Jen

i was just looking on the cliffwalk website and saw that part of the path is paved, but bicycles are not allowed. are strollers allowed? is there enough of a paved path to use one?

we will be in newport for one day with our toddler, and it is really much easier to get around with a stroller, although i was thinking of bringing a front carrier or backpack carrier for cliffwalk if need be.

we hoped to do the portion from the 40 steps to the breakers. any information would be greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance,
jen

jt

I seem to recall it having narrow parts and a few stairs, so that a stroller would be a public nuisance even if possible.

Next time please include a placename in the title - imagine all the folks that may know the answer skipping this ambigious title, and the others wasting their time clicking here that may think you are talking about California or other...

Rosemary

We did quite a bit of the walk earlier this year - from 40 steps to well beyond the Breakers. While I can't remember that actual section, I do know that much of the walk was very rough, involving scrambling around, a definite no for strollers. You'd better bring the carrier! Actually we were quite disappointed with the path, it's not well maintained, and you see a lot of unkempt fences etc. at the back of the houses. The views out to sea are good though.

lolly

I did not notice any regulation against strollers, however I agree it's probably better without one. On the other hand, I wouldn't let junior roam free on the Cliffwalk as parts of it are close to a drop to the ocean. The part I was on (midsection) was paved, and about 4-5 feet wide.

OliveOyl

We were just on it a couple of weeks ago. There are some steps you'd have to lift a stroller over, but otherwise, I honestly don't see why you couldn't use one. Don't know how large your toddler is, but it seems it'd be easier on all with the stroller rather than a front or backpack carrier, and we saw plenty of strollers the day we were there (and a couple of bikes too).

The paved section is long enough to give you a good feel for it, and it is paved around the Breakers, which by the way, is covered in scaffolding for a million $$ (+) home maintenance project. Where the pavement ends, there are large flat pieces of rubble which are doable, though not with a stroller, for a while, but it eventually gets old hopping over undone areas for a view that, as far as the mansions go, is somewhat lacking. Views out over the water are super though!

jen

thanks for all the input!

i'm thinking it will probably be smartest to bring the carrier anyhow. i really got my hopes up when i saw the path was paved, though. our daughter only weighs about 22lbs, but the stroller is about 14lbs...so the idea of carrying that around over rocky parts isn't too exciting.

i have to admit i'm a little disappointed that we won't get great views of the mansions though. what might be a better way to catch a good glimpse of them?

and exactly how much scaffolding is on the breakers?

thanks again! jen

(jt: i always include the name of the place in the title of my posts, but i was in a bit of a rush earlier and realized i hadn't included "newport" in the title after i clicked "post". i figured anyone who was familiar with cliffwalk would know newport and vice versa anyhow.)

OliveOyl

Jen you can do a long continuous stretch of Cliffwalk before running out of pavement. I guarantee it'll be more than enough to satisfy your curiosity about it.

I had to reserve some web space on my ISP, so just did a small website for our family about the trip. There's a picture on the first page of the Breakers in its scaffolding. It pretty much covers the entire facade. There are a couple of other pictures taken from Cliffwalk of some of the views.

If you need a wonderful place for lunch, I highly recommend Castle Hill Inn...beautiful views, good food and great wait staff. The drive around the ocean to get there is simply beautiful. This is the website if you'd like to take a look at some of the scenery. Pardon the personal side--as well as reserving web space, it was created primarily to share wedding pictures with our kids, unable to make the trip for their cousin's wedding. http://pages.prodigy.net/beachmusic2/

jen

thanks oliveoyl. i really enjoyed those pics. and i think we're just going to play it by ear in terms of a stroller on cliffwalk. we'll see if my daughter will be cooperative to go in the carrier, and we'll take it from there.

my husband saw the pictures of the breakers with all the scaffolding, and he doesn't want to visit now. is the interior affected by such renovations as well? should we go to the marble house instead? we will be there in 1 month, and i'm guessing the renovations will not be complete by then.

any suggestions on getting good views at the mansions? walking down bellvue ave? renting bikes?

thanks again, jen

OliveOyl

The work didn't impact our tour at all. Once inside, you aren't even aware of it except near the upper loggia, which they are enclosing--hopefully just for the winter. Looking at the scaffolding in the picture I can see where you'd think it would be noisy and disrupting, but it truly isn't. Marble House is beautiful too though. We saw it years ago and I couldn't say now which is the more elaborate of the two.

Many of the mansions are behind walls and/or heavy landscaping, so hard to see, except for quick glances from the street through driveway entries. Because you haven't got much time, if you have a car I'd just drive along that avenue slowly--they are spread out so walking would take up quite a bit of precious time.

You'll probably also want to spend some time in the shops "downtown", and if especially if you aren't from New England, seeing some of the beautiful old homes up the hill a bit from the shops. We didn't have time this trip and though I've seen it before, am sorry to have missed it this time around.

