Last week we made the “road trip” up to Newport as our first official holiday as a family of four. It was my husband’s birthday, and I really wanted to do something special to celebrate. Newport seemed like the perfect destination of not too far, but still a totally different vibe from the city. Plus lobster!
If you live in the North East or New England area, I can’t recommend Newport enough. It was such a gorgeous town with plenty to do as a family and a great food scene. We will definitely be heading back! There was plenty of old character throughout the main town, and we had so much fun exploring the surrounding neighborhoods. And don’t get me started on the mansions!
WHERE WE STAYED
After a year of no travel, I really wanted to stay somewhere luxe and have a resort vibe without the international travel. We ended up staying at Gurney’s on Goat Island after hearing so many great things! It was such a beautiful property and definitely felt like its own little oasis.
They have a saltwater pool that never felt crowded, despite being peak summer season. I had preemptively reserved a cabana, but it ended up not being needed at all. There were plenty of loungers and space to feel comfortable. I loved being able to have drinks and snacks poolside via their outdoor restaurant, The Pineapple Club.
The on-site restaurant, Showfish, was absolutely amazing. Impeccable service and the food was beyond delish. We had only planned to eat there once but ended up having breakfast at the hotel a second time because we enjoyed it so much. Get the tuna poke and the spicy lobster! Trust me.
I will say, that the rooms at Gurney’s were very dated. And not in a cute and kitschy way. For such a nice hotel, it was very disappointing to have the room feel like a three-star motel. The bathroom was super drab and most of the furniture in our room was pretty beat up. While it was clean, I now realize why no one shares pictures of the rooms on social media, and just the resort.
Also, on their website was mention of a “kids club.” My oldest was super excited about this idea, as were we. But it ended up just being a folding table with a stack of board games on it… No staff to engage or play, and definitely not a traditional kids club situation.
Overall, we had a really great time and did enjoy our stay at the hotel. But I wouldn’t pay peak prices to stay there again. The location is absolutely stunning and the view is unmatched, but you can come to the hotel for dinner or drinks and not be a hotel guest. The biggest benefit was the pool, and I think you could find that elsewhere.
WHERE WE ATE
Let’s be real, wherever we go, there has to be great food. We love going out to eat here in the city and have high expectations whenever we travel. I first plan the place to stay, then the food, and then the activities. Priorities!
We loved Flo’s so much! It was super chill and relaxed, while also being absolutely adorable. Directly across from the beach, it had beautiful views and the funniest ambiance. It was so nice to feel the breeze and listen to the ocean. The food was also very tasty and made for the perfect first-night dinner. Be prepared to wait for parking or pay in a cash-only lot. It was tricky at 6:00 pm.
Ok, this was the most delicious afternoon treat. And they sell the mix, so you know we brought some back to NYC!
I ended up at The Nitro Bar for coffee three of our four mornings in Newport! It was so cute, totally millennial, minimal, boho vibes, and I was here for it. The draft vanilla latte with oat milk was top-notch, and I snagged a slice of hot out of the oven chocolate chip banana bread one morning that was next level.
We did lunch at Castle Hill Inn on our last day based on recommendations for you guys, and it didn’t disappoint! The view is just beyond stunning and it was such a beautiful place to end our stay. I would recommend just going for drinks though! The food was very good, but didn’t quite mean the price point for me.
This is the in-house restaurant at Gurney’s, and we absolutely loved our meals there. We had a fabulous steak dinner at my son’s request (yes, seriously), and our waiter was outstanding. I think service can really make or break a dining experience, and it definitely added to our birthday dinner at Showfish!
We were out and about one day and didn’t have any lunch plans. We ended up heading to The Mooring over on the water after hearing rave reviews. But this was personally the most disappointing meal. It definitely wasn’t bad, but it didn’t blow me away. We ordered their “Bag of Doughnuts,” which are their famous, house-made shrimp and lobster fritters, but they were really just big balls of dough. No shrimp or lobster to be seen. I would pass on this one!
A tiny little side-of-the-road shack with the most epic Maine-style lobster roll, delicious lobster chowder, and a hot dog for the kid. Ha! Definitely, the best lobster I had while in Newport. The only thing that would make it better would be if they offered Connecticut style!
Clementine’s Handmade Ice Cream
This ice cream, guys. Holy smokes! I like to consider myself an ice cream connoisseur, especially post-pregnancy. And Clementine’s knocked it out of the park. It was SO good! Super creamy, but somehow light? Don’t sleep on the oatmeal cookie!
WHAT WE DID
Newport was incredibly family friendly. So many cute spots to go with the boys and plenty for us as adults. We definitely weren’t in town to sight see to the max, but we hit a few fun places during our stay.
Second Beach
While technically across the bridge and the next town over, Second Beach was PERFECT. The sand was incredibly soft, with plenty of parking, clean restrooms, and a stunning view. If you want to spend some time in the sea, make it at Second Beach.
Ok, you have to do a tour of the mansions on Bellevue Avenue! If you are with kids, pick one – The Breakers or the servants’ tour at The Elm. It is a lot to take in and a ton of ground to cover, but The Mansions were the highlight of the trip for me!
The exterior of this arcade looks super cute and vintage, but the games inside are all modern! This was definitely not where I really wanted to hang out, but it made for a solid 90 minutes of fun for my oldest son. It is located in the heart of downtown, so we stopped in for a bit after dragging the boys around for some shopping in town. Perfect good behavior bribery.
We actually weren’t able to squeeze in the full Cliff Walk, but we did stop by to get a vibe of the view and it was gorgeous! If you have time for an evening stroll, make it here!
Arts and Antiques
There were so many great antique shops and we loved looking through all of the nautical inspired artwork and treasures. Don’t skip browsing through all of these quant little shops.
We stopped by the grounds of The Redwood Library and checked out some of the giant sculptures they have. The giant rocking chair was a big hit with my son! We came here directly after our mansion tour, so decided to skip pay admission to go in. I definitely want to check out the interior next time!
We had the best time in Newport, and I will definitely be back! Hopefully to stay at Castle Hill Inn!
