Newport in January
 

Hello,
We (4 adults) are thinking of going to Newport in mid to late January to celebrate my birthday & my SIL's birthday. I just went on to the website for the mansions to find out if they are open during the winter, but the schedule only went up to Jan 3. Does that mean the mansions aren't open in January or they haven't updated their website? Are most of the restaurants open in January, and if so, can anyone make recommendations? What else is there to do besides the mansions? We've been to Newport before but only during the summer. Is the Cliff Walk walkable in January or would it be too cold???

Thanks for any advice/help.

I'm pretty sure at least 3 or more mansions are open year-round. You can always email Newport Mansions' website to double check.

I honestly think the Cliff walk will be quite unpleasant in cold weather. Parts of the path invovles stepping from one boulder to the next, so if there's ice on the rocks, I think it can be very dangerous.

You can visit Providence for a day? The RISD art museum is very nice.

I have to say that you're taking a big risk with the weather in January. If you fly, your flight coming in and going home could very well be cancelled because of a snowstorm, or even if you drive, you may face extremely dangereous icy roads. Yes, our January temps. are usually well below 30 degrees and quite often below O with the wind chill, far too cold for walking any further than you have to get to and from your car. Fall is the best time to come to New England. Have you thought about someplace warmer like Santa Fe? I found Santa Fe to be a fun city to explore.

Thanks for your responses. We live in Massachusetts so we would be driving, not flying. I've been to Newport before but we are looking for an inexpensive weekend celebration so I'd rather not fly anywhere. Also, my SIL was in Santa Fe last spring.

Any other suggestions for a weekend getaway in NE? Not Boston, though, because we only live an hour from there & go to Boston a lot. So far we've spent our birthday weekends in Hartford (had a great time!) and Woodstock, VT (beautiful!) If Newport will be too cold, we are open to other suggestions.

But if we decide on Newport, does anyone have restaurant suggestions? We could always stop in Providence on our way home to see the RISD museum. Thanks, yk, for the suggestion.

Since you live in MA, I think Newport is fun to visit. I guess you can't go earlier in December as an early b-day celebration? The mansions are all decked out in Christmas decorations, but I don't know when they take it down.

Alternatively, have you thought about NYC? NYC tends to be fairly cheap in Jan after the high Dec season. There's always plenty to do there.

I agree with YK that NYC is a good idea. The Comfort Inn Midtown usually has very good rates, it's very close the discount Broadway ticket booth, and breakfast is included. If you want to see a show, Jersey Boys is fantastic!

In the past, we have enjoyed some very budget friendly weekends in Newport in the middle of winter. There is a certain charm to Newport, even on the ugliest of days. While a few restaurants close for the winter, most are open. A seat by the fireplace at the Moorings is great to enjoy their "bag of donuts". A window side table at Castle Hill Inn for dinner is terrific to catch the last rays of the sunset.We have friends who rented one of the Castle Hill Inn cottages for a weekend in January for a very cheap rate and they had a blast.
I would email the Breakers and Marble House to see about openings in January, which I suspect is only on the weekends.
The Cliff Walk could be fun, even in winter, as long as there is no snow, since indeed, it would be slippery. There are lots of seals that come down to RI from Maine and Canada to spend the winter and you can spot them along certain rocky areas around Newport. Save the Bay has wintertime boat tours out to the seals near Goat Island. They provide a docent and binoculars as well. It's a short but informative trip!
If you like to skate, there is a nice outdoor rink right on Thames Street for the public...

There is the sailing museum at Fort Adams which is interesting as well.

If you enjoy Native American History, you could drive down to the museum near Foxwoods. This would be about 45 minutes to an hour from Newport. We visited this last year on the coldest day of the winter and we loved it, except for the parking lot which was so cold I can still feel it!!

You have already gotten great suggestions above, but I'll just add the possibility of wine tasting at some of the local vineyards: http://coastalwinetrail.com/

Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful suggestions for things to do in Newport. I didn't know about the vineyards, boat tour in the winter to see the seals & the sailing museum. These are great ideas and I think we will stick to our original plan to go to Newport, and then maybe next year we can go to NYC.

I'll check out Castle Hill. Does anyone have other suggestions for restaurants and/or lodging?
Thank you!

Kwoo, I would just do a search for recent restaurant suggestions, as Emily pointed out, most of newports restaurants are open year round. I would add a few "indoorsy" type things in case the weather goes sour: it isn't "Broadway" of course, but I have had friends and family give the Newport playhouse good reviews.

http://www.newportplayhouse.com/index.html

And while not Las Vegas or even as good as the Indian Casinos (an hour's drive at tleast from Newport) there is a gaming casino with slots on the outskirts of Newport.

http://www.newportgrand.com

Finally, since a visit to a native american musuem in CT was suggested above, I thought I would plug an often overlooked gem: Brown University's Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, located not at Brown but in Bristol RI (20-30 minutes north of Newport). They have a very extensive and interesting collection of native american artifacts.

http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/Haffenreffer/index.html

OOPPSS...I just saw that the Haffenreffer collection was moved to Brown University campus last year, so it isn't in Bristol as I indicate above.....sorry

Some of the best info and events can be found at "gonewport.com".

For hotels, what type of place and location are you interested in??

My favorite Italian restaurant in Newport is Puerinis on Memorial Boulevard

Thanks, Bettina222, for your recommendation of Puerinis. EmilyC, we are thinking of a small, quaint hotel. My SIL suggested the Hotel Viking. Do you know anything about it?

I wouldn't call the Viking small.
How about one of the many b&bs like Malbone House?

There are some "older" rooms in the Viking that you could consider "quaint" but it isn't small as the above poster points out.

Since it is January, I would pick something very close to the action, like the Marriott on Thames Street or the Newport Harbor Hotel. You should be able to get a good rate in January. I looked at Castle Hill and can't believe they are asking over $300 in January. Hhhhmmm what was it that P T Barnum said???

HI everyone, thanks for your hotel recommendations. My SIL booked the Viking Hotel; they have stayed there before and really like it, so i just have to trust their choice.

Any more suggestions for restaurants?

What type of food are you loking for?

Casual: Brick Alley, Red Parrot
Nicer: The Mooring, Cooke House, 22 Bowens, Zeldas, Asterisks
Seafood: Scales and Shells (although every place has some sort of seafood dish)
Italian: Sardellas, Mama Luisa's, Puerinis
Eclectic: Salvation Cafe
Pubs: Fastnet, Buskers

lots of links to websites/menus at www.gonewport.com