Nine Things to Do in Newport, Rhode Island This Spring

The “City by the Sea”, Newport, Rode Island is a popular spot to visit any time of year, but the spring season offers its own benefits: beautiful weather, many popular attractions open without the summer crowds, and plenty of outdoor spaces to enjoy. In addition to its over three miles of waterfront on the Narraganset Bay, Newport is home to many Gilded Age mansions, famed museums, nature centers and hiking trails (see our favorite spots in this post) and popular, springtime celebrations.

Parking around Newport: Newport is a very walkable city and many popular attractions are located on (or in between) either America’s Cup Avenue or Bellevue Avenue. The best bet is to park at the Newport Gateway Center public parking garage (which charges $5/hour from May 1st through October 31st) located at the start of America’s Cup Avenue. The Mary Street lot (located between Mary and Church Streets) charges $3/ hour from May 1st through October 31st and also has public restrooms on site. There are several smaller lots that charge a flat day fee located throughout the area; check here for more information.

Other Transportation Options:

• The Hop On/Hop Off Trolley: Operated by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, the free trolley runs from (approximately) late May through the end of October, making stops at many popular downtown spots. Check here for more information. 
• The Newport Harbor Shuttle brings guests from downtown Newport to many popular sites, including Fort Adams, Brenton Cove, Goat Island, and some of the mansions.
• Ferries: There are ferries from Newport to nearby Jamestown, Block Island, and Providence. Check here for more information. 

Where to stay: Our favorite spot is the Newport Marriott. It is located at one end of America’s Cup Avenue, within walking distance of Thames Streets and many popular attractions, and less than a mile to Bellevue Avenue and other popular spots. The hotel has two restaurants and two bars, an indoor pool, spa and gym, a wonderful nautical vibe, and the Newport Gateway Center public parking garage adjacent to the hotel. The Newport Marriott is a “Destination Hotel” which means there is a small destination fee ($30). Guests receive several upgrades to their visit with the destination fee, including $30 in food and beverage credit at the hotel, access to bicycles for exploration, tickets for a beer or wine tasting at Newport Vineyards, and tickets to either the Newport Sailing Museum or the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  

Where to eat: There are dozens of restaurants located along America’s Cup Avenue, Bellevue Avenue and throughout the downtown area. Good indexes of options include this one and this one and this one.  A few of our favorite spots:

• Cru Cafe for breakfast or lunch (right next door to the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Diego’s for tacos (in the heart of Bowen’s Wharf)
• The Cookie Jar for a sweet treat (Bowen’s Wharf)
• The Mooring Seafood Kitchen for seafood with a water view for a special occasion (America’s Cup Avenue)
• Clarke Cooke House for an iconic Newport meal (Bannister’s Wharf)
• The Lawn Terrace at Castle Hill Inn for the best ambience and service (about a 10 minutes drive from downtown)
• Stoneacre Gardens for farm to table, family friendly food (Brick Market Place)

Where to shop: Both America’s Cup Avenue and Bellevue Avenue are lined with boutiques and unique shops. Popular spots include Bowen’s Wharf, Bannister Wharf (dating back to the early 19th century), and Brick Market Place.

Popular Spring Events:

1. Newport Daffodil Days: Throughout the month of April Newport hosts several daffodil themed activities including a dog parade, Daffy Bike Ride, Newport Rode Races, and daffodils around every corner.
2. Newport Oyster and Chowder Festival: Rhode Island is home to over 40 oyster farms, which makes Newport the perfect spot to host this free, public celebration that includes tons of great food and live music throughout a mid May weekend.
3. The Newport Flower Show: Hosted at Rosecliff, a Gilded Age mansion, offers a late June weekend of floral exhibits, classes, and special programs. 

Nine Ways to Enjoy Newport this Spring:

1. Tour one of the Gilded Age mansions that make Newport famous. The Preservation Society of Newport County oversees almost a dozen properties and gardens.The most popular mansions, The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff are open throughout the year and offer kid friendly tours and programs.
   Kids will love the self guided The Breakers Family Tour at the Breakers, told through the perspective of the house. The “house” encourages children to play “I Spy” while on the tour. 
   Travel Tips: Tours are included in the price of admission; Download the Newport Mansions app ahead of time; bring earphones for self guided audio tours; Check online first for special programs and events; Strollers are not allowed inside the mansions; there are designated parking lots for mansion visitors; check here for more info.

2. Tour Fort Adams, the largest coastal fortress in America and a National Historic Landmark (both Fort Sumter and Fort McKinley can fit inside Fort Adams), but was never attacked or put into official use.   Built from 1820-1850, Fort Adams is named for American President John Adams and the entire complex is a state park open to the public. Guided tours take visitors inside many sections of the fort. Climb to the top of the fort to have 360 degree views of Newport and the harbor. 
   Kids will love taking a flashlight or lantern through the listening tunnels and learning how to load a cannon. 
   Travel Tips: Visitors will need to drive to Fort Adams from the downtown area- plenty of free parking; Be sure to use restrooms in the Visitor’s Center before tours start; Strollers are allowed on the tour, but there are some parts with tight paths; Wear sturdy shoes; tours usually last 90 minutes.

