pearl sit outside right on the harbor, great people watching place...this right after the Newport Harbor Hotel, behind the seamans church institue...shopping also there......if you feel like walking head down thames toward the red parrot, great gelato cafe 2 blocks from red parrot, want direct water front go to H20 on Christies landing....

[sarahc78]

Lobster???? We watched that show on the travel channel this weekend (100 best eats or something) and they kept showing lobster rolls, lobster boil, losts of lobster!! Is there a spot to get some Lobster in Newport RI?

[SailBadtheSinner]

I'm going to say the Landings Restaurant http://www.thelandingrestaurantnewport.com/ because it is right next door to the Aquidneck Lobster Company.

 

The Landings is located at Bowens Wharf just south of the tender dock, 5 minute walk.

 

But I would say you couldn't go wrong with any of the restaurants on the waterfront.

 

 

SBtS

 

[sarahc78]

I'm going to say the Landings Restaurant http://www.thelandingrestaurantnewport.com/ because it is right next door to the Aquidneck Lobster Company.

 

The Landings is located at Bowens Wharf just south of the tender dock, 5 minute walk.

 

But I would say you couldn't go wrong with any of the restaurants on the waterfront.

 

 

SBtS

 

Awesome! Thanks ;)

[jasper101]

Hi,

 

Thanks for the offer of information. Me and my family are cruising the East Coast this October and our 2nd stop is Newport. My Mother is in a wheelchair and my father is not able to walk long distances. Do you have any recommendations for what we could do for a few hours? Any suitable busses or taxi? We are from the UK and have never been to Newport before or on a cruise for that matter!

[SailBadtheSinner]

Suggestions: You could just walk south along the waterfront to Bowens Wharf and Bannister's Wharf for a little sightseeing and shopping http://www.bowenswharf.com/Pages/Wharf/Festivals.html http://www.bannisterswharf.net/ There are a number of good restaurants located at these to wharves. If you can walk further from the tender dock, you could walk due east from dock to Thames St where again there is more shopping and restaurants.

If you do a Google search on newport ri taxi service, there are quite a few of them available. Maybe be you could hire a van during your stay. This will certainly increase the scope of your visit.

Here's the link for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Site: http://www.ripta.com/

Using the public transportation will restrict your visit to the mansions and Cliff Walk.

Enjoy your cruise & Newport.

SBtS

Edited February 9, 2010 by SailBadtheSinner

[jasper101]

Thanks for the info...can't wait!:D

[Lois R]

Hi, I love these threads from folks who live in the area:D:):D

Need some help....sailing in May and this will be my first time in

Newport:)...Cliff's Walk sounds like something I want to do...maybe

I missed it but when the ship docks can I just disembark and walk

to it? I sail solo and not sure if anyone else on my roll call is going

to do it yet. If I want to go by myself and then stop for lunch

on the way back? Is that doable or do you get transportation

to Cliff's Walk? How does that work?

Oh, you answered this in post #2.....let me go back and re-read it:)

Thanks!:)

Edited February 21, 2010 by Lois R

[SailBadtheSinner]

I think the first 9 posts of this thread cover visiting Cliff Walk.

You could walk to CW but IIRC it is about 2.2 miles from the tender dock and part way uphill. A bus or taxi would be quicker & better. There are a number of restaurants in the Bellevue Ave/Memorial Ave intersection area which could be used for your lunch stop. The northern start of CW is located on Memorial Ave and when you exit CW, exiting west to Bellevue Ave will get you to the bus route there.

 

linky to CW homepage: http://www.cliffwalk.com/

linky to RI Public Transit Authority bus schedules (route #67): http://www.ripta.com/schedules/schedules.php

 

Enjoy your cruise and visit to Newport.

 

 

 

SBtS

[Lois R]

I think the first 9 posts of this thread cover visiting Cliff Walk.

You could walk to CW but IIRC it is about 2.2 miles from the tender dock and part way uphill. A bus or taxi would be quicker & better. There are a number of restaurants in the Bellevue Ave/Memorial Ave intersection area which could be used for your lunch stop. The northern start of CW is located on Memorial Ave and when you exit CW, exiting west to Bellevue Ave will get you to the bus route there.

 

linky to CW homepage: http://www.cliffwalk.com/

linky to RI Public Transit Authority bus schedules (route #67): http://www.ripta.com/schedules/schedules.php

 

Enjoy your cruise and visit to Newport.

