Surprising Newport

A June 2001 trip to Newport by tigges

What a pleasant surprise Newport, RI, was for myself and my husband. There is so much to see and do that we ran out of time in a week. The Newport Bay Club Resort was in the best possible location. We had a two level, one bedroom unit with a balcony on each level overlooking Naraganset Bay. We booked this resort because it was close to Connecticut, and we did get a couple of side trips in, but could have spent the whole week right in Newport. One warning: Every time you go across the bridge from Newport to Jamestown in either direction, there is a $5 charge. One time we made a wrong turn and ended up having to cross the bridge, and had to turn around and go back, so it cost us $10 to get from the north side of Newport to our timeshare south of the main highway.

  • 7 reviews
Best Things Nearby:
The resort was just two blocks from the welcome center, which had a wealth of information about the area. The shops were nearly all within walking distance, and the bay was beautiful. The church where JFK got married could be seen from our balcony, as it was less than two blocks away. We could sit on the balcony and watch the sailboats, just couldn't leave any food out there or the gulls would swoop in and be off with it in seconds.

Best Things About the Resort:
The best thing about this timeshare is definitely the location, it couldn't be better. There was a free continental breakfast every morning, and on Monday night they had a little welcome party with wine, beer, pop, and snacks, where we met some of the other guests, most of whom come back to this resort every year, some for two weeks.

Resort Experience:
The resort is an old converted mill, and they did a great job in the conversion. There was only a partial kitchen with fridge and microwave, but there are so many great places to eat at within walking distance that you really wouldn't want to cook.

Our two level unit had a spiral staircase that led to the second floor and a half bath on the first floor, with the full bath including a whirlpool tub on the second floor off the master bedroom. We thought the balcony off the bedrooom was really a nice extra since we also had one off the living room. The staff was very friendly and accommodating.

In the evenings the streets were full of people and the restaurants and bars were all busy.

  • Unit Type: 1 Bedroom
  • Activities: Not Available
  • Amenities: Excellent
  • Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
  • Family Friendliness: Excellent
  • Service: Excellent
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Newport Bay Club and Hotel
337 Thames Street Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-8600

Wharfside PubBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Since we are not that fond of lobster, which was the special, I had fish and chips, which is another local favorite, and it was great. I don't even remember what my husband had, some kind of steak I believe, but it couldn't have been as good as mine. We ate outside on the wharf, and it was nice. The service was pretty good, and the view was wonderful.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Wharfside Pub
Bowen's Wharf Newport, Rhode Island
(785) 205-4731

Brick Alley Pub & RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Brick Alley Pub"

This was a very informal pizza place that had been written up in one of the tourist manuals, but we were disappointed in the pizza. The crust was soggy, and it was not what we expected.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant
140 Thames Street Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-8291

Red Parrot RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The Red Parrot"

This bar was right across the street from the Newport Bay Club, and it had a really nice atmosphere. The beer was $3 a glass, which is average for the area. I had crab cakes that were very good, but not very large. We did enjoy it though.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Red Parrot Restaurant
348 Thames St Newport, Rhode Island 02840
401-847-3800

Cliff WalkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

One of our favorite things was the Cliff Walk. The first time we took a walking tour, and the guide was full of wonderful antidotes and information about the walk and about the mansions that you walk by. It was really enjoyable. The walk is all along the bay and on the other side of you are the beautiful mansions, which by the way are also worth touring, but be prepared for a wait.

The best thing is to check at the Welcome Center and they can tell you when is the best time to go. We ejoyed the Cliff Walk so much that we went back another day and did it again. I can't begin to describe how beautiful it was looking down at water as far as the eye could see, and the smell of wild roses in bloom. It was just beautiful.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Cliff Walk
Memorial Boulevard Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-8048

This attraction was only about 54 miles from the Newport Bay Club, and took about one hour to get to, which was a scenic trip and didn't seem that long at all. This was the first nuclear powered submarine. It was definitely worth the trip, and I don't usually care for museums.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Nautilus Nuclear Submarine
Submarine base Newport, Rhode Island

Foxwood Resort CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Foxwoods"

This casino was about 52 miles from Newport, and it took about one hour to get there. When I heard it was the largest casino resort in the world, I wasn't prepared for how large it actually is. When you're coming to it, there it rises out of the trees ahead of you like a castle. You had better remember what lot you parked your car in and what shuttle bus you take to get back to it, or you will be wandering around for hours.

My take on it is that it is too large. However, I am from the midwest and not from New York where I suspect most of their visitors are from. It was worth the trip over to see it though.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by tigges on March 8, 2003

Foxwood Resort Casino
39 Norwich Westerly Rd Newport, Rhode Island 06339
(860) 312-3352

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