This past weekend was Labor Day, so we took advantage of the longer weekend and escaped the concrete jungle for a couple of days and headed up to Newport, RI. One thing I love about New York is that you are a bus or train ride away from so many neat places. We knew we wanted to go somewhere over the Labor Day weekend, but indecisive me could not decide where to go. Dustin suggested Newport, so I started checking it out on the internet and knew I would love it! For those of you who don't know, Newport is a quaint seaside city that is known as the gem in the coastal crown of New England and is famous for it's stunning Mansions. The city was even better than I expected and stole my heart with it's charming colonial houses, cobble stone streets, nautical lifestyle, and fresh seafood.
Upon arriving you are instantly welcomed by breath taking scenery and the smell of the ocean breeze. It was such a different pace compared to New York and it made me feel a little closer to home with it's 'small town' vibe. Lately I have been feeling a little home sick, so escaping New York for a couple of days was just what I needed. We rode the bus there and decided not to rent a car and to just walk everywhere. My poor feet weren't too happy with me, but my pants were. We probably walked 8-10 miles a day, and with all the food that we were eating I am grateful for not renting a car because I didn't gain a single pound! The food is unbelievably good. To be honest, I have never been a huge seafood person…and if you are the same as I was, go to Newport and you will be converted. I ate seafood for every single meal, I could not get enough of that heavenly stuff.
Our first day we walked around the quiet neighborhoods, we loved the colonial style houses that lined the streets instead of the cookie cutter neighborhoods that overrun new developments now days. We later walked down to the Marina and explored Bannisters Wharf which is located in the heart of downtown Newport. There are various kinds of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants that line the wharf. We found this little boutique that is seriously the size of a closet but they sale the classiest bow ties made out of old vintage fabric. There were also so many savory food options to choose from, one of our favorites we went to was called Diego's. I am still drooling over their fish tacos. I think a bus ride to Newport would be worth it just to get some fish tacos from Diego's.
Our second day we walked to the beach, and hung out there for a couple of hours. It was a pretty cloudy day and a little chilly so we ended up not getting in the water but we still had fun walking up and down the beach with our toes in the sand. Later that evening we went on a sunset cruise, which we didn't get to actually see the sunset because it was very cloudy and foggy but we still had a blast! They asked for volunteers to help put the sails up against Dustin's protests I somehow convinced him to do it purely for my entertainment. He seriously puts up with so much from me.
Before we headed back home, the lady we were staying with let us borrow her scooter to take it to the beach again. I think she felt bad for us because we got caught in a downpour the night before walking home from our sunset cruise. I wish I could of gotten a picture of us on the scooter. It really is only made for one person but somehow we managed to fit both of us on it. Im surprised I didn't die from a heart attack. Dustin is such a looker when he drives, and he was just serving around the road managing to hit every pot hole which I did not appreciate because I was sitting on a metal bar. My butt still has bruises from our scooter ride.
Newport was better than I imagined and I am convinced we will be moving there and taking up sailing and going to every polo match we can. I can't wait until we have another opportunity to visit there again!