Doug

Jen...
I agree with OliveOyl in that you shouldn't necessarily let the scaffolding stop you from seeing the Breakers. It is a beautiful place and save for a slightly obstructive view or two of the water, the work being done really is unobtrusive once you're inside. But honestly, though, if I had only one mansion to see, it probably would be The Marble House. It is gorgeous and it also has an audio tour (as does The Elms) which helps in your understanding of the history of the mansion and in your appreciation of its beauty. The one negative for you concerning the Marble House, though, maybe it's location. It's the furthest one along The Cliff Walk, where the paved part gets a little more choppy. If I remember correctly, the part up to at least the The Breakers is pretty flat and smooth....very easily navigable with a stroller. At some point as you continue south, though, the pavement ends in sections and you have to navigate across big boulders and rocks as you get close to the shoreline. But this is only the case for the last mile or so and I believe the turn out for The Marble House is before that anyway (but I'm not positive).

nina

Olive, Did you stay at the Hyatt there? We are going next week and I was wondering if you can walk from the Hyatt to town. We don't mind walking, in fact we prefer it to scouting around for a parking space.

Also, did you need a reservation for lunch at Castle Hill? You're the third person I've heard who's recommended it so I definitely want to try it. I'm going to take a look at your photos now..

TTT

TT for OO

OliveOyl

Hi Nina, yes we were at the Hyatt, and it's no walk at all to town, 5 minutes over the bridge, no more, though some of the restaurants can be a hike. We were hunting for Scales and Shells which so many people here have recommended, and probably walked 2 miles before finding it--closed--both nights we were there. We headed back toward the hotel and ate at the Black Pearl the first night and have forgotten the name of the place for the 2nd, but it looked like a converted garage inside and had a terrific group singing. By that time we were frustrated at ourselves for not having read Scales and Shells sign better the first time we tried to eat there, but 2nd location was acceptable. The walk isn't bad though, and there are interesting shops to look into all along the way.

We were there during the Newport Boat Show and the town, restaurants and hotels were packed--not the best time to see it, and we were glad that we'd been during less congested weekends previously. This hotel is new within the past few years to Hyatt, but an older hotel. I believe there are two distinct sections and you hopefully will be staying in the main tower. 'Nuff said.

By all means, try to eat at Castle Hill, either lunch or dinner. Dinner I'd probably recommend a jacket for men. We were dressed extremely casually both times we've been there, lunch both times, yet felt comfortable. We'd done the Breakers tour just prior to lunch and had stopped to chat with our guide after the group left. Both that house and the Vanderbilt's Biltmore in Asheville were constructed at the same time by the same architect and my husband had wondered how in that day in age of travel, it could be possible to do both. Guide loved the question, then after chatting about it for a time, asked if we had a good place for lunch. We'd already decided that we were going to try to find Castle Hill again, our first experience years ago had been so good, and he smiled and said that was what he was going to recommend. Innovative menu, terrific views.

Enjoy your stay! We had to laugh...every third person there looked as if they'd just climbed off their Hinckley,(one of the most beautiful sailboats made) and oh so preppy still, too. Time seems to stand still in certain sections of New England!

nina

Thanks OO! What is Scales and Shells? If you weren't successful, maybe we can be.

It's been quite a while since my husband and I were in Newport - It was the last time we won the America's Cup. We were invited to a party on a very nice boat (might've even been a Hinckley), and being so thrilled to be invited on this yacht, thinking I was looking cool, stepped aboard, missed the gangplank, pushed it away and went right into the yukky harbor. I still had my purse over my shoulder when I swam to the surface. Didn't stop me though, I went back to the hotel, changed and came back for the festivities!

Loved your photos too, you're much prettier than I imagined (what do you expect with a moniker like OliveOyl)?
Anyway, we'll request the main tower, thanks for the the heads up.

OliveOyl

It's a seafood restaurant on Thames St, Nina, serving only seafood and some veggie pastas. Quite a few people on this board have recommended it and I've read some good reviews online too. Among other kudos, it's received the Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence. I hope you can get in.

Your story was priceless. How embarrassing, taking the plunge as you did--but what a great picture, you emerging from the depths with your purse still slung over your shoulder. Did they have a ladder to throw over to get you out? Sooner or later I imagine the same will happen to my husband or myself, jumping from our finger pier onto the boat--always an iffy proposition with your arms full, but at least the likelihood of our having witnesses is remote. LOL

Thanks for the kind words re the pics--I don't sound much like her either. gt;

Jen

Doug and OO, thanks for the input on visiting the Breakers. If we opt for the Marble House instead, I'm guessing we canjust get off the Cliffwalk at the Breakers and then walk up Bellevue Ave. (Well, now looking at the map, it looks like that might involve a lot more walking, so maybe not.)

We will not have a car, so we won't be able to drive past. I have heard there are some trolleys that run from the pier downtown to the mansions, but I'm still not sure if they'll be running by the end of October. We coud also try a bus, perhaps.

I will keep an eye out for those restaurants for lunch. Generally if we are on a cruise, we like to eat all the meals on the ship...unless something else tempts us otherwise!

Thanks again for all your help! Jen

jen

ps nina - i forgot to mention that was a great story. i think i would have died!!!!! sounds like you handled it wonderfully! have fun in newport! and give a report when you get back. we're not going until the end of the month. Jen

xxxx

Watch out for high tide. When I went on it once we had to walk through some water. Parts can be a little scary if you do the whole thing.

Steve

From a Newport Native:

The trollies and buses in Newport are all part of the same system, run by RIPTA. Go to the Gateway Information Center (America's Cup Ave, 9-5 every day) for schedules and info. They run year-round.

Have fun! Maybe I'll see you!

Traveler2320

This is coming too late to help you, Jen, but:
The section of the Cliffwalk from Memorial Blvd to the Breakers is an easy, paved walk that you could easily use a stroller on. There isn't much parking on the Memorial Blvd end.