The Perfect Way To Spend An Afternoon In Newport | New England | Newport, RI

Newport, RI is only a two hour drive from our home in Connecticut. With weekend traffic it can take a little longer. Newport is extremely busy on the weekends and driving though town can be stressful so finding parking online ahead of time can save you the hassle of trying to locate parking when you get there. Be prepared to pay to park though. 

The first time I visited Newport was a couple years ago when I photographed an engagement session in the Spring and it was beautiful (and far less busy earlier in the season). Matthew had never been to Newport before, so he was excited to explore. The first place we travelled to were the Breakers to see all of the old mansions along the seaside path. I would recommend this to be your first point of interest because this is the perfect walk to start your day. 

This particular mansion belonged to the Vanderbilts back in the day. Last year we saw their Biltmore Estate and you can see the similarities, although the Biltmore is much larger in size! There are many ways to get across town, including these cute trolleys. Yet my favorite way to get across Newport is by taking the Harbor Shuttle. This shuttle only cost us around $12 a person and you can hop on or off at any port all day! We took the final shuttle of the evening (when it was less crowded) to watch the sun lower over the water. We were the only people on the shuttle besides the Captain and one other couple enjoying the water. This is by far the best way to see Newport! The shuttle makes for a romantic couples cruise. We learned some history from our shuttle captain. This old lighthouse used to be watched by a woman named Ida Lewis, who ahead of her time, took on a primarily male job to save the lives of countless sailors. How awesome is that? She is often called “the bravest woman in America.”“As You Wish,” I love the name of this boat. An ode to The Princess Bride. When you make your way back to land, take some time to walk along the streets as you look for the perfect waterside place to eat. Make sure you stop by the Wharfs where all the action is. We did not rent a scooter during our visit, but we saw so many people who did and it looked like they had a blast. If you arrive early in the day I would highly recommend Scooter World for some fun memories around Newport. This is a fabulous way to see the old mansions and historic buildings to sight see. We ate dinner at the Port at this seat by the water. This is one of the ports that the water shuttle stops at of you decide to arrive by boat. A visit to Newport is not complete without a New England lobster role or clam chowder. My favorite lobster rolls are the hot and buttery Connecticut style, but this one was really good too. We sat at this right hand corner. After dinner take a walk into town as see the village all lit up at night. If you like an active night life, Newport has many places you can stop at and shops remain open long after dark. No visit is complete without some fresh fudge. Country Kettle Fudge also makes a great gift for loved ones at home. And that is one of many ways that you can enjoy Newport in a single afternoon. If you have been, I would love to hear your favorite local places in the comments below. Follow Live Lovely on Instagram @livelovelyphotography.