2 Best Hotels in Newport County and East Bay, Rhode Island

The restful retreat in the heart of Newport's bustling waterfront district was once a convent in a different location—the tidy 1854 Victorian building was dismantled in 1986 and rebuilt to its original size and style in its current location. The inn's namesake commanded the HMS Beagle, whose most famous passenger was Charles Darwin, and antiques adorn the rooms, which have either an antique brass or hand-carved wood bed frame; all guests have access to the rooftop deck with a view of the harbor; two have semiprivate decks and hot tubs.

While options for overnight stays in Jamestown are limited, the Bay Voyage is a stalwart that has undergone several evolutions in its lodging and dining but retains the charm that led the original owners to float this Victorian-era inn across Narragansett Bay from Newport in 1890. The inn is walking distance from town and features rooms with water views, an attractive seasonal outdoor swimming pool, and an on-site restaurant. It’s a time-share resort that also offers rooms for overnight stays, so most accommodations are suites.