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skyguy918's TR

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Attractions
Mansions
Tips: More than 2 mansions will most likely become boring. Keep in mind they do not let strollers inside.
The Breakers
Chateau-sur-Mer
The Elms
Marble House
Rosecliff
Green Animals (has a large garden with topiary - bushes formed into different shapes)
Kingscote
Hunter House
Isaac Bell House
Chepstow

Other
Cliff Walk
Thames Glass
Ocean Drive
Thames Street
Harbor cruise
Scooter / Coupe rental
Fort Adams
Touro Synagogue and Visitors Center

Hotels
Newport
Hyatt Regency Now called Gurney's
Hotel Viking
Middletown, RI (several minutes away)
Hampton Inn

Minyanim
Touro Synagogue - They usually only have minyanim during the week in the summer; check the website for times.
« Last edited by WAM on December 26, 2022, 08:05:05 PM »

Author Topic: Rhode Island Master Thread  (Read 55595 times)

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #140 on: July 30, 2018, 12:08:50 AM »
Can anyone give some insight into getting around within Newport. Looks like parking should be a serious issue there.
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline moko

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #141 on: July 30, 2018, 07:08:03 AM »
Can anyone give some insight into getting around within Newport. Looks like parking should be a serious issue there.
it's not easy but I didn't have a hard time parking. We walked alot and only used the car when traveling a couple of miles. (From town to the mansions)

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #142 on: July 30, 2018, 10:30:02 AM »
it's not easy but I didn't have a hard time parking. We walked alot and only used the car when traveling a couple of miles. (From town to the mansions)
+1
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #143 on: July 30, 2018, 11:37:50 AM »
it's not easy but I didn't have a hard time parking. We walked alot and only used the car when traveling a couple of miles. (From town to the mansions)
+1
Thanks. Is there anywhere to park near Touro?
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #144 on: July 30, 2018, 12:38:19 PM »
Total room renovations at Newport Onshore will begin November 2, 2018 - February 2019.
https://www.extraholidays.com/newport-rhode-island/wyndham-newport-onshore
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #145 on: July 30, 2018, 01:08:43 PM »
Thanks. Is there anywhere to park near Touro?
IIRC there is free 2 hour parking right in front of the shul. 1/2 mi away is Newport Gateway Center. Parking there is $3 per 1/2 hour ($20 per day max???).
Parking at the mansions was free, iirc. Parking on street near the cliff was also free.
Feel free to drive a bit north and say hi.

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #146 on: July 30, 2018, 01:25:38 PM »
IIRC there is free 2 hour parking right in front of the shul. 1/2 mi away is Newport Gateway Center. Parking there is $3 per 1/2 hour ($20 per day max???).
Parking at the mansions was free, iirc. Parking on street near the cliff was also free.
Feel free to drive a bit north and say hi.
How far north are you?
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #147 on: July 30, 2018, 01:34:15 PM »
How far north are you?
Boston... 50 min north of Providence

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #148 on: July 30, 2018, 01:41:01 PM »
Boston... 50 min north of Providence
That is what I thought. Way to far.
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #149 on: July 30, 2018, 01:44:41 PM »
We are doing one night in Portland, one night in Dover NH two nights in boston and Shabbos at the JLI retreat in RI.
4 states in a week!
Brining our total to 47!  8)

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #150 on: July 30, 2018, 01:49:24 PM »
We are doing one night in Portland, one night in Dover NH two nights in boston and Shabbos at the JLI retreat in RI.
4 states in a week!
Brining our total to 47!  8)
While i wasn't doing a JLI weekend, just a few weeks ago i did: MA}ME}NH}VT}NH}MA}RI}CT}MA between the hours of 6am & 1am with stops in each state

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #151 on: July 30, 2018, 01:50:19 PM »
That is what I thought. Way to far.
for me it's just a short drive...

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #152 on: July 30, 2018, 01:57:36 PM »
While i wasn't doing a JLI weekend, just a few weeks ago i did: MA}ME}NH}VT}NH}MA}RI}CT}MA between the hours of 6am & 1am with stops in each state

Crazy!
 Our rule for it to count we have to spend the night

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #153 on: July 30, 2018, 02:26:10 PM »
Crazy!
 Our rule for it to count we have to spend the night
Well if you have work in each state that should count to. I woke up in my bed and went to sleep in my bed.

