elaine

Today I booked 4 nights over Labor Day weekend at Brookside Manor for my husband and I. It opened in '99 and came highly recommended. We would be driving from the Phila. area. Just a long weekend for r&r and to drive into Newport, as we have never been there. Opinions greatly appreciated from those who have stayed or from folks who live in this area.

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Larry

Sorry I can't help you with where you are staying, but I can help you out with some advice. I love Newport but July 4 and Labor Day weekends can be a real nightmare. The town will be packed, and many of these people will be in a "last long weekend of the summer" drunken frenzy. Traffic into (and to some extent out of) the city will be terrible. However, I'm not all doom and gloom. On the day(s) you plan to drive to Newport from Wakefield, get up early to avoid the traffic into the city, and enjoy the morning and early afternoon. By that time you will see what I mean and you can either decide it's not as bad as I said and stay for dinner and cocktails, or agree with me and get out of town.
Actually, I think your vacation plan is pretty good, if you can't take time off during the week. Just be aware that although Newport is only about a 15-20 minute drive from Wakefield under normal conditions, this weekend is hardly normal, so do what you can to beat the rush.

elaine

Larry,
Thanks for the good advice. We had been told Newport to be very crowded on holiday weekend. Have also been advised Brookside Manor to be lovely and if that's the case, we may just stay in immediate vicinity, as this is an area we have never been.

If anyone has personal experience of Brookside Manor and/or Wakefield, would appreciate hearing your comments.

Mary

I've never stayed at the Brookside (I'm from RI) but I think you'll like the Wakefield area as a traveling base, especially nearby Narragansett. There's a town beach there, and down Ocean Road (which is rather scenic, with nice old houses) a state beach, Scarborough. It's lovely to take a stroll on Narragansett beach around sunset. Another option is to visit Galilee, a nearby fishing port, and walk the beach there, or visit the barrier beaches along the southern coast. Captain Jack's, near Jerusalem across from Galilee, is a nice place to eat, though my favorite restaurant around those parts is Giro's, in Peace Dale, right next to Wakefield (about a two-minute drive from the old Main Street section of Wakefield; any local can tell you how to get there). Giro's is extremely basic, nothing in the least bit fancy, and it can feel cramped and they allow smoking (which many people, including me, appreciate, and you might not); but the food is great and always priced well. They usually have good specials on lobster, too, and you can get ripped off in many other places when it comes to lobster. Locals tend to love Giro's. If you want a nice place to relax on Saturday night, try the Larchwood Inn's lounge. It often has live music (nothing loud, just some good music; it's popular with older people) and you can order from the main restaurant's menu. Or you could eat at the main restaurant and cap off the evening in the lounge. The Larchwood is right on Main Street, down a ways from "old Wakefield."

That said, this entire area is one place in the summer, another off-season. And Labor Day Weekend is absolutely nutsy: as Larry mentioned, there will be big crowds, and not just in Newport. It will be packed to the gills EVERYWHERE, on every beach, in every restaurant, in Southern RI on Labor Day Weekend. In a way, you might do best, if you're going to fight crowds anyway, to indeed visit Newport. You say you've never there, and although Wakefield and Narragansett have their charms, they certainly do not offer the interesting sights, history, activities, and wealth of restaurants that Newport does. The place is definitely worth going through the hassle to see. Larry's idea to get up early and cross the bridges to Newport before the rush is an excellent one. Plus, crossing the Newport Bridge can be transcendent when there's not much traffic. Perhaps when you get to Newport, you could tool around some and get oriented (drive down Thames Street, follow the signs to Ocean Drive, make a stop at Brenton Point, continue on Ocean Drive, and then take a gander at the mansions around Bellevue). You might want to take a stroll on the Cliff Walk, and then get your car parked near Thames and walk around the Historic Hill area. If the crowds get too much, you could retreat to Jamestown (see how that is), back across the Newport Bridge, or to Wakefield, though expect traffic. I don't want to spread doom and gloom, either; but frankly, the crowds are something you'll need to be prepared for if you want to have a good time. It can be done! If nothing else, select one of the better restaurants in Newport (like Christie's, The White Horse Tavern, La Petite Auberge) and relax over a good meal. (You might call ahead to make reservations, though if money is a concern, be aware these restaurants are quite pricey.)

If I come up with any other ideas or comments, I'll be back to you. I really hope you have a good time.

Mary

PS. Check out my posting at "Long Weekend in RI": there might be further info that could help you. (In case Little Compton interests you, note that it could take some time to drive there from Wakefield because of the Labor Day Weekend traffic.)

elaine

Mary,

After reading Larry's post again, and reading your detailed post, we decided to cancel Brookside Manor...think we should travel to RI after Labor Day.
I thank you for your detailed post, which I have printed out for future use.
Thanks so much for the excellent information.

Mary

I'm feeling sort of uncomfortable, because I didn't want to discourage you completely; I was simply being honest, giving you my view of things. Please don't cancel your trip altogether! Rescheduling for after Labor Day will make a big difference, and southern RI is definitely a great place to visit. (For instance, there's a reason why so many people crowd Newport: it's beautiful.) So please don't forget RI! And keep in mind that the autumn here can be delightful. Just a country ride in southern RI can be memorable on a fall day.

elaine

Mary,

Please do not feel uncomfortable that we postponed our RI vacation! We never take a driving trip during a summer holiday weekend...think the winter weather 'clouded' my brain. We live near Phila. and know the NJ shore traffic patterns and think the Newport area to be gridlock...this coupled w/reading Larry's reply and your reply sort of 'cinched' it for Labor Day. We most definitely plan to reschedule and think early autumn to be less hectic.
Thank you again for such a detailed reply.

Larry

As long as you've just postponed your plans, I think you are doing the right thing. But like Mary has said, don't give up on Southern RI! Fall is my most favorite time of year there, and if you go soon after Labor day you'll even still have summer weather. Actually, sept/october is the time when the Newport Yachting Center holds various events almost every weekend (boat show, Oktoberfest, etc)which are moderately crowded but nothing like the summer throngs. I suggest you contact the Newport Visitors Information Center for a schedule of events, you might be able to plan your weekend to match up with some event that you will find enjoyable. Oktoberfest has always been my personal favorite, although by that time you might see some chilly weather.