 

 

 

SBtS

 

Hi:), thank you...so I go to the Visitor's Center and catch a cab from there, correct?

I will put "restaurants" in the search field and see what I come up

with:D

[SailBadtheSinner]

Yes, you could catch a cab or a bus at the Visitor's Center.

 

For restaurants, I can't help you; we usually eat at one of the waterfront restaurants or one of those on Thames St. I do know about the Newport Creamery http://www.newportcreamery.com/ which serves soups, sandwiches, burgers, and very good ice cream. The NC is located in the strip mall opposite the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Bellevue Ave almost where it intersects with Memorial Ave.

 

 

SBtS

[Lois R]

Yes, you could catch a cab or a bus at the Visitor's Center.

 

For restaurants, I can't help you; we usually eat at one of the waterfront restaurants or one of those on Thames St. I do know about the Newport Creamery http://www.newportcreamery.com/ which serves soups, sandwiches, burgers, and very good ice cream. The NC is located in the strip mall opposite the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Bellevue Ave almost where it intersects with Memorial Ave.

 

 

SBtS

 

Eating by the waterfront sounds wonderful:D:)

[sarahc78]

I'm going to say the Landings Restaurant http://www.thelandingrestaurantnewport.com/ because it is right next door to the Aquidneck Lobster Company.

 

The Landings is located at Bowens Wharf just south of the tender dock, 5 minute walk.

 

But I would say you couldn't go wrong with any of the restaurants on the waterfront.

 

 

SBtS

 

Do you know how much this resturant charges for lobster? is it reasonable since they are right next door to the lobster co? Does the Lobster co sell cooked lobsters or only the local restaurants?

[SailBadtheSinner]

sarahc78 asked: ....Do you know how much this restaurant charges for lobster?....

 

A: I checked out the menu that is a page in the link provided and most lobster meals were listed at Market Price.

 

 

and also asked: .....Does the Lobster co sell cooked lobsters or only the local restaurants?.....

 

A: The lobster company sells live lobster retail. I don't believe that they have cooking facilities. How about making arrangements with a chef on the cruise ship that you will provide him/her a live lobster(s) to cook for you and to be served in the MDR. You would be the envy of everyone there :D. Provide the chef with his/her own lobster as a friendly bribe ;).

 

 

SBtS

[DISNEY GIRL]

Good morning residents of Newport - I need your advice. Although I use this forum for my cruises, I am actually doing a driving vacation around New England, as follows:

Niagara - 1 day

White Mountains 3 days

Bar Harbour - 2 days

Portland - 2 days

Portsmouth - 2 days

Cape cod - 3 days

Boston - 2 days

 

Question - this is a 15 day drive vacation, do I change my itinerary to spend less days in the area above and spend 2 days at Newport, as we could be in Newport on 5/6 June, which is the Chowder Festival? What do you think please???

Many thanks

Sandy

[SailBadtheSinner]

The Chowder Cook-Off is a one day event (6/5).

Here is how I would suggest doing it.

 

Niagara - 1 day

The only problem here is the drive from Niagara to Portsmouth NH – 520 miles, 8 hours; if you drove directly to the White Mountains 590 miles, 9.5 hours

Portsmouth - 2 days

White Mountains 2 days

make sure to do a trip to the top of Mount Washington, either on the auto road http://www.mountwashingtonautoroad.com/ or by the cog railroad http://www.thecog.com/

Bar Harbor - 2 days

make sure to visit Acadia National Park http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm and stop at Jordon Pond House Restaurant http://www.jordanpond.com/ and have the delicious popovers that they serve. On the way to Portland, try to include a stop at the LL Bean main store in Freeport ME http://www.llbean.com/

Portland - 2 days

Boston - 3 days

2 days in Boston is not enough time to enjoy all it has to offer. Freedom Trail http://www.aviewoncities.com/boston/freedomtrail.htm ; HOHO trolley tours http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/ ; Duck tours http://www.bostonducktours.com/ ; Fenway Park tour http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp

to name just a few

 

Cape Cod - 2 days

water on ocean side will be cold; visit the Cape Cod National Seashore http://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm

 

Newport – 1 day (6/5)

Chowder Cook-Off and visit to mansion(s) http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

SBtS

[DISNEY GIRL]

Many thanks Sail Bad the Sinner - A great help!!!!

Sandy

[Jammerdc]

Are the wineries worth visiting/touring? Do you reccomend any specific companies if we have a group of people who would enjoy doing this. Thank you for your input.