Newport, Rhode Island

Plan a long weekend getaway with our Newport adventure guide, featuring great outdoor escapes, where to stay, and where to eat. Then chime in with your picks.

Pop. 25,340
GPS: 41°29'N 71°19'W

Newport may be the capital of New England’s swanky mansion scene—the Astors and Vanderbilts built extravagant, Gilded-Age summer getaways here—but it’s also a stunning haven for kayakers and divers. The dramatic, rocky coast offsets quiet beaches and three nearby vineyards.

PLAY

Take in the stony shore along the 3.5-Newport Cliff walk, a stunning public walkway that, at times, edges close to a 70-foot (21-meter) drop (www.cliffwalk.com). If that leaves you craving an even closer encounter with the sea, you can get SCUBA-certified at the Newport Diving Center ($399 for Beginner Open Water Class; www.newportdivingcenter.com/). Back on dry land, coastal Wickford hosts the Kayak Centre of Rhode Island. The helpful folks there offer extensive kayaking classes, daylong guided tours along the coast, and full-day rentals starting at just $42 (www.kayakcentre.com).

EAT

Spark, a vibrant eatery on Broadway, has a seasonal menu of world flavors, ranging from Thai to Latin and everywhere in between (www.sparkrestaurantandcatering.com).

Book your next trip with Peace of Mind
Search Trips

SLEEP

The Mill Street Inn, a restored 1890s red-brick mill, has feather beds, 300-count sheets, and a conveniently central location in Newport's Historic Hill neighborhood (suites from $235; www.millstreetinn.com).

Read This Next

Why you should hold your breath and try freediving in Taiwan
How to spend a weekend in Stavanger, Norway

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet