Newport Highlights by Land & Sea
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Port
Newport, Rhode Island, US
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
Local Sightseeing,All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$159.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 2¾ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Newport has magnificent coastal scenery, dramatic architecture, and a thriving downtown waterfront. The city's symbol is the pineapple, evoking Newport's once-great commercial significance when traders from the West Indies put fragrant pineapples outside their doors to entice buyers to visit their warehouses.
Take a panoramic drive through Newport, passing the town's historical section with its many authentic and restored buildings. The district has undergone extensive restoration and celebrates Newport's prominence in early American history and architecture. You'll spot the Redwood Library -- the oldest lending library in America. From a distance, view the Gothic Church of Saint Mary's, the oldest Roman Catholic parish in Rhode Island, established in 1828 and has the distinction of being the wedding site of Jacqueline Bouvier wed John Fitzgerald Kennedy.
A drive along a spectacular stretch of Ocean Drive affords glorious views of Newport's rugged southern coastline as well as the famed Bellevue Avenue and its fabulous "summer cottages." Constructed in the mid-19th century, these palatial mansions were built by the very wealthy. The Newport Preservation Society has beautifully preserved many of these vacation homes.
Experience the spirit and feeling of the Vanderbilt lifestyle aboard the m/v Gansett -- a beautifully restored classic wooden boat. A relaxing guided harbor cruise introduces you to Newport from a waterside perspective.
Notes:
The boat is not accessible. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair.