A Trip to Newport, RI

 Travel Day and Mystic, CT:

In an attempt to prep for the holiday season as well as the cold Winter months ahead my Mom and I decided to plan a trip to Newport, RI. We planned this a few months back and it came as the perfect fall break and we even got to do a little bit of leaf peeping. To start our journey I packed up my car with a load of jackets, as well as my Louis Vuitton duffle bag, and a tote from L.L. Bean.

Our first stop ended up being in Mystic, CT which is an hour outside of Newport. We arrived at lunchtime which gave us a chance to stop at Mystic Pizza and it was absolutely "a slice of heaven." After lunch we walked around the charming town, stopping in bookstores, boutiques, and of course a coffee shop.

By the time we arrived in Newport, it was time to sit down for another meal and with the cold rainy weather, it seemed appropriate to go somewhere cozy. We had a marvelous meal of tortellini and eggplant parmesan at Sardella's. This was an ideal way to finish off a long day of travel.

The Vanderbilt:

On our second day in Newport, we started the day at The Vanderbilt. I had heard a lot about this resort and was excited to eat brunch in The Conservatory as well as have a chance to look at its beautiful interiors. Everything in this establishment was amazing, no detail was forgotten! We had such a nice time that we ended up coming back for lunch a few days later. From pancakes to yogurt bowls the food was divine. I also loved the monogrammed dishes and playful decor where we ate. 

The Mansions:

When we arrived in Newport the mansions were running on their Winter schedules which meant only three were open for tours. The pro to this was that the properties were fully dressed in holiday decorations. The first home we toured was the most ostentatious, as it was the Breakers. This was a fun place to start because its lavish style made the other mansions seem much more tasteful. Secondly, we toured the Elms which I previously knew little about. This home was still grand, yet had a less gaudy appeal. Finally, we toured Marble House which I was most excited about and it truly did not disappoint. Each property was unique and stunning especially when you considered the craftsmanship behind them.

The White Horse Tavern:

The one evening my Mom and I took a candlelit history tour of Newport that covered holiday traditions in the town. This was an incredible experience as we learned a lot about the historic events that were set at this port as well as having a new understanding of the Winter holidays through time.

At the end of this tour, our guide made a recommendation to go and have a drink at the oldest tavern, The White Horse Tavern. He also may have mentioned that this was a favorite spot of Jackie Kennedy's which made it a sure sell for me. Immediately we walked to the tavern and got a table to have cocktails and an appetizer. I decided to try their Champagne Cocktail and my Mom ordered a glass of Prosecco. Both were wonderful especially paired with our Truffle Frites. It was such a cozy spot to spend the evening and it was amazing to hear the history of the tavern.

KJP Flagship Store:

Of course, no trip to Newport would be complete without making your way to Bowen's Wharf to visit Kiel James Patrick's store. This was top on my list of things to do and I was not disappointed. The Christmas trees had been set up the day before so everything in the store made you get into the holiday spirit. I ended up purchasing an adorable Newport sweatshirt from the company and a few smaller pieces.

After leaving KJP a stop was made at Anchor Toffee. Everything looked amazing and the toffee we tried was delicious!

Clarke Cooke House:

The staff at KJP recommended lunch at the Clarke Cooke House so we decided to go in. I ordered a Caesar salad and a cup of clam chowder. We also both ordered a mocktail off the menu which was delicious. I am so glad we stopped into this stunning restaurant and would love to go back to try their signature dessert.

Coffee, etc:

Finally, I wanted to share some photos from when we stopped at Nitro Coffee. It was a cute, modern coffee shop that had a great menu. It was one of the numerous coffee shops we visited during our trip. 

We also drove past the church where John and Jackie Kennedy got married. It was so wonderful to see this historic church and the plaque on the pew where the family regularly sat.