You have been itching to plan a getaway and Newport is eager to host you. Things are opening back up. The new governor recently gave the go-ahead for some festivals. Restaurants have lots of options based on your comfort level. What are you waiting for? Reserve that room. Tell your boss you are taking leave. It is time to take that much needed break.
Pedal your way along abandoned railroad tracks to view Narragansett Bay like you’ve never seen it before. That’s right. This is an opportunity to ride a “bicycle” on a railroad track. Rail Explorers is excited to return with two route options beginning May 1. Bring a picnic for the Southern Circuit and watch the boats go by before pedaling 3 miles back to your starting place. Two-person and four-person options are available along the mostly flat routes.
Mother’s Day is quickly approaching, luckily lots of places in Newport are open and ready to serve brunch. (You don’t have to bring mom. You can go to brunch on other weekends, too. The Corner Café is located in the historic district in Newport and is well known in the area as one of the best brunch spots in town. It’s never too early in the day for seafood and Benjamin’s Raw Bar reopened as of March 1. The Clarke Cooke House offers an amazing prix fixe brunch; make sure to save room for the chocolate mousse dessert. The Black Pearl in located right in the middle of Bannister’s Wharf and features a waterfront patio and award-winning chowder. After your meal, stop in the shop for a memento of your trip. Not quite ready to eat at a restaurant? That’s ok because The Hungry Monkey is offering delivery and pick-up options every day of the week.
There is nothing quite like live music. Newport Folk is shifting gears a bit this year to offer two 3-day events. Fort Adams will be the place to be for performances, storytelling, and workshops July 23-25 and July 26-28. The Fort also boasts panoramic views of the Newport Bridge and the East Passage. Tickets for the festival have not gone on sale yet and will be released in phases.
The Newport Music Festival tickets go on sale on Monday 4/19 and expect to sell out quickly. So be sure to head to the website to get your tickets right away.
If the smooth sounds of jazz are more your style, mark your calendar for July 30-August 1, 2021. Fort Adams will be the site for three days of intimate jazz performances and collaborations. The 2021 Newport Jazz Festival is working closely with government and health officials and will soon have more information about tickets. Don’t miss this opportunity for four stages of music, food, crafts, and beer and wine gardens.
WaterFire is returning in September. This is such a unique event and well worth the quick drive or ferry ride to Providence. On evenings when a Full WaterFire is planned, over 80 braziers are lit spanning from Waterplace Park to South Main Street Park. Take the time to explore these events on foot. You have lots of time because they are lit right after sunset and stay lit until 30 minutes past midnight.