Hi katiek,
You'll love the Chanler and the Spiced Pair.
As for a car, it's really not nec. as you can use shuttles, cabs or walk. Parking is a real pain. The Chanler can arrange transportation for you from the airport if nec.
You've chosen some great resturants - Bouchards - intimate with excellant food and service. Brick Alley - good food in a fun atmosphere. Tell us what kinds of food you like for more suggestions.
Biking Ocean drive is awesome with a picnic at Brenton Point - great views and if lucky many people will be out flying award winning kites. If you ride further you'll see Fort Adams - ride thru there - it's a must see. There's a ferry service from there to Block Island - I'm not sure when it starts though.
I'm not sure if the mansions interest you or what other types of things you like. How long are you staying for?
The Hyatt has a nice spa.
Enjoy!

So far good choices and recommendations.
If the weather is good, take a picnic to Brenton Point State Park. It is on the 10 mile Ocean Drive. Beautiful views and kite flying.
Topnotch restaurants (in addition to Castle Hill Inn and Spiced Pear) are: West Deck, 22 Bowen, The Mooring, White Horse Tavern. Good, more casual restaurants are Scales and Shells (best seafood (it's all they serve, also cash only and no reservations)), Clark Cook Candy Shoppe, Black Pearl, Cheeky Monkey, Asterix. Very casual, cheaper and popular (more lunch places): Brick Alley Pub, Red Parrot.
The mansions are a must. The best are Breakers, Marble House, The Elms (Preservation Society houses, combo tickets available).
Beechwood (The Astors) is a theatrical production "period actors" show you around the house as if you have come to call. Rough Point (Doris Dukes place). Belcourt Castle.
If art is your thing, what about a side trip to Providence and tour RISD (Rhode Island School of Design)?
When are you coming? There are happenings in Newport almost every weekend?

Yes, when are you going? This coming weekend (e.g. Memorial Day weekend)? If so, Newport will be mob scene, traffic and parking will be nutty and you might be better off w/o a car. If you are coming mid-week, or even up thru the first weekend in June, getting a car might be a better idea.

Awesome suggestions...thank you. We will arrive May 30 - June 3. Loved the RISD tour idea. I know she would love to see the school, in fact, it is a school she has had strong interest in and it would also give us an opportunity to see Providence. Isn't Brown Univ. also located there? We will only have 3 full days, so we are going to be very busy, but I am so excited. I have told her I am taking her some place special, but have not told her the location. Can't wait!!

It just so happens that I turned in my final school project at RISD and will be graduating in 2 weeks. Great school - I love it. Yes, Brown is right up the St. and PC isn't too far away. Lots happening in Providence - very doable city.

If you don't rent a car, or don't feel like driving up to Providence, you can always take the ferry from Newport to Providence, and enjoy a cheap trip up the Bay....here's a link with info:

http://www.ripta.com/schedules/ferry.php

Congrats on your graduation Cybor. Did you begin your freshman yr. at RISD? What field of study? My daughter will start her freshman yr. at Southern Methodist Univ. (Dallas) this Fall, studing studio art or maybe art history. Sorry, didn't mean to get away from the original topic.
What else would you recommend while in Providence? Our flight leaves at 1 pm, do you think there would be enough time before the flight?

Thanks katie, I'm one of the (much) older students - went straight thru from freshman - Int. Architecture.
Re:
Providence, Are you saying you'll only have the morning until 1p to see Providence? If so, perhaps you could tour the school, check out the RISD musuem and walk up the hill to Brown. It's all relatively close. Brown is huge though, so you will probably only be able to see parts of the campus. If time allows, you could walk the river that RISD butts up to or go down to Thayer St. It's a funky st. where lots of students hang out. There's a few good book stores, cafes and cute shops.
Let us know how long your planning on spending in Prov. for more help.

cybro-Actually we could spend an entire day in Prov., (either day 2,3, or 4), but I was thinking since we have to go to PVD airport last day (day 5), we could go over early that last day and see the sight, albeit very limited time. Does this make sense? We would probably be better off spending an entire day. Would you recommend using the ferry to go across?

What is Int. Architecture? Are you from the area (RI)?

A low paid arch. Yes, I live in RI, close to Newport.
The ferry would work and be a nice ride, if running - not sure. Otherwise you could hire a limo. service or take a Bonanza bus from Newport to Kennedy Plaza. You also could bus from Newport - Kingston (close to URI) then take the train to Providence. Both options would bring you 15 min. or so away if walking to RISD. You'll find cabs thru-out Providence. I would ask the Chanler to prearrange your transportation.

Katiekate- given that you are going to be in Newport Tuesday through Friday (I am not counting Saturday as that is the day you will be leaving) I will point out that traffic and parking in Newport will really not be all that bad. So don't rule out a rental car on that account. If money isn't a huge issue I would point out that having a car will give you a little more freedom of choice of when and where to spend your time in Newport. Also, travel and traffic between Newport and PVD is really not bad either; PVD is a small airport and really easy to rent/return a rental car into. My way of thinking, the small amount of hassle of driving/parking in newport (mid week, of course) is worth the extra freedom.

The Francis Malborne House is absolutely lovely!

I agree with the above posters regarding having a rental car. If you are staying at the Chandler, you can easily walk to the Cliff Walk and the sites of Bellevue Avenue. You can also take the shuttle. However, with the car, you will have the freedom to do things on your own. Taxis are somewhat limited in Newport as well. The drive from the airport is easy and takes about 35 minutes.Consider getting a GPS in the car so you can have even more options on directions.
Since you also considered Castle Hill Inn, you might want to have a nice dinner there...reserve a window table when you make reservations...they have a gorgeous restaurant with excellent service(IMHO) and outstanding views.
Does your daughter like sailing ?? - you might consider a half day sail or lessons for her. There are boat rentals in Fort Adams.

I forgot to mention that there is a Waterfire in Providence at sunset on June 2. More details @ "Waterfire.com".Since you are planning a trip to the city you should combine it with waterfire.

You all are absolutely amazing. Sometimes when you post you never know what kind of a response you will get, but this time it has just been great. Thanks everyone. The hotel provides a roundtrip pick up service for a resonable fee, so I have already signed up for that. And, they have also offered their hotel car to take us anytime (when available), so we might wait and see how that pans out before I commit to a rental.
Don't know what Waterfire is, but I'm going to check it out right now.
I definitely want to see Castle Hill while we're there.
Forgot to ask about good places for lunch.

Only 3 more days and we're off. Any last minute suggestions for lunch? If we have time to do a little shopping, where should we go? Thanks everyone!

Just wondering how your trip went, what you ended up doing, and how you found the Chanler....?

Thanks for asking. I am working on a trip report right, and hope to get it posted soon. But, just so you'll know we had a wonderful time and The Chanler is awesome. Check back in a couple days.