Newport Rhode Island is commonly identified for crusing, picturesque eating places, stunning Mansions, historic properties, and an energetic late-night scene. But there’s a lot extra to this seaside metropolis, together with a number of issues to do in Newport RI with children. Newport is without doubt one of the greatest locations to incorporate in the summertime as a part of a New England highway journey.
I grew up in Newport County Rhode Island and at all times liked going to Newport. Whether you’re on the lookout for a quintessential ocean expertise, or need to see issues distinctive to Newport, there are lots of totally different choices for what to do in Newport RI with children. Here are our favorites.
Disclosure: On a latest journey, I skilled a couple of of those prime issues to do in Newport RI with children without charge. I grew up within the space, so a lot of this stuff had been a part of my childhood. All opinions are my very own. This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks, and a purchase order/click on by means of one among these hyperlinks could lead to a fee paid to us.
Things to Do in Newport RI With Kids
Newport is a vacation spot in itself, however many select to mix it with a visit to Boston or Cape Cod. It’s additionally the right place for a weekend getaway in the event you stay inside straightforward driving distance.
Newport For Kids: The Newport Mansions Run by the Preservation Society
I could also be biased as a result of I spent years working within the reward store of the Breakers, the preferred of the Newport Mansions. But I completely suggest a visit to the Newport Mansions throughout your Newport household trip. These gilded age mansions present a novel viewpoint into the historical past of a few of the most rich households dwelling within the United States at the moment.
A number of years in the past, I returned to the Breakers with my children and did the brand new youngsters’s audio tour. They completely liked it. The Breakers was the summer season residence of the Cornelius Vanderbilt household and is a superb place to go to. While years in the past it was a guided tour, they now provide self guided excursions.
The tour is narrated by a personified model of the historic mansion, who speaks about every little thing they’ve skilled. It was a number of years in the past, however my children nonetheless speak concerning the “talking house”. It’s not essentially one thing you’d instantly assume is an effective family-friendly Newport exercise, however my children actually preferred it and felt it was among the best issues about our journey.
The different Newport Mansions run by the Preservation Society of Newport County (together with Marble House) even have audio excursions, however no particular youngsters’s excursions. They are nonetheless beautiful, however youthful children could not absolutely recognize them. It’s particularly spectacular if you understand these historic mansions had been initially summer season cottages!
Here are all the historic properties operated by the Preservation Society of Newport County:
- The Breakers
- Rosecliff
- Marble House
- The Elms
- Chateau-sur-Mer
- Kingscote
- Isaac Bell House
- Hunter House
- Chepstow
- Green Animals Topiary Garden (situated in close by Portsmouth, RI)
Newport Gulls Games
Baseball followers will love watching the Newport Gulls, a collegiate baseball workforce. The Gulls play through the summer season, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, proper in downtown Newport (throughout from the customer’s middle on America’s Cup Avenue).
Tickets are solely $1 for teenagers below 12, and are $5 for adults, making it a enjoyable, inexpensive factor to do in Newport with children. If you select to buy a ticket on-line, it’s a flat charge of $5 per ticket.
Parking on sport night time is $2 on the Visitor’s Center lot (with a legitimate sport ticket), or, in case you are staying downtown, it’s a fast stroll. Free parking is fairly uncommon in downtown Newport, so $2 is the following neatest thing. Outside meals isn’t permitted on the area, however concessions are provided.
Shopping in Newport RI With Kids
My daughter and I like procuring, and Newport has tons of nice locations to buy. From the Brick Market Place to the Wharf space close to Newport Harbor, (Bannister’s Wharf and Bowen Wharf), you’ll discover tons of quaint outlets and artwork galleries. Shops are situated began within the Thames Street space by means of America’s Cup Avenue.
Some of the outlets are of the chain retailer selection, whereas others are distinctive boutiques and reward outlets or kitschy memento outlets. If you get pleasure from procuring, positively spend a while wandering round these boutiques.
Rail Explorers
Rail Explorers are one of many newer actions within the Newport space. Officially situated in Portsmouth, RI (nonetheless on Aquidneck Island in Newport County), Rail Explorers are pedal-powered and run on unused prepare tracks.
All of the Rail Explorer journeys are guided excursions, and reservations are really useful. Quad and tandem explorers are provided, and if in case you have an uneven quantity, you may as well e-book a VIP seat with the information.
Rail Explorers run from April by means of November, and in July and August, two totally different routes are provided. The Southern Circuit is a particular July and August-only journey that runs at 8:30am and 6:30pm.
Both routes are about 90 minutes, though Rail Explorers recommends that you just reserve about two hours. Expect it to take about 20-25 minutes by automotive to get to the check-in level in Portsmouth from downtown Newport.
Sailing Excursion
You can’t depart Newport with out driving on a ship, and Classic Cruises of Newport presents rides on each the Schooner Madeline and the speedboat Rum Runner II. During our latest journey, we took a day journey on the Madeline, a 72-foot schooner.
Our journey was particularly windy, and the captain really useful a morning or early night crusing tour for individuals who desire a smoother sail.
If you do take a journey on the sailboat, I’d recommend sitting in direction of the inside of the ship for a safer spot. You could need to think about this just for older children, because the journey could also be too tough for youthful children.
You can reserve your spot on both of the ships on-line, and boarding is true on Bowen’s Wharf within the downtown space of Newport.
International Tennis Hall of Fame
Tennis followers will love visiting the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is situated on Bellevue Avenue in Newport. Audio excursions and guided excursions are provided at totally different occasions through the day, and there are some particular options that can attraction particularly to youngsters. There are additionally grass courts accessible for rental.
Kids 12 and below are provided free admission, whereas grownup admission is $20. During mid/late July, the Hall of Fame is dwelling to the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, so positively test the schedule earlier than planning your go to. The Hall isn’t open to the general public throughout that point.
Newport Beaches With Kids
Newport is thought for having a few of the most stunning seashores within the space, so in case your go to takes place through the summer season, positively plan a seaside day. There are a number of sandy seashores within the surrounding space. If you’re driving, arrive early, as most of the parking tons refill early.
Easton’s Beach, also called First Beach, is the solely ocean-front seaside in Newport. It’s situated proper close to the Cliff Walk and can also be dwelling to the Save the Bay Exploration Center and Aquarium. This aquarium presents over 40 species which might be native to the Narragansett Bay space, together with a contact tank.
Fort Adams State Park
Fort Adams State Park has stunning views of Narragansett Bay and is dwelling to a powerful fortress. In addition to plain state park options, like picnic areas, seasonal concessions, and a customer middle, the park additionally presents guided excursions. For households with older children, think about taking the two.25-mile stroll across the park to see the outside of the fortress.
Fort Adams State Park can also be dwelling to some stay music festivals. These embody the favored Newport Folk Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival.
The precise journey to Fort Adams State Park is a scenic drive that’s stunning in the summertime. Be certain to soak up the view. Start your journey at Ocean Drive by Bellevue Avenue.
Norman Bird Sanctuary
During my latest journey to Newport, RI, I stayed on the Paradise Farmhouse proper on the property of the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Officially situated in Middletown, RI, about quarter-hour from downtown Newport, the 325-acre Norman Bird Sanctuary presents seven miles of trails for all means ranges. Guided hikes and specialised packages are additionally accessible.
If you’ve older youngsters, think about climbing to Hanging Rock, a well-liked puddingstone rock formation that gives stunning views. It’s a difficult stroll, so make certain your children are sufficiently old (and are carrying acceptable footwear).
Cliff Walk/Purgatory Chasm
The Newport Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile strolling path, passes by a few of the in style websites in Newport, together with the Newport Mansions. It is a ravishing place for a leisurely stroll and is without doubt one of the hottest Newport actions with children. There are a number of entry factors, and you may flip round at any level, so that you don’t want to finish the total 3.5 miles roundtrip.
Down the highway in Middletown, RI is Purgatory Chasm RI (to not be confused with the bigger attraction in Massachusetts with the identical identify). If you’ve acquired older youngsters, it’s a ravishing spot to cease off and admire. There’s a small lot to park in, and it’s a brief stroll all the way down to the viewing space.
Trolley Tours
Want to take a guided tour of Newport, RI? Newport Trolley Tours presents quite a lot of choices, together with mansion excursions and scenic excursions. You can buy tickets on-line (as much as 48 hours forward of time) or on the Newport Visitors Center. Discounted tickets can be found for youngsters.
Where to Eat in Newport
During your Newport trip, you’ll positively need to go to a few of the scrumptious eating places that Newport has to supply. While there are many nice choices, one among my favorites is the Top of Newport Bar + Kitchen situated on the highest of the Hotel Viking.
Go on a Monday the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from Craft Burger & Draft Beer specials, or on a Tuesday, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from Taco-Rita Tuesday. Another enjoyable rooftop spot is on the Grace Vanderbilt which presents completely beautiful views of Newport.
Bowen’s and Bannister’s Wharves provide many scrumptious eating places, together with Diego’s, a Mexican restaurant with a number of out of doors seating, and the Wharf Southern Kitchen & Whiskey Bar, which boasts a full menu of tater tots.
One of my all-time favorites is the Brick Alley Pub in Brick Market Place. They provide an enormous menu with a number of choices. Another nice decide is Pasta Beach, situated on Memorial Drive in Newport. It’s a small restaurant, however they’ve scrumptious pasta, because the identify would point out.
You may also discover ice cream, snacks, recent seafood, and different scrumptious meals at most of the eating places alongside America’s Cup Avenue.
If you’d like to go out of Newport, Newport Vineyards, which is definitely in Middletown, RI, presents two eating places, in addition to stunning winery grounds. Visit throughout one among their night occasions, the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from a glass of wine or wine tasting out by the vines.
To find out about extra actions in Newport and the encompassing space, go to the Discover Newport web site.
Have you been to Newport? What are your favourite issues to do in Newport RI with children? Read our Newport with children net story right here.
