<p>We plan to spend an extra day (Friday, 8/27) in Providence before dropping D off at college. Any suggestions for how to spend the day? I thought it would be nice to get to know the city a little better, but then I came across some of the harbor cruises out of Newport and am wondering if that wouldn’t be more fun/memorable. There is one on a sailing yacht that sounds great. [Newport</a> Sailing Tours & Cruises | Madeleine, Sailing Tours in Newport, RI](<a href=“http://www.cruisenewport.com/Madeleine.htm]Newport”>http://www.cruisenewport.com/Madeleine.htm) If we did that, we’d probably just spend the whole day in Newport. I think my daughters would like the mansions.</p>
<p>We were in Newport two years ago at one of those cheap timeshare spiels. Went sailing on a smaller, probably 40-footer, where I took the wheel. Can’t remember the company but there are plenty of sailings in Newport harbor. There is plenty to see and do in Newport and you have to go to at least one of the mansions, and chow on lobster.</p>
<p>In Providence check out the RISD and Brown campuses. The RISD museum is excellent.</p>
<p>A highlight of our trip was a free Huey Lewis and the News concert on the naval base. It looked like the Pell Bridge was a string of pearls in the background.</p>
<p>If you like achitechture and history:</p>
<p>[Visitor</a> Information - Newport Mansions](<a href=“http://www.newportmansions.org/page3569.cfm]Visitor”>http://www.newportmansions.org/page3569.cfm)</p>
<p>[Newport</a> Mansions - Newport - Reviews of Newport Mansions - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60978-d105955-Reviews-Newport_Mansions-Newport_Rhode_Island.html]Newport”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60978-d105955-Reviews-Newport_Mansions-Newport_Rhode_Island.html)</p>
<p>Newport is lovely and would make for a memorable day. The Madeleine is a good choice - it follows a nice route along the coastline - many of the mansions and other points of interest are visible on the tour. I also suggest having a drink on the lawn at Castle Hill [Castle</a> Hill Inn & Resort | Newport, RI | History of the Inn](<a href=“http://www.castlehillinn.com/Castle-Hill-Inn-Story/history-of-castle-hill.htm]Castle”>http://www.castlehillinn.com/Castle-Hill-Inn-Story/history-of-castle-hill.htm) where you can also watch sailboats traverse the harbor. On the way there, you’ll drive right through Breton Point State Park where you can watch the daily display of colorful kites. </p>
<p>For dinner - grilled fare and seafood - The Mooring, 22 Bowens, or The Deck. For Italian - Mamma Louisa. Just be sure to make reservations for dinner - Newport is mobbed on weekends.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone. I think Newport wins out. D is starting at Brown, so I’m sure we’ll get to the RISD museum at some point. I’ve heard it’s very good.</p>
<p>Appreciate the Italian Restaurant recommendation since we’re vegetarians. I did put away my share of lobsters in my omnivorous teen years when my dad used to scuba dive in these waters. We were spoiled!</p>
<p>I just looked–Mamma Luisa even has a separate vegetarian menu! This sounds like it’ll be a great day (before the emotional next day…)</p>
<p>If you’re vegetarian, you may also like Lucia’s - great Italian food with a good vegetarian menu. It’s BYOB, but there is a wine shop around the corner. FYI, Mamma Luisa serves beer and wine only, not the hard stuff. The two restaurants are located on opposite ends of Thames Street.</p>
<p>[Lucia</a> Italian Restaurant, Newport RI-(401) 846-4477 -Newport Rhode Island Restaurants](<a href=“http://www.luciarestaurant.com/]Lucia”>http://www.luciarestaurant.com/)</p>
<p>Thanks. The menu looks great.</p>
<p>Since your next trips to Providence will be in colder weather and perhaps more rushed, I agree with the Newport decision. Newport is one of my all-time favorite places, especially in the summertime.</p>
<p>I highly recommend doing the Cliff Walk (free) if you are at all interested in doing something active. You can make it as long or short as you like and the beginning is wide and relatively smooth. Start at the Forty Steps. Beautiful views, and you can see the back/ocean side of several of the mansions. cliffwalk.com gives a taste of what it is like, although their description is a little scarier than the Walk actually is. (I did the walk years ago nearly from end-to-end, alone, with a toddler and a stroller, although I carried the stroller - sometimes both the stroller and the toddler! - for the last sections.)</p>
<p>Remember that you can turn around and go back at any point, so if the Walk becomes rougher than you’d like or you feel you’ve walked long enough, just begin the walk back.</p>
<p>There are so many choices of wonderful things to do and places to eat in Newport, one day will be very memorable and will leave you wanting more time there.</p>