My daughter and I are taking our first trip to the east coast, we are from San Diego. We will spend Thurs. night,Friday Sat. & Sun. in New York City.
On Monday morning we will take a train to Providence,RI and rent a car. Mon. night I booked a B&B in Newport (Cliffside).
We would like to see the beaches, villages antique shops etc. I would really like to go horsebackriding too.(suggestions?)
The question is should we stay Tues. night(@B&B)in Newport also, and use that as our home base to explore Cape Cod? Or should we try and see Boston also (return flight is out of Boston Wed @5pm)Thanks!

I may be biased because I am from Boston, but you should definiteley alot more time for Boston than you have planned. Boston is a tremendous tourist city especially in the fall.
Freedom Trail, Newbury Street, Fanueil Hall, Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard, Great Seafood, Etc....

Its really too far to try and go to Cape Cod for a day from Newport. And you would get so little time in Boston, I'm not sure that's worth it. There's plenty to do in the area, I think you should stay in Newport and head to the airport the next day. just my opinion...

As a born-and-bred New England girl who lived in Boston for several years, I'd love to recommend a trip there and to the Cape. Sadly, you really don't have the time to do either, let alone both. Getting TO the Cape can be a nightmare (it's separated from the mainland by water, so you have to cross bridges to get there, and that's very ugly); whether you just visit Sandwich (just across the canal) or go all the way to Provincetown, you'll never see enough in a few hours.
As for Boston, you could drive into town Wed. morning, and see a little bit of one area (say, Fanueil Hall and the surrounding area; or Back Bay and out to Fenway Park; or the North End) but you won't really get to see the city (imagine someone in San Diego for 1/2 a day - hard to feel they'll really 'see' your city in that short time).
There is so much to see and do in the Newport area that you'll fill up Mon & Tues just exploring there - just plan to come back to New England AGAIN!

The past 2 years I've flown into Providence and made the 1.5 hr. drive to Cape Cod. I love the Cape and have found lots to see and do there. (Also, there are great airfares in and out of Providence right now vs. Boston.) Lots to see and do in Providence, also. I've also flown into Boston, but traffic was much worse than in Providence. Personally, I would vote for the Cape, although, admittedly, I don't know Boston as well. Enjoy, whichever you do!

Fran-Newport itself has beaches and antiquing and mansions and much to see. I would either stay there and leave Boston for another time (except the airport). Or, I would head to Boston on Tuesday, take an overview guided tour in the afternoon, go to Fanuiel Hall for dinner, spend the morning around the city: visiting a museum, part of the Freedom trail, the swan boats, colleges, whatever. Have a leisurely lunch, and then out. Leave the Cape for another time--much too much driving. The Cape is best to relax in anyway. You are really moving on this schedule, but you are at least getting a preview-- and you can return.