What is old can still be new, and this is true of Newport today as it was when the first settlers arrived in the harbor, a popular place of trade. Newport's rich cultural diversity comes from these early days of trade from the West Indies with settlers bringing unusual items like pineapples, which became a welcome symbol displayed then and now in the districts of many Newport inns, restaurants, homes and shops. Whether you are visiting Newport for a mansion tour, a music festival, a yachting event or relaxing vacation on the beach, you will want to explore this old city by the sea.
Downtown and Historic District
The downtown area of Newport is considered the historic district with its surrounding residential areas and The Gilded Age mansions of Bellevue Avenue in the Cliff Walk section. Newport is composed of rows of colonial homes, shops and eateries and the beaches skirting the city. Historic sites and architectural wonders draw many visitors to Newport. One of the lesser known yet interesting architectural designs is the Old Stone Mill in the middle of Touro Park on Historic Hill. The Old Stone Mill is said to be one of the oldest structures in the United States. Many people believe the Mill dates back to the Norsemen, 900 years ago. It could be the remains that are similar to Norse churches and towers found in Europe today. It is also rumored to be a colonial windmill or the ruins of a building built over a previous structure. The Old Stone Mill lends mystery to history and is the subject of debate and controversy in Newport and elsewhere today.
Portsmouth
The historic structures of Newport are valued not only for their architectural aspects, but for the grace and beauty of landscape design surrounding the buildings, homes, museums and mansions. Green Animals Topiary Garden, a self-supporting estate of the Gilded Age with more than 800 topiary sculptures, is a perfect example of Victorian design.
Cliff Walk
Another estate, the most famous on the map in Newport is The Breakers, located in the Cliff Walk area on Ochre Point Avenue.
The Vanderbilt family fortune, attained through the advent of steamships and the New York Central Railroad, is displayed in all its grandeur in The Breakers, located in the Newport mansion district. The 16th Century European palaces of Genoa and Turin inspired this 70-room villa, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt.
Today, along with other Newport homes in the mansion district, The Breakers is a National Historic Landmark. Many Newport music festivals are held on the lawns or inside the ballrooms or music rooms of these great estates. First Beach, also known as Easton's Beach provides a spectacular view of Newport's famous historical mansions.
Ocean Drive
If you squirm in your seat during a violin concerto and would rather skip out to sea, head back to the yachting district. This district of Newport is known in yachting circles all over the world and is home to many private yacht clubs and their avid yachtsmen. You may even stumble upon a regatta or a sailing race, as Newport sponsors several sail related events throughout the year. Sail aboard an America's Cup Yacht docked at the Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina at 49 America's Cup Avenue. On a sailing cruise you can view Newport's Point District, which is close to the harbor and the area of the Jamestown Bridge. See the smaller Colonial homes along the shore that Newport residents have restored and now make their homes. Sail past Newport parks, including Brenton Point State Park, and catch a glimpse of local fisherman trapping fresh seafood that might be your dinner. Learn why locals refer to their home as "the island" as you circle the coastline dotted with rocky beaches. Newport beaches, with their glistening sand naturally sculpted by nature, are some of the most beautiful in the world. Second Beach is located west of Third Beach, which runs to the mouth of the Sakonnet River. Third Beach, which faces the Narragansett Bay, is a favorite spot for locals to enjoy the passing sails and watch the soft sunsets by the sea.
Your Newport explorations will help you develop an eye for the paths and promenades of Newport, its great structures and landscaped walks, pulled together in detail and design in the many interesting architectural and historical displays and the natural shoreline that makes up the districts in the city of Newport.
