Newport/Providence
 

Hello,
I will be visiting Oct 14-18. Trying to decide how many nights I should stay in
the following towns. Newport, Providence,
Berkshires. Or I could stay in another town but don't really know what would be interesting. I don't know the area so I'm not sure which place I would need two days.
I fly out the 18th at 12:30.

Any advice??

What are you intested in doing and where are you flying in and out of?

The drive from the Berkshires to RI is fairly long - probably 3 to 4 hours. You only need a day in Newport and a day or a day and a half in Providence. You could even just stay in Providence (stay downtown) and just drive into Newport for the day. It's around a half hour drive. For a short time frame it seems like driving from RI to the Berkshires may be pushing it.

I'm flying into Providence, I want to see some fall foliage and mountains.
I like nature and museums, not really interested in pilgrims and all that history stuff. How is Blackstone Valley or Litchfield Hills?

It will be a bit too early for peak foliage in Rhode Island at that time. If that is your main goal, I would drive north to New Hampshire or Vermont. Do a search on this forum - this has been discussed quite a bit lately.

Fall foliage is not at its peak in coastal locations such as Newport until the third week in October. However, Newport and Providence are worth visiting. A visit to Newport should include tours of some of the mansions. Don't rush your visit. Savor the full flavor of one of the loveliest seaside towns in America, rich with history and unusual and grand architecture. The commercial area is replete with restaurants and shops. Take a wonderful drive on Ocean Drive off of Bellevue Avenue to see
all of the mansions with their spectacular vistas. Another view of the same structures
is afforded on Cliff Walk which parallels
the main street and takes you along the back of the mansions with the Atlantic on the other side of the walk. I would stay at least
two days. Providence can best be seen through a city tour and is a one day venture.
This was an old run down city, which has
been beautifully revitalized. While in the
Newport area drive down the other side of the peninsula to Point Judith. Stop in Tiverton Four Corners for icecream at Grays {an institution}, and then at Sakonnet Vineyards for some of the best wine you ever tasted. From Point Judith, you can take a ferry to Block Island, another wonderful day trip. I would forget the Berkshires for this trip. They are a distance away and worth a visit in themselves. You can also drive up to Fall River, an interesting city with a large Portuguese population. In the same area is Battleship Cove, where the USS
Massachusetts of World War II fame resides.
We have found it is better to explore one area in depth than try to see too many things. Good luck!

Yo Massteacher,

You provided some good ideas but Pt. Judith is on the opposite side of Narragansett Bay from Sakonnet Vineyards.

If heading to Pt. Judith, stop in Wickford. It is a really nice village with fun shops and good dining.

Sakonnet wines are okay and if you head to that direction, on the return trip to Newport you should swing through Bristol, RI for a nice colonial feel and Colt St Park.

MM