So I jumped into my rental car and headed towards Fort Adams on the outskirts of town. Upon arrival, I parked my car close to where the Tall Ships were and the Fort Adams Museum and Information Center. I remember seeing the Tall Ships in Newport when I was a child and the French Tall Ship in Oslo in 1995. Most of the ships were built in the 18th and 19th Centuries and are used by the American Sail Training Association as floating schools.

"The Providence," the ship that sank or captured the most British ships during the American Revolution was at Adventure Day along with 3 school ships. I was hoping that there were other Tall ships from other countries there, but I was a little disappointed that they were not there.

After seeing the ships, I went into the information center and museum and grabbed some brochures and looked around the little museum with its displays of the history of Fort Adams. Don''t miss the great view of the Newport Bridge from the parking lot with the fort in the foreground.

Fort Adams was built from 1824-1857 by French military engineer Simon Bernard nd ws named for John Adams, our 2nd President. It was on the sight of a 1799 fort. It was made from Maine granite, brick, and earth and served as the Naval Academy during the first months of the Civil War. Many new weapons and technology were designed and used at Fort Adams and during World War II, the fort was an important coastal defense network for Narragansett Bay and Long Island Sound. Fort Adams was never attacked when it was an active fort.

You can only see the fortifications on hourly guided tours which cost $6 and run daily. Fort Adams Park is open sunrise to sunset and is a nice day trip from the city for a picnic or to tour the fort. It is free to get into the park, but guards are located at the entrance. For more information on Fort Adams, see their website.

You can visit the quarters of Lt. Col. Joseph Totten, who designed & built the fort.

You can ascend to the scenic overlook for a breathtaking view of Newport Harbor & Narragansett Bay.

You can enter the casemates where the big guns once roared, or stroll the 6 1/2 acre parade field.

You can walk through the complex outerworks that helped defend against land attack, and if you dare, enter one of the listening tunnels beneath the walls of the fort

From 1824 to 1950 Fort Adams housed generations of soldiers, and today stands ready for your enjoyment.