Near the end of Our Year in Washington D.C., we went on a 15-day road trip through New England. This trip had been on our travel bucket list for a while, but getting there from Florida had been a hindrance. Being in D.C. we were now within driving distance and our trip could happen.
Since this was such a long trip and we saw so many amazing places I’m breaking this into a 5 part series. Part 1 being Connecticut and Rhode Island, Part 2 Massachusetts, Part 3 Maine, Part 4 New Hampshire, and Part 5 will end with Vermont. Let’s hit the road!
Day 1
In late August we set off from D.C. and headed north to Connecticut. It would take us all of day 1 to bypass New York City and toll roads. We didn’t stop to do any sightseeing but instead focused on just getting to New England.
Our first night was spent at the Holiday Inn Express in Danbury, Connecticut. The hotel was decent but in need of some improvements like more outlets for charging electrical devices.
Day 2
Mystic Seaport Museum
On day 2 we drove into Mystic, Connecticut to visit the Mystic Seaport Museum. The museum is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. General admission to the museum is $28.95 for adults and $18.95 for children 3-12. You can save 10% on your admission when you purchase your tickets online. Or save $3.00 per ticket for up to 4 people when you show your AAA card at the ticket counter. There are 2 free parking lots across the street from the museum. They are large and clearly marked.
The Seaport consists of 12 different exhibitions, a village consisting of 36 different houses, exhibits, and shops, 4 vessels, and 3 exhibits in the preservation shipyard. During our visit, the Mayflower was in the shipyard for repairs. We were disappointed that we wouldn’t see it later on our trip to Plymouth, but it was cool to see it dry-docked.
The grounds also include 3 restaurants, Latitude 41, Schaeffer’s Spouter Tavern, and the Galley Restaurant. We ate lunch at the Tavern and found the sandwiches to be huge and delicious. Our family easily shared sandwiches. Our biggest disappointment with lunch was that they would not provide us with cups of water. They would only sell us bottles of water. Unfortunately, there are no places to have a picnic. I found this disappointing.
Overall our visit took about 5 hours, but we could have easily stayed longer. The kids loved climbing aboard and exploring the ships. There were tons of hands-on things to experience. If you have a ship lover in the family, this is definitely the place to go.
Olde Mystic Village
Later that day we walked around the Olde Mystic Village which consists of tons of shops and restaurants. Some were quaint and quirky. You can find just about everything in this Village, even live music.
To finish out Day 1 we drove north-east to our hotel in West Warwick, Rhode Island. We spent 2 nights at the Comfort Suites West Warwick-Providence. This hotel was very comfortable and the breakfast was excellent. I highly recommend staying here.
Day 3 – Rhode Island
We woke up bright and early on Day 3 and headed for The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Since I did my research and bought an EZPass transponder we drove across the Newport Bridge. If you do a trip similar to ours, I highly recommend having an EZPass. They are sold in many northeastern states. We got ours in Virginia. Not only will they save you money on tolls but they will also save you travel time.
The Breakers
The Breakers is the grandest of Newport’s summer cottages and was built by the Vanderbilt family in the late 1890s. The 70 room mansion is filled with exquisite furnishings, fixtures, and sculptors. The house was opened to the