Family Trip to Newport, RI

My family and I just got back from a quick trip to Newport, RI. It’s a great summer destination if you love the nautical and coastal vibe. We went to Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. earlier this year, so we wanted a quick and easy summer getaway. Plus the drive from NJ is about 4 hours (traffic dependent) so it’s an easy trip to take. If you are thinking of a trip to Newport, I’m sharing what we did (and what I wore) on our 4 day vacation here.

Family Trip to Newport, RI

Summer’s spent on the East Coast of the United States can range from very hot and humid, to cooler and rainy, especially in the evenings. Planning for very hot days and possibly cooler nights, I packed comfortable shoes, a sweater, shorts, and multiple dresses! Dresses are the easiest and most comfortable for walking in the heat in my opinion. I love versatile dresses that can take you from day to night. It makes packing so much easier.

Day 1: Newport, RI

Traveling from NJ, we arrived at Newport, RI by car with just enough time to walk though town before dinner. We put on our dinner clothes and hit the town. Most may prefer to wear sneakers while traveling however I spent the majority of my time in Newport wearing sandals. I brought 2 to rotate- my white slides and tan slides. Easy and versatile enough for all my outfits.

Our first dinner was at Clarke Cooke House, housed in an 18th century building. The vibe was bright and coastal. I enjoyed the open windows with a view to the wharf. We started off with oysters, a Caesar salad, and tuna ceviche to share. It was all wonderful. For dinner my husband and I each got a fish, which was done to perfection. The kids each had a burger and were happy.

I chose to wear this fun pink madras dress which was suits the vibe of the town. I’m wearing a size XS which fits as a maxi length on my 5’2″ frame.

Day 2: Newport, RI

After the morning rain passed, we did the Rail Explorers tour. Traveling with kids, you have to keep them interested and busy! This 6 mile rail bike tour is run on old railroad tracks. The pace is leisurely and easy to do. We rode a 4-person rail bike. There were even some families with smaller kids riding. The whole tour took about 90 minutes and gave us a great workout.

A last minute lunch decision lead us to Castle Hill Inn. There were no spots available on Open Table but I called to see if they had any seating- which they did! The view was incredible and we had one of the best lunches ever there! While you wait for your table, grab a seat on the lawn and order a drink. It’s the perfect spot to soak in the Newport, RI view.

Wearing my nautical stripe dress for easy and casual style.

The Elms Mansion- Exterior Gardens

After lunch we toured The Elms mansion. The Breakers may be more infamous, but The Elms was my favorite of the two mansions we toured. We only went to two mansions since I knew my kids wouldn’t love it as much as I do. The Elms is modeled after an 18th century French Chateau. Built in 1901, this featured the latest technology of the gilded age. I fell in love immediately.

The exterior gardens were so breath-taking. The back patio featured marble urns and statues, which overlooked a vast field of green. Beyond the field is the formal gardens featuring fountains and pavilions.

I’m wearing the Petite Plume dress that was featured in Vogue. The brand kindly gifted me this dress just in time for this trip. It’s beautifully made, easy and effortless, and perfect for touring on vacation. This lounge dress is meant to be worn as a nightgown or worn out as a dress. They even having mommy & me matching outfits for little kids. It’s so cute! Sizing runs true to size with a roomy fit.

I paired this with my embroidered raffia bag that has been on rotation all summer long. This is a seasonal bag so if you don’t grab this now, you may have to wait until spring!

The Elms Mansion- Interiors

The interiors of The Elms are just as beautiful as the exterior. I love the ornate French style. It makes you feel like you are in France. I could just move right in!

Dinner our second night was at The Red Parrot. A favorite of the kids. I’ll be honest here. It’ not my cup of tea. I can see the wide appeal though. The menu is huge and they have so many options. It’s housed in a historic building which used to be a meat packing house in 1898. The favorite dish of the night was the lobster nachos. My husband and son loved them!

After dinner we did a little Cliff Walk tour. This was our second time doing Cliff Walk. We did sneak in another walk after dinner the first night. The views are truly beautiful! I highly recommend doing this walk while in Newport. It’s a not-to-miss experience. Walking is not difficult on the Cliff Walk, but you are probably best to do it in sneakers. I was fine in my midi dress and flat sandals.

Day 3: Newport, RI

We headed to The Breakers mansion on day three of our family vacation to Newport. No trip to Newport would be complete without a visit here. We got there early enough to do a little more of the Cliff Walk before it opened. The views from where The Breakers is located is a beautiful part to start the walk.

The Breakers Mansion

Step inside The Breakers Mansion with me. No trip to Newport is complete without visiting the iconic Breakers. Built in 1895 by the Vanderbilt family, this is the grandest of the summer “cottages”. And it is in fact grand! Actually quite a bit over-the-top. I felt like I was at Versailles. The amount of marble and gilding and ornate decorative ceilings is pretty amazing.

Here’s a travel tip- get there right when it opens and tour the gardens first. Everyone else is headed inside and you will have the exterior almost completely to yourself! It’s a great opportunity to get some photos without the crowds. The exterior is my favorite part. The marble urns, columns and statues are beyond gorgeous.

So what should you to wear when touring The Breakers? Most people wear shorts with tees. I wore a cotton midi dress, my Mme Mink straw bag, and my trusty French Sole slides (I find them extremely comfortable). The August weather was humid and misty! My philosophy is- if you bought the dress, then wear it! As you can see, I changed several times a day! 😉

America’s Cup Sailing Cruise

We squeezed in a 2-hour sailing tour on the America’s Cup Charters. These historic sailboats are working boats, meaning that you get to help sail the boat! As little or as much as you like. My kids were eager to help and it really got them involved in the whole experience. I highly recommend this tour but this is not a leisurely cruise. Due to the way sailboats sail, you will have to be able to move and shift from one side of the boat to another once you are cruising to keep the balance.

Dinner on our last night in Newport was at The Wharf Southern Kitchen and Whiskey Bar. This was a really good dinner! The interior is a bit dark but cozy with a whiskey bar vibe. The menu features southern dishes with a New England twist. We loved everything we ordered here! I wore my Christy Lynn peplum top (similar neutral print here) which has been on repeat since I bought it. You can read more about Christy Lynn clothing here.

Day 4: Mystic, CT Seaport

Mystic, CT is about an hour from Newport so on the drive home, we made a stop in this cute coastal town. Mystic is such a quaint little town and made famous by the 80’s movies Mystic Pizza with Julia Roberts. We did eat here and everyone agreed the food was good. NY/NJ style pizza is still my favorite though!

You have to pay entry to the historic Seaport town which is part of the Mystic Seaport Museum where you will find the last American whaler which was built in 1841. This ship embarked on 37 voyages with most lasting 3 years or more. You can go onboard and tour the shop and it’s cramped lower deck quarters. I can’t imagine spending years at sea here! The Seaport is a recreated village with houses and storefronts true to the time. Explore the shipyard, historic vessels, and enjoy the quaint view.

Overall, I think Mystic is great if you have little kids. It’s most appropriate for that age. My tweens had a great time exploring but we went through the village pretty quickly. Still, the charm of this coastal town is worth a stop if you’ve never been. I’m not sure that we would go back though.

I wore my light cotton Vineyard Vines dress (similar gingham style here) and French Sole slides.

I hope you enjoyed reading about our family trip to Newport, RI this year. We all agreed on our favorites from this trip:

1. America’s Cup charters- we will definitely do this again!
2. Castle Hill Inn lunch on the lawn- I actually can’t wait to go back and do this again!
3. Dinner at The Wharf Southern Kitchen and Whiskey Bar