3. Take a stroll along part (or all!) of the 3.5 public access Cliff Walk. The path offers stunning views of both the Atlantic Ocean and many of the storied Newport mansions and takes about two hours to walk the full path one way. Sixteen trail markers offer historical context and background information on Newport, the mansions, and the geography of the area.  Some sections of the path have rougher terrain and are not as kid friendly. Note: One section of the path near Forty Steps is still closed (as of 2024) for repair.
   Kids will love walking the easier path from the Easton’s Beach start past Salve Regina University to the Breakers mansion, just about one mile. 
   Travel Tips: There are public parking lots at Memorial Boulevard at Easton’s Beach and Narragansett Avenue at Forty Steps (which also has restrooms, open seasonally); Wear sneakers.

4. (Pretend to) race a sailboat at The Sailing Museum. Located in the 1894 Newport Armory built for the Rhode Island militia, the museum opened in 2022 and is also home to the Sailing Hall of Fame. In addition to a dozen exhibits showcasing the sport of sailing, there are several activities visitors can complete to learn more about the daily life of a sailor. 
   Kids will love filling their electronic “sailing locker” with awards by completing challenges throughout the museum.
   Travel Tips: Kids 10 and younger receive free admission; Guests can keep the electronic bracelet as a souvenir; most of the museum is located on the first floor.
   Read our full post here. 

5. Practice your serve at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, housed in the 1880 Newport Casino. The museum has a collection of over 25,000 artifacts related to the sport of tennis, and the Hall of Fame has over 250 inductees. There are several interactive exhibits and tons of tennis memorabilia. The space also includes 13 outdoor grass courts open to visitors for play.
   Kids will love recording a play by play of a tennis tournament, the Ashe ‘68 Virtual Reality Experience, and the trivia Touch Table.
   Travel Tips: The grounds are free to explore; Kids ages 12 and under receive free museum admission; There is no parking lot for the ToH, but is within walking distance of many public lots; tons of dining options nearby
   Read our full post here. 

6. Make your own souvenir at Thames Glass. The shop, opened in 1981, is well known for their hand blown, original designs of everything from vases, tumblers, and pitchers to figurines, ornaments, and Christmas trees. Guests can book a private session online and make their own ornament, paperweight, bowl, vase, or pumpkin. 
   Kids will love receiving help from a professional glassblower, but also being able to create their own design.
   Travel Tips: Individual sessions run between 15-30 minutes; Creations need 2 full days to cool; Thames Glass will ship your product home to you.

7. Take a hike at the Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge, which welcomes over 200 species of birds every year. Located past Third Beach in nearby Middletown (less than 10 minutes from downtown Newport), the Refuge has a Visitor Center with indoor exhibits about the animals and geography of the area. There are three hiking trails (the longest one is 1.5 miles) across almost 40 acres of salt marsh and lots of elevated platforms to catch beautiful views of the coastline. Be sure to stay on the path- lots of poison ivy and ticks in the brush. 
   Kids will love borrowing a backpack from the Visitor Center, which has binoculars, pocket guides to birds and wildflowers, and even a notebook to record what you see (keep an eye out for deer, mink, and coyotes during sunrise and sunset). 
   Travel Tips: Plenty of free parking on site; Restrooms and a small gift shop on site; Strollers will fit on the paths; wear sneakers and bring bug spray and sunscreen. 

8. Get up close to hundreds of sea life creatures at the Save the Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium, set to open in late March 2024. The Original Save the Bay Exploration Center was located inside the rotunda at Easton’s Beach and offered several touch tanks and rotating exhibits. The new aquarium, located inside the Gateway Center (next door to the Newport Marriott), will be organized by “habitat” offering almost a dozen exhibits ranging from Rocky Shores, Seashores, and Salt Marshes to Deeper Waters and Sandy Bottoms. There are several touch tanks and daily activities and programs. 
   Kids will love everything!
   Travel Tips: Check here for up to date information on hours and admission; park in the adjacent parking garage

9. Climb, swing, and explore some of the local parks and beaches. Newport is home to over thirty beaches, parks, cemeteries, piers, and open spaces. Some great bets for kids include:
   1. Bailey’s Beach: located at the south end of the Cliff Walk. Much quieter than some of the other beaches and great for shell searching
   2. Easton’s Beach, also known as First Beach: a Popular spot with a boardwalk, carousel, playground, concessions, restrooms, and almost a mile stretch of sandy beach.
   3. Brenton Point State Park: Near Castle Hill Inn and plenty of parking across the street from the water. Great hiking trails and open space for kite flying.
   4. Morton Park: playground, athletic fields, trails, and picnic areas.
   5. Cardine’s Playground: In the Point section of town.
   6. Vernon Park: playground, tennis courts, baseball field, restrooms

Newport is a wonderful place to visit any time of year. Read about the festive holiday activities in Newport in this post. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and X.