BeachGirl247

Flying into Providence Fri 25th July at 3:15. Meeting up with family in Newport on Sun, 29th, and looking for a spot to spend our down time before the gtg.

I'm open to Newport or a surrounding town that would be convenient (1hr or so drive) since we meet up Sunday afternoon in Newport. We enjoy walking the quaint New England towns and having a meal or drink by the water. Nightlife isn't important this trip. I'm guessing this fits many places but would like your direction on where to go.

Since this is last minute, lodging is an issue. I'll spend up to $300 night if we have to.

Any ideas?

nyer

Providence is a nice small city with good restaurants and some nice areas to stroll. If you haven't been there, its worth a day or 2.

I would also recommend Bristol about halfway between Providence and Newport. Narrgansett is nice too, but more crowded and scene-like, in my opinion

BeachGirl247

I'll give those a read. Thanks!

Will Sunday traffic be an issue going into Newport?

milemarker0

You can hit some beach traffic heading towards Newport, but nothing too crazy. if you stay in Providence, you could also take the ferry down to Newport.

mike_k

Middletown is a mile or 2 north of Newport.

Try Marriott's Courtyard newport
9 Commerce Drive
Middletown, RI 02842
1 401-849-8000 reasonable, comp. parking & breakfast
For eats try:
Atlantic Beach Club is very nice & right on the water.
55 Purgatory Road. $$. Middletown
Just across the street is Flo's Clam Shack at 4 Wave ave. casual (tee shirts)

A nice ride down Rte 1 & scenic 1a the road a piece is Narraganset.
TheCoast Guard House
40 Ocean Road (scenic 1A)
Narragansett
401-789-0700 $$
very nice & right on the water, beautiful spot. best at sunset. ask for window table

If you prefer more casual try
Twin Willows
865 Boston Neck Road (scenic 1A)
Narraganset
401-789-8153. Great fish & chips

You could also take a ride into Jamestown, just west of the newport bridge. Quaint town but not much going on there.

In Newport itself we like:
Brick Alley Pub
140 Thames St
(401) 849-6334 bar & grille good for lunch

Newport Blues Café
286 Thames St
(401) 841-5510
good food & entertainment

Have fun/Mike K

BeachGirl247

Mike, thank you! I'm sure we'll have a great time. I've copied these and milemarker's restaurant rec's from another thread, too, to take with us.

Love the ideas -- keep them coming!

emcash

I would stay in newport. Go on www.gonewport.com or www.nerportchamber.org and look at the logding lists and just keep calling till you find something you like that has availability. There are many inns and B&Bs in newport that you can find for under 300 a night.

emcash

sorry, meant www.newportchamber.org.

One weekend we tried some last minute places and found a room at the John easton house. It is a B&B not to far from the harbor-- definitely walking distance-- and it was very nice, with a nice breakfast included-- and it was well under 300 a night for a king bedded room.
You could also try Inns of Newport, which consists of about 4 inns, so they might have availability at one of their inns-- all are in good locations.
have a great trip!

chgeeb

I would also recommend just staying in Newport. The place is beautiful, entirely walkable. Great restaurants to try and definitely go see the Cliff Walk! You can easily spend an entire weekend in Newport and not see everything! The mansions, Salve Regina, Cliff Walk, 1st and 2nd beaches, all the shops/restaurants on the boardwalk...so much more. There's a nice little vineyard in Middletown too, about a 10 minute drive away. Enjoy!

lvk

For more about the vineyards:

www.coastalwinetrail.com/

BeachGirl247

Thanks for all the responses. We decided to stay in Newport and we booked rooms at Hyatt Newport with other family. Recently renovated so I'm hoping it will be nice.

Thanks for the websites as they were very helpful. Checking on the coastal wine trail

Looks like we're taking a day trip to NYC for a Yankees game. EARLY departure from Newport but for my first Yankees game, I'm not turning it down.

BeachGirl247

We have extended our stay but have to leave the house in Newport on a Thursday. And fly out of Providence the following Sunday @ 4:30pm (returning rental car as well).

What are your thoughts on :

Bristol THUR FRI (no rooms at Bristol Harbor Inn on Sat)
Providence SAT (will arrive later in the afternoon/early evening)
Fly home Sun 4:30pm

We'll have visited Mystic & New London already. Also, hoping for a day-trip to Block Island before Thursday. And I'm not sure if we'll make it to Narragansett on the way to New London or not. ( I didn't find lodging in Narragansett either.) Also, Yankee game didn't work out -- too far and too many people.

What do you think of Bristol 2 nights and Providence the night before we fly home?

Thanks.
BeachGirl

BeachGirl247

We were able to secure 3 nights at Bristol Harbor Inn.

Thanks.

EmilyC

I'm sorry to throw a monkey wrench into your idea but I honestly think that 3 days in Bristol will be a bit boring. It is a lovely town, but small, and I think you will be disappointed. Are there no other spots in Newport/Middletown area?

BeachGirl247

We will have been in Newport for 7 days already and have to leave the house on Thursday.

Are you suggesting staying in Newport the additional 3 days instead of Bristol?

Thanks.

lvk

I think staying in Providence and spending one day there, one in Bristol, and maybe one in Wickford might also work for you.

I have to agree that 3 days in Bristol would not be too exciting.

BeachGirl247

Thanks. I'm skipping the 3 nights in Bristol.

Looking at staying the remainder in Newport with day trips if we feel like it. Really wanted to relax the last few days before going home.

Just curious, what about staying on Block Island? Would it get old after a day as well?

Thanks for this last minute help as we leave tomorrow morning!!

BeachGirl

lvk

How about staying in Newport and doing Block Island and Bristol as day trips? Less packing, checking in and checking out.

In other news, have you seen the weather reports? We're heading to the same general area this weekend and they are showing some kind of precipitation every day.

BeachGirl247

lvk, I like that idea. More expensive but sounds like a better plan.

I'll take the rain! It's 102 and dry so a little precipitation sounds great. However, that may translate to a house full of bored family members!

Staying at the Hyatt on the front end for a couple of nights but not sure where we'll stay for the tail end.

Thanks again,
BeachGirl

EmilyC

Certainly Block Island would offer a little more for a few days - getting a spot there may be tough this late.

I think I would stay in the Newport area and maybe do a few more day trips - Martha's Vineyard, Bristol, Narragansett, Block Island, Foxwoods, the Indian Museum at Foxwoods.

There is really no need to stay near the airport...you can get there in 40 minutes from Newport.