I recently returned from my family’s yearly summer vacation to Rhode Island. Most years, we stay close to our little town because we just love it and want to absorb every possible moment there. Plus, it’s easy to become entranced by the calm rhythm of each day: wake up, beach, read, relax, repeat. But this year, I was lucky to have a longer trip there – 4 weeks – so I did some venturing out. Here are the 3 nearby towns I visited (all of which would make great day trips or overnight trips):
Newport, RI
34 miles from Providence; 72 miles from Boston
This seaside town is a quintessential New England dream. With its sailing history, breathtaking Cliff Walk, and opulent Gilded Age mansions, Newport is the perfect spot to tour, shop, and unwind. I took my boyfriend H here for a day trip when he came to visit us in Rhode Island, and we had a marvelous visit! We skipped shopping altogether and just hit some famous sights:
We began at the International Tennis Hall of Fame which, whether or not you’re a tennis fan, is cool to see. We did not enter the museum, but spent our time wandering around the old-school courts (which is free to do) and watching the people setting up for the Hall of Fame Open, which was to begin just 2 days after our visit.
From there, we headed to Castle Hill Inn, a charming Victorian mansion with sweeping views of Narragansett Bay.
We started with drinks on The Lawn, a classic Newport icon and must for anyone in town. The Adirondack Chairs are first-come, first-served. It being a week day (Friday), we had our choice of seats. Cocktails were served directly to our chairs as we lounged happily and gazed at the numerous boats sailing by.
When we were hungry, we strolled just uphill to The Lawn Restaurant, which overlooks The Lawn and the water, for lunch. I had the Watermelon & Burrata Salad, a perfect, refreshing choice for a warm day.
When we were finished, we walked back down The Lawn to the coastline for this spectacular view.
To cap off our visit, we parked near The Breakers, the grandest of Newport’s mansions, to explore some of the Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile public access walkway that borders the shore and provides both coastal and mansion views.
There are several spots to get on and off the Cliff Walk, and since it was a hot day, we just did a small section. It was wildly beautiful.
We took our time soaking in the sea, sky, landscape, and homes, and when we were satisfied, drove back home. We loved this trip, and I highly recommend all the places we went!
Portsmouth, NH
112 miles from Providence; 56 miles from Boston
My mom, Elsie (my parents’ dog), and I stopped in Portsmouth, NH for lunch on our way to Portland, ME (coming next). I was instantly charmed by this darling port city.
Admittedly, we only stopped at a Starbucks, wanting something quick and easy on the way to our destination. We chose to stop in Portsmouth since we were curious about the town, and now wish we had had more time to spend there – and known about restaurants, since there looked to be some lovely ones nearby.
Although I can’t give you recommendations like I did with Newport, I had to mention Portsmouth in this post because I found the small town instantly friendly and captivating. My mom and I plan to return another time to explore.
Portland, ME
163 miles from Providence; 107 miles from Boston
Portland, ME surprised my mom and I (and Elsie) with its bigger city feel. We had been expecting a town more similar to Portsmouth but were met with tall buildings and sidewalks upon arrival. Still, there are numerous nature escapes in Portland to soak up the sea and fresh air. We stayed here for an overnight trip since it was about a 3-hour drive from our home.
We opted to stay at Portland Harbor Hotel in the Old Port District since it was dog-friendly and looked nice. I would recommend staying here if you do not bring a dog. Although Portland itself welcomes furry friends, the hotel sat in an urban environment with no nearby green space, and the hotel had an attractive courtyard where dogs unfortunately were not allowed. That being said, the hotel itself was both cozy and sleek with many walkable shops and restaurants in the area.
While my mom got settled with Elsie, I went out to explore the area. Just a street over from our hotel sat Portland Lobster Company, a restaurant with a spacious outdoor patio that I’d heard wonderful things about. It was calm that Sunday afternoon, but by evening the place was roaring and rambunctious – not the best place for a dog, although they do allow them outside (as most Portland restaurants do).
I continued to walk and explore the touristy harbor area before heading back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner.
Before dinner, my mom and I walked Elsie to a tiny park that was about a 5-minute walk from the hotel and passed a number of cute shops along the way.
We wound up in an alleyway just across from our hotel. It was much quieter than the boisterous Commercial Street where I’d been earlier that day, and we sat with Elsie at Independent Ice Company, a restaurant and bar specializing in whiskeys. The highlight of the experience was absolutely the bourbon chocolates we ate for dessert.
After, we settled into our comfy room and said goodnight to the courtyard down below.
The next morning, we were eager to escape the bustling city life and breathe in some nature. We packed up our bags and drove to the Eastern Promenade Trail, which was just the ticket. A gentleman played the saxophone on a bench while we strolled with Elsie and admired the boats and morning sun.
Along the waterfront trail there’s some gorgeous homes to admire, too.
From there, we drove into South Portland to see Portland Head Lighthouse.
This, for me, was the highlight of our Portland trip. When I’m in New England, I so long to feel immersed in the wild coast and ocean, and this place had that effect on me. Visiting this lighthouse felt like the perfect end to our trip up north. From here, we drove home.
Which New England town would you most like to visit?
P.S. Life lessons learned in Rhode Island, a beachy getaway in 30A, and a week on the coast of South Carolina.
