Founded in 1639, Newport Rhode Island was considered by many to be the sailing capital of the world. Home of the America's Cup for over a hundred years, the waters of Narragansett Bay offer some of the best winds for sailing and an excellent cruising ground for boating and fishing. Newport has carefully preserved its historical past with an infusion of the present. Art galleries, shops and world-class restaurants of varying style line the cobblestone streets.
Probably Newport's most famous of attractions is the Newport Mansions. Most are maintained and cared for by the Preservation Society of Newport County, however a few are independently owned and offer a more intimate glimpse, into life in the Gilded Age. Newport mansions are open to the public for tours and are each a museum unto itself.
There are many artists in Newport and consequently, the city is a virtual art and cultural Mecca. The Newport Art Museum, Newport Museum of History and numerous other Galleries offer sculptures, painting, photographs and every medium of art in between. At the entrance of the harbour stands Fort Adams which is well worth a visit.
Newport is a true year-round destination and practically every weekend there is a festival or event of some kind. There are music festivals, food festivals and a variety of events offering something for everyone.
Some of the best seafood in New England is caught offshore and in the Long Island Sound. Newport restaurants and their chefs offer their sumptuous specialties up nightly. Steak and seafood are the most popular offerings, but smaller bistros offer more creative cuisine.
During your stay at Newport, we recommend you take a harbour tour. Powerboat or sailboat, seeing Newport from the water is breathtaking and the only way to see some of Newport's finest attractions. Hammersmith Farm, the childhood home of Jacqueline Bouvier and summer White House of the Kennedy's, is now a private home, but the grounds are breathtaking and can only be viewed from the water.