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #154 on: July 30, 2018, 03:05:27 PM »
Will be staying in a suite in the Wyndham and will report back (although it will only be indicative pre renovation)

Does anyone have a specific boat cruise that they had a good experience with or just go with what I find online?
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #155 on: August 23, 2018, 05:40:33 PM »
Just finished a 3 day trip with my family:

  • Submarine Force Museum (Nautilus) - This is in Groton, CT, right next to the naval base that runs the museum (on the way between NYC and Newport). Really nice museum with some exhibits on the history of submarines, an excellent short film, and a tour of the USS Nautilus. Free parking and admission (unlike the very expensive aquarium and seaport museum in nearby Mystic).
  • Cliff Walk - We did the section from the 40 Steps until the rocky section just past Ruggles Ave. Nice views of both the ocean on one side and some of the mansions on the other, with a great breeze keeping the temperature down. You pay for parking on the street near the 40 Steps) during the summer, but admission is free. Might be smarter to try and park by The Breakers parking lot (for free) and walk it the other direction. There's a bus/trolley that you can take back to your car (pay via their app), but we ended up just walking back up Ochre Point Ave.
  • Ocean Drive/Brenton State Park - We drove slowly along Ocean Drive, stopping here and there to gawk at the more modern mansions and the beauty of the landscape. At Brenton Point, we ate lunch on the picnic tables and flew kites. Kitt's Kites has a trailer out there, and he sells cheap kites for $5 (buy your own beforehand to save money). He also does a build your own kite for the same price, but was done for the day when we got there. This is an open state park, so no charge for parking or admission.
  • Thames Glassblowing - This was a quick stop-in. The kids watched other people doing the 'make your own ornament' through the window, while we bought a few pieces for ourselves and as gifts. We were able to park on the street right in front. The glass in the shop seemed on the expensive side (we actually bought 'seconds' that still looked good for a little cheaper).
  • Prescott Farm - We relaxed by the pond for a bit, took a walk through the different gardens, snapped some pictures of the windmill, and got out of there. None of the buildings were open to go into. No charge for parking or admission.
  • Green Animals Topiary Garden - We bought the Breakers+1 tickets ($29 for adult, $9 for kids 6 and up - free parking), and this was our plus one. The gardens were really nice - not just the topiaries, but the flowers, vegetables, fruit trees, etc. The house was cool too. Not opulent like the others, but still a cool window into an earlier era.
  • Touro Synagague - Tour was pretty good. The exhibits in the visitors center were kinda lame. We also drove by the Jewish cemetery that the tour guide mentioned and I was shocked at how small it was - seems like only a handful of people buried there. There's a larger Jewish cemetery as well. Tickets are $12 for adults, kids free under 12. We found 2 hr parking right in front of the visitors center.
  • Bowen's Wharf - This is the historic port area. We walked around, but there's not much to see. It's super busy and touristy in the summer. Lots of bustling restaurants and shops, booths for boat cruises that launch from there etc. We also stopped in an arcade across the street (Ryan Family Amusements) and let the kids play a game or two. Parking is metered, though our spot had more than enough time left on it, so it was free for us.
  • The Breakers - You can't visit Newport and not tour at least one mansion. The audio tour was great, with a family version for the kids. Take a quick walk around the outside too, as the grounds are fairly plain, but still very nice. Parking is free.
  • Fort Adams - Nice guided tour of the fort. A lot of it is run down, but you can still see a lot of the history and significance of the place. There are really nice views of the bay from the top. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for children 6 and up - free parking.

We took the auto ferry home from New London, CT to Orient Point, NY and drove back from there. Total was $67 after signing up for a free membership (each time can cost different amounts). It was an experience for the kids, which makes up for the fact that it costs more and takes longer than just driving back.

We stayed in Middletown, at the Quality Inn. It was fine for the price, but no more than that. A note on davening (if you're there in the summer). There's a parking lot just for those coming to davening - here's a link to the location (https://goo.gl/maps/vhzX2qv8UKB2). Also, the times were really odd. They davened mincha the first night at 7, then waited till shkia (~7:40) to daven maariv. Then the next morning, they announced mincha for 7:15, but actually started that evening at 7. Bottom line, be prepared to spend a while there even just for mincha/maariv.

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #156 on: August 23, 2018, 05:49:20 PM »
Just finished a 3 day trip with my family:

Thanks! Nice list of activities. Good tidbits on parking and admissions.
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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #157 on: August 23, 2018, 07:45:10 PM »
Thanks! Nice list of activities. Good tidbits on parking and admissions.
+1!

FYI you can visit Fort Adams for free if you don't do the tour, it's a beautiful park with great views of the ocean and boats.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #158 on: August 26, 2018, 09:12:05 AM »


+1!

FYI you can visit Fort Adams for free if you don't do the tour, it's a beautiful park with great views of the ocean and boats.

Yes, you just can't go into the fort itself without the tour (it's locked up).

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Re: Rhode Island Master Thread
« Reply #159 on: August 26, 2018, 01:03:48 PM »

Yes, you just can't go into the fort itself without the tour (it's locked up).
Thanks.
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