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Day Two
Home » Rhode Island » Rhode Island Vacations: A One to Three Day Itinerary » Day TwoWhile you are well rested, the Cliff Walk would be a great way to start your day. This 3.5 mile walk has been designated as a National Recreation Trail and all but about two-thirds is easy walking conditions. Part of the walk is over a rough trail that can be tricky with small children or strollers and there are a couple of spots where a couple of feet from the path are drops of over 70 feet. Be careful as bushes and weeds can sometimes hide these drop-offs. Cliff Walk takes you along the eastern shore of Newport where you will able to see the Gilded Age Mansions and enjoy nature all at the same time.
After you finish your morning of walking, you will be ready for a rest and some lunch. Make your way down to Thames Street for lunch. There are many good restaurants from which you can choose. After lunch spend some time exploring Thames Street and the Brick Marketplace. This is a collection of shops, pubs, and restaurants all located along the waterfront in downtown Newport. If you are tired from all the walking at Cliff Walk, take a horse and buggy ride to tour the entire area.
During the afternoon you may want to relax and take a drive around Ocean Drive. You can also take a trolley that leaves from the Visitors Center on America’s Cup Avenue. This is a ten mile drive that combines history with public parks and shoreline. If time allows there are plenty of sights to stop and take in while driving Ocean Drive.
Start the drive at The Elms on Bellevue Avenue and go south to Narragansett Avenue.
Turn left on Narragansett and drive to Ochre Point Avenue. Turn right on Ochre Point Avenue and you will see several historical estates. Turn right on Ruggles Avenue and drive past some carriage houses that are currently being used by Salve University.
Turn left on Bellevue Avenue and drive by the Beechwood, Marble House, Rosecliff, Belcourt Castle, and Rough Point. Rough Point was the home of American Tobacco Company heiress, Doris Duke. At the end of Bellevue Avenue you will see Reject Beach.
Turn right on Coggeshall Avenue and take the first left on Ocean Avenue. As you drive along Ocean Avenue you will see Hazard Beach which is a private beach and Gooseberry Beach which is open to the public. You will pass the Cove, King’s Beach, Brenton State Park, and the Inn at Castle Hill.
Turn right on Castle Hill Avenue and drive north to Ridge Road where you will turn left to go past the U.S. Coast Guard Station and Ocean Cliff. At the end of Ridge Road turn left onto Harrison Avenue and you will go by Hammersmith Farm which is considered to be the summer White House of John and Jacqueline Kennedy. Hammersmith Farm is no longer open to the public. You will also see Ft. Adams which is a great place to view the Newport Harbor. If time allows you may want to tour Ft. Harbor.
At the following intersection, turn left on Halidon Avenue and you will pass the New York Yacht Club. Continue right onto Wellington Avenue to see the Ida Lewis Yacht club and King Park. You should now be back in downtown Newport.
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