Newport, Rhode Island, thirty minutes from the South Coast region, is aptly known as the "City by the Sea". Typical New England, it is rich in history, scenery, and boating. During the summer, the town heats up with a variety of events that draw nearly 4 million visitors, including the Newport Blues Festival, the Newport Jazz Festival, Regattas, and many events held at the Tennis Hall of Fame.

For a time during the colonial period, Newport rivaled Boston and even New York as a center of New World trade and prosperity. During the 19th century, especially between the Civil War and World War I, wealthy industrialists, railroad tycoons, coal magnates, financiers, and robber barons were drawn to the area. They bought up property at the ocean's rim to build what they called summer "cottages"--which were in fact mansions of immoderate design and proportions patterned after European palaces. Many of these are still in existence and are available now for the public to tour.

The principal toys of the Newport elite were equally extravagant yachts meant for pleasure, not commerce, and competition among them established Newport's reputation as a sailing center. The strong U.S. yachting tradition has endured despite the loss of the Cup, and Newport continues as a bastion of world sailing and a destination for long-distance races.

Newport occupies the southern tip of Aquidneck Island in Narragansett Bay, and is connected to the mainland by three bridges and a ferry. The perimeter of the city resembles a heeled boot, its toe pointing west, not unlike Italy. About where the laces of the boot would be is the downtown business and residential district. Several wharves push into the bay, providing support and mooring for flotillas of pleasure craft. Much of the strolling, shopping, eating, quaffing, and gawking is done along this waterfront and its parallel streets: America's Cup Avenue and Thames Street.

Immediately east and north of the business district are blocks of colonial, Federal, and Victorian houses of the 18th and 19th centuries, many of them designated National Historic Sites. Happily, they are not frozen in amber but are very much in use as residences, restaurants, offices, and shops. Taken together, they are as visually appealing in their own way as the 40-room cottages of the super-rich.

Despite Newport's collection of ornate mansions and regattas of sailing ships, the city is, for the most part, moderately priced. In almost every respect, this is the "First Resort" of the New England coast. Newport has nearly 4 million visitors a year.

Things to do:
Buy a Mansion Pass and tour some of Newport's amazing oceanfront mansions. Stroll the "cliff walk" which winds along a 100-foot bluff overlooking the ocean and in front of mansion row. Head downtown and have lunch at a harbor-side restaurant, such as the Black Pearl, on one of the piers or head to the beach for an afternoon swim. Stroll down Thames Street and stop in art galleries, antique shops, ice cream shops, etc. Take a sunset sail on one of many available charter vessels. Finally, Newport's summer nightlife is about as vibrant as New England has to offer.

Guide

• Frommers
• Visit Rhode Island
• Best Read Guide
• Newport Attractions
• Newport County Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Entertainment and Events

• Tennis Hall of Fame
• Newport Art Museums
• Newport Arts Festival
• Newport Film Festival
• Newport Jazz Festival
• Newport Folk Festival
• Cliff Walk

Boston	Providence	Newport	Cape Cod	The Islands	Block Island	Stay here!
Only an hour away, Boston is world renowned for its history, academic institutions, parks, culture, and shopping. Take a Daytrip to Boston.	Thirty minutes from the South Coast Region, Providence has a recently revitalized downtown and is undergoing a cultural renaissance.	Just thirty minutes away, Newport is great for yachting, beaches, shopping, dining, and has a vibrant summer nightlife.	Only thirty minutes from the South Coast Region, Cape Cod has 100 miles of beaches, National Seashores, Audubon preserves, lighthouses, and picturesque seaports.	Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Cuttyhunk islands; the rich and famous "summer" here; hardy New Englanders have made it their year-round home for 350 years.	Accessible by Ferry from Newport, RI, this small island offers safe harbor, bike rentals, beautiful sea cliffs, beaches, seafood, and a plethora of summer wildflowers.	Last but not least, stay local and explore the South Coast's many back roads, museums, beaches, zoos, parks, antique shops, and more.