My daughter and I will be staying for the first time in Newport Aug 6-9th. (Francis Malbone House) What's the festival like? Should we go. We want to see the Mansions, shop & tour around. Around suggestions for such a short weekend during the festival?
P.S. We love antiques?
Newport Folk Festival, etc.?
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Linda-
I haven't been to the folk festival, but I've been to the Newport Jazz Festival several times. The festivals are held at Fort Adams State Park, right on the water. On a nice day, it's a great place to spend a day. Crowded, but enjoyable. Everyone takes blankets and picnics. I guess whether you go depends on how much you like folk music. Sorry I can't help with most of the other questions. I grew up there, and you tend not to do the same things a tourist does in Newport. I have been to a couple of the mansions and found them interesting. Brick Alley Pub is a popular place for drinks and snacks.
Take a walk along the Cliff Walk - it's a paved path that goes along the top of the cliffs overlooking the ocean, and abutts the properties of some of the mansions - the view is spectacular. We enjoyed taking a ride on the tour boat that goes out of the harbor and out into Naragansett Bay, they have several cruises a day. Green Animals, the topiary garden in Portsmouth, just up the road from Newport, is supposed to be quite special. I've never been there, but it's on my to visit someday list!
Linda:
Festival will be fun if the weather is good, although as a previous reply said, it can be a little crowded and like all festivals, a bit of a hassle getting in and out. Suggest a harbour tour, there are several that run the same route for a reasonable price and won't take all day; you could also spend a little more and go on a sailing schooner tour-very nice.
As far as antiques, there are a bunch of antique stores in Newport, particularly on Thames street, but because this town attracts so many summer visitors, don't expect to find any bargains, anything you buy here will be a little overpriced. The small towns of Bristol and Warren RI, which are 20-30 minutes north of Newport, have some nice antique stores and offer a pleasant break from the crowds of Newport, but if you are only going to be around for a long weekend you'll have enough to keep you happy in Newport.