Newport is located at the eastern mouth of Narragansett Bay. Either Newport Bridge from the west on route 138 or Mt. Hope Bridge from the North East on route 114 can reach it.
Founded in 1639, Newport quickly became a significant seaport with trading routes to the West Indies. Its years as a famous seaport ended with the British blockade (1776) and the near-complete destruction by the soldiers.
In the 19th century, Newport became a favorite vacation retreat for the wealthy escaping the hot and humid weather of the large industrial cities of the Northeast.
The city has been the playground for rich and famous people for a long time, and many of the following attractions stem from that golden age, like the famous Newport Mansions.
They also brought along their expensive yachts and boats. This era’s legacy abounds throughout Newport even today, and some of the villas can still be visited and toured throughout most of the year.
Newport is a city with a clear nautical past. For many years it was the pride and heart of American yachting and home of America’s Cup races.
Whoever nicknamed Rhode Island “The Ocean State” must have been thinking of Newport. The…
