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Newport Rhode Island is a colonial town that was settled in 1639. It sits at the bottom of Aquidneck Island and is famous for its sailing.
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Many original buildings are still standing and give the city a historic feel.
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The downtown area is vibrant.
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Quaint.
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And has a tourist sense of humor.
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With a current population of 25,000 in a little over 11 square miles…
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Space is at a premium in the crowded waterfront area.
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Parking is a serious issue and even in the off season you can spend a lot of time circling the tiny one way streets for an open spot.
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Or you can just park on the sidewalk like these people.
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Yes, the distances are usually walkable.
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But with the constant 40-50 mph winds we experienced in mid March temperatures? Not that enjoyable.
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Did I mention there were Canada geese?
Everywhere.
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Bellevue Avenue and its stately homes are a popular attraction.
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And yes, there’s serious money in this area… as evidenced by the plethora of expensive automobiles we encountered on the road, like this Ferrari.
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And finally there’s the water.
The Atlantic Ocean, Narragansett Bay, the marinas, the ports, the beaches, the lighthouses, the bridges, the sailing.
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In Newport, it’s all about the water.
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River's world..... 
Thanks! That wind though, gah.
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It was insane. And I live in Maine, we have serious off shore breezes…
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Oh gawd that parking situation though. I can’t even imagine what the residents feel like having visitors in any season. Parking in those tiny streets. I can see it’s a great place to visit.
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We never really explored Thames Street- which is the shopping /dining hub – because of the parking nightmare. It was BAD. In March. I can’t imagine what it’s like in peak summer season.
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It has a very distinct East Coast vibe.
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Quintessentially.
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Thanks for the great photos. It’s definitely a place I’d like to visit.
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A lovely tour – thank you.
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When looking at an unmarked US map, I embarrassingly admit that have to take my best guess as to which one is RI (ditto for Delaware and Connecticut). That’s how little I know about it – it’d probably help if I’d travel there – so it’s nice to learn a bit about one of its cities. Seems to have all the pros and cons of any popular tourist destination.
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We tend to avoid popular tourists spots, but some are a given.
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