Newport, RI

[SailBadtheSinner]

SeniorMouse asked:

…….we went to Leo's along the harbor for hamburgers and a lot of beer. Is Leo's still around?……

 

Answer:

Since I don’t know all the burger joints in Newport, I had to use Google and came up with no matches. Can you provide a more detailed location? Where was it in location to the main post office on Thames St? And when were you in OCS?

 

 

 

Preteristbrd wondered…

… how many mansions can be toured comfortably in one day?…….

 

Answer:

Some things to consider:

Newport is a tender port; and since you asked about a pass for the mansions, I’m assuming that you’ll be on your own. When will you catch the tender in? 9A? I don’t’ think so.

How do you plan to get to the first mansion (the Breakers I assume). Bus or taxi? Approx. 2.2 miles from the tender dock, too far to walk with limited time.

What day of the week are you visiting? Will there be any other cruise ships in port that day? Newport is a favorite port of call for New England fall cruises. I once saw 3; a few times 2 and all offering the same excursions.

At the mansion, tour bus passengers are usually taken in first as a group; walk up visitors go next. Tours are approx 1h30m to 1h45m.

Marble House is approx .8 mile south from the Breakers. The crowds should be less here. Will you walk this?

Have you considered lunch? The further south you go from the Breakers; the further you get from any eatery.

The closest eatery is approx 1.6 miles north from MH. There are no fast food restaurants nearby :(.

 

All things considered, my guesstimate is that you could easily do 2 tours and get back to Newport center and do some shopping etc. If you got off your cruise ship in the first wave of tenders in, took a taxi to the Breakers to beat the tour group(s) from your ship then you would carve some more time for a third tour; but the only part of Newport you will see would be Bellevue Ave where the mansions are located. There is much more to Newport than the mansions,

 

Please don’t call me if you miss the your cruise ship's departure :eek:. and I would not buy the 5 mansion pass.

 

 

 

SBtS

 

[Tesla]

.......Any suggestions on what to do?....

 

Here are some suggestions:

 

Visit one of the Newport Mansions, the Breakers in particular.

http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

Take a walk on Cliff Walk after visiting a manison.

http://www.cliffwalk.com/

 

Rent a grass tennis court and play tennis at the International Tennis Hall of Fame - http://www.tennisfame.com/

 

If your visit is in the summer, take the ferry to Fort Adams State Park - http://www.fortadams.org/

 

View an art collection that just happens to be in a mansion, Doris Duke’s mansion & art collection at Rough Point - http://www.newportrestoration.com/roughPOINT/rough.html

 

If in season, take a train ride - http://www.ocnrr.com/

 

Take a tour of local waters either on a classic speedboat or a 72-foot schooner - http://www.cruisenewport.com/

 

Take a tour of the restored Rose Island Lighthouse - http://roseislandlighthouse.org/

And then rent it for an overnight stay when you return to Newport for a visit. You will become the overnight keeper.

 

Visit the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) and watch the students restore wooden boats. Sign up for classes on wooden boat restoration - http://www.iyrs.org/

 

Put together a group of fellow paxs and charter a retired America’s Cup 12 Meter yacht - http://www.americascupcharters.com/family_events.html

 

Are you interested in Revolutionary (and before) dewellings? All are within walking distance of the

tender dock.

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

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

 

There was a Segway rental available but that was when I visited there in the fall of’ 08.

Hopefully, it is still in business: Segway of Newport, 5 West Howard St., 401-619-4010, http://www.segwayofnewport.com/index.htm

 

If any of my links are outdated, pls post.

 

 

 

SBtS

 

 

 

Excellent post you've pretty much summed up the major things to do in Newport. This place is truly enchanting beautiful, quiet, and the great old school charm. If your someone that's interested in the Gilded Age this is a must see place. And some of the best meals that I've had in the US was in Newport.

[CMM]

DW and I are coming in on the Caribbean Princess first week in October. Wondering how many mansions can be toured comfortably in one day? Definitely thinking about gong to Breakers and Marble House. We are there from 9A to 6P. Thinking about purchasing the 5-mansion pass from The Preservation Society of Newport. Any info/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

BD

 

We took the trolley for a few dollars, walked some of the cliff walk, and just toured one mansion (the breakers, paid for the tour on site) and that was more than enough for us. Maybe if you were really into mansions a second might be enjoyable, but no way 5.

 

We ate back on the Caribbean Princess.

[zacc]

For those that are planning to tour a mansion or mansions I suggest you check out the website for the newport preservation society. My wife and I joined last Sept. for $75.00 for the two of us. As a member you get free admission to the mansions, a private tour if available, 10% discount in their gift shops, the 75 dollars goes to the society and is tax deductible and.......if there is a waiting line to get in you simply go the front of the line and show your membership card and yes you are next!! This is really a great deal and is good for one year.

[Yochell]

Hi SailbadtheSinner, you seem to really know the Newport Area. I really appreciate that!! I will be coming into Newport with my husband in August and would like to walk the Cliff Walk. Can you PLEASE tell me how to get from the tender boat to the start of the walk, and back again to town? We probably won't be doing any mansion tours, so I would just like directions to and from the Cliff Walk. Also, is it easier going north to south, or south to north?

 

Thank you SO much for your help!!

Chelle

[SailBadtheSinner]

Since the start of Cliff Walk is at the north end, the directions I will provide will be for that.

 

To pick up the bus, once you are off the tender dock, walk to Americas Cup Ave (due east from the tender dock and turn north (left). Walk 1 block until you come to the Newport Visitors Center where you can buy a bus pass. http://www.ripta.com/

 

There are 2 buses you could take. A rte # 61 Orange Line out bound bus will to take you to the beginning of CW but this is a seasonal bus to the Newport beaches and it is not listed on the current schedule. A rte #67 Yellow Line out bound will drop you off in front of Salve Regina Univ or the Breakers. Since SRU’s east border is CW, you can pick up CW there. Turn north (left) to go to the start or turn south (right) to walk the rest

 

Whichever bus you take to get there, take a rte #67 Yellow Line in bound back, which you will pick up on Bellevue Ave.

 

Walk as far as you want, but it does get bad the further south you go. The last exit before it gets bad is Marine Ave, which if you follow it will take you to Bellevue Ave where you can catch the bus. http://www.cliffwalk.com/

 

Enjoy your cruise and Newport.

 

 

 

SBtS

 

[Yochell]

SailBadtheSinner, thank you, thank you, thank you........... you just made my day! A definite plan. Thanks again!

[waiting2retire]

One more question, please :o

 

My mother is not a fan of public transportation; can anyone tell me how much a taxi would cost from the port to the Breakers? And are taxis available as soon as we get off the ship?

 

Thank you.

[SailBadtheSinner]

Rhode Island Taxicab Rates:

 

First 1/10 Mile ...................................................$ 2.00

Each Additional 1/10 Mile.............................. $ 0.25

Waiting Time Per Hour.................................. $25.00

Each Additional Passenger beyond Two..$ 1.00

 

Distance one way to the Breakers, approx 2.2 miles = 22 tenths.

 

First 1/10 Mile ......................................... $ 2.00

Each Additional 1/10 Mile (21 X .25) =.. 5.25

Total.............................................................7.25 for 2 persons, oneway, no waiting.

 

The times I’ve seen paxs unloading in Newport, Americas Cup Ave, the street cloest to the tender dock is clogged with excursion buses. I think you would have better luck for a taxi by going to the Newport Visitors Center, one block north (on AC Ave) from the tender dock. You could also catch a bus there; and tickets to the mansions may be sold there also.

 

 

 

SBtS

 

[kb996]

The Mooring Restaurant has great scallop chowder!! It's on Sayer's warf near where all the shops are.

[dakacz]

Does anyone know a good place to get the clear clam chowder.? My husband remembers it from his navy days and enjoyed it.

 

Dotty

[vickila]

IMHO, I think you are trying to do too much. Slow down!

 

If you read the previous posts, you would know that Newport is a tender port. Have you taken that into consideration?

 

I offer this for an alternate plan –

 

Leave the cruise ship as early as possible. Take a taxi to the start of Cliff Walk on Memorial Blvd. Walk until you pass behind the Breakers and exit CW on to Ruggles Ave and walk to the Breakers. (or you could take the Sheppards Ave exit which is just before the Breakers, the rest is the same).

 

At the Breakers you will have to contend with tour groups which are taken first. Allow yourself 1H 30M for the tour. This is something you don’t want to rush. Over the years, I have toured the Breakers 4 times and each time I’ve discovered something I missed in previous visits.

 

If you can, take a taxi to Rough Point and ask the taxi driver if he could pick you up in 1H 30M. Or you could start walking back after the tour, but have a back up plan. As you walk you’ll pass Marble House then Rosecliff. You are now passing Marine Ave; hows the time? You could enter CW from Marine Ave and walk north.

 

You haven’t eaten lunch yet; I’m assuming you had breakfast on the cruise ship. There are no fast food eateries at this end of Bellevue Ave.

 

Have a contingeny plan for all events.

 

Enjoy your cruise and Newport.

 

 

 

SBtS

 

SBts: Is it possible to get to the Breakers from the ship with a mobility scooter? Any part of Cliff Walk it can do? Ship not being very helpful with accessibility plans? Thanks. v.:)

[SailBadtheSinner]

Maybe you could hire/rent a taxi/van with driver for the day if the scooter is small and light enough to be placed in the trunk/cargo area. You can do the north end of Cliff Walk with a scooter, but you will eventually come to some stairs. At the very start of CW, there is a small up hill portion. The northern end of CW is well paved.

 

I'm sorry but I was not able to pinpoint the locations where there are stairs on CW. I know the first stairs encountered after the start are at Narragansett Ave; then Webster Ave. After that, I'm not sure. If you are at the Breakers, enter CW on one of the side streets then go south as far as you can and turn around and go north as far as you can.

 

I used these U-Tube videos as memory aids (I did enjoy watching them):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGlSKpaWxlE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLKXJRZe7ZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og9varNdubk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7d4rjlbzqg

not much help :(. Also used the CW website maps:

http://www.cliffwalk.com/mapnorth.htm

http://www.cliffwalk.com/mapsouth.htm

 

When are you visiting Newport?

[vickila]

Maybe you could hire/rent a taxi/van with driver for the day if the scooter is small and light enough to be placed in the trunk/cargo area. You can do the north end of Cliff Walk with a scooter, but you will eventually come to some stairs. At the very start of CW, there is a small up hill portion. The northern end of CW is well paved.

 

I'm sorry but I was not able to pinpoint the locations where there are stairs on CW. I know the first stairs encountered after the start are at Narragansett Ave; then Webster Ave. After that, I'm not sure. If you are at the Breakers, enter CW on one of the side streets then go south as far as you can and turn around and go north as far as you can.

 

I used these U-Tube videos as memory aids (I did enjoy watching them):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGlSKpaWxlE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLKXJRZe7ZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og9varNdubk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7d4rjlbzqg

not much help :(. Also used the CW website maps:

http://www.cliffwalk.com/mapnorth.htm

http://www.cliffwalk.com/mapsouth.htm

 

When are you visiting Newport?

 

We're in Newport on Sept. 20. Thanks for all the information - looking forward to our visit. Vicki

[debsjc]

There is a gift shop in the basement of the breakers. It has a separate entrance from the tour, so you can just walk up and go in even if you don't have time to do the tour.

 

We bought some really different things there. There are pieces like glassware and reproduction sliver. I bought a beautiful small knife you would use when entertaining to put out with crackers & spread.

They also had a good selection of books.

 

This shop is more than just the typical made in china souvenirs.

 

Does anyone know if you can buy water or soda at the gift shop, and if there is access to restrooms (without taking the tour)

It seems like it would be a good place to take a break on the Cliff Walk, but we don't want to take the time to do the tour.

[CMM]

Does anyone know if you can buy water or soda at the gift shop, and if there is access to restrooms (without taking the tour)

It seems like it would be a good place to take a break on the Cliff Walk, but we don't want to take the time to do the tour.

 

Yes I remember buying a drink outside on the lawn. There was a cart with an umbrella selling a few random items from an ice cooler. The gift shop has an entrance on the left side of the building, so you could just do that. The tour enters from the front. I used the bathroom before the tour, so I know it is available and I think it may have been in the gift shop.

[debsjc]

Thank you :)

[waiting2retire]

One more quick question; hopefully someone can answer today since we are leaving early tomorrow morning. I just took another quick look at the #67 bus route and can't decide where to get off the bus. We have tickets to go to The Breakers and Rosecliffe, and want to do at least part of the Cliff Walk as well.

 

If we get off the bus on Bellevue at Memorial, how long would it take us to walk down Memorial to the start of the Cliff Walk? Would we be better to get off at the next stop on Ochre Point, in front of The Breakers and walk back to Narragansatt, down to the Cliff Walk and do the Cliff Walk only from Narragansatt to Ruggles?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

Bonnie

[SailBadtheSinner]

From Bellevue at Memorial to the start of Cliff Walk is approx. .6 mile with travel time about 12 minutes. I like your idea, walk from the start of CW and exit at Ruggles Ave which is the southern border of the Breakers. You'll be passing behind the Breakers and have a great view. After the tour of the Breakers, follow Ruggles out to Bellevue, turn south (left) and IIRC, Rosecliff is the next mansion.

 

You've done your homework; now sit back and enjoy your cruise and Newport :).

[waiting2retire]

Thanks so much for the quick response SBtS :). I was hoping you would be "listening in". We are all very much looking forward to our day in Newport on Thursday... hopefully the weather will cooperate and at least not rain :cool:

 

Bonnie

[CMM]

When you get off the tender the visitors center is a very short walk away where you can grab a free map, get change for the trolley and talk with a guide at the visitors center desk to confirm up any plans and ask any last minute questions.