We’ve had good luck at Sardella’s Italian Restaurant at 30 Memorial Blvd, but Newport is all about being on the water, so try the mooring for lunch when it may be more affordable. TripAdvisor.com has a great list of Newport restaurants. I agree with @Gourmetmom about the Breakers, it’s beautiful.
For lodging, Middletown will be less $, but most of the hotels are along a busy main road. Not scenic at all. I’ve had good luck with an app called Hotel Tonight to find discounted rates up to seven days in advance. I’ll do a normal reservation that I can cancel without penalty at someplace that would be affordable but not ideal, then start checking rates using the app at better locations a week ahead.
typing this makes me want to take a road trip to Newport!!
Hello all!! I wanted to report back and thank you all for you advice / recommendation for our Newport visit.
We had a wonderful trip! First stop was Blackie’s Bull Dog Tavern in Smithfield (right down the road from Bryant)…we had the most amazing “junkyard” nachos ever…we were so stuffed we literally skipped breakfast the next morning
Very impressive tour of Bryant. Their new building the “Academic Innovation Center” and their other facilities are state of the art and the campus is beautifully kept. In general, it seemed very quiet for a regular school day and our tour guide didn’t talk about many “student activities” on campus although the admin counselor at our presentation did.
A much stronger male population, 70/30 according the guide. All in all, great tour…impressive campus but too far from home for my DD.
Next stop, we drove one hour to Newport which is so beautiful. Took a mansion tour of The Breakers…breathtaking and so much fun. We stayed at Gurney’s Newport resort and it was simply lovely…each room has waterview and the staff couldn’t have been nicer. Convenient free shuttle into town so need to bring your car and park for dinner, etc. We had an amazing meal at The Mooring, a relaxing waterfront restaurant which was busy and bustling even on a Monday night! If you get there, you must have the " Bag of Donuts" which are the most delicious seafood fritters served in a bag with a wonderful sauce for dipping.
The next day, we toured Salve Regina…what a location! It is literally on the Cliff Walk which runs for 3.5 miles along some of the most beautiful coastline in all of New England. The admissions counselor’s presentation was outstanding…not only about the school but spoke wholeheartedly to the students about the college selection/admissions process…I wish this guy did a video. This school is too small (2000 students…30 male/70 female pop…exact opposite of Bryant) and too far from home for my DD but we definitely could feel the sense of community there. Oh to turn back time…I would love it there!!
Finished off our adventure with some shopping and dinner. We had the best fish tacos ever at Diego’s, a funky,unique West Coast-style Mexican on Bowen’s Wharf and headed home. I will miss college touring
Can I ask why you visited the RI area if it is too far from home for your daughter? I totally agree that Bryant (my son just sent in deposit) and Salve Regina are beautiful campus’ but I was surprised you thought they were too far. Just curious why you bothered going if you knew it was too far.
Hi @MassDaDa68…I’ve been thinking of you and your son and hoping Bryant worked out for him…congratulations!! We wanted to visit Bryant primarily because it was recommended by a friend of ours who is a college admissions officer…he said Bryant is his favorite among business schools. I figured if we checked it out and DD loved it perhaps the distance wouldn’t bother her so much. Salve was purely added to the mix so I could take her to Newport…a favorite place of mine (love touring the mansions) and someplace my hubby wouldn’t have a real interest in. It was perfect mother/daughter weekend. Is you DS on cloud 9?! Great news!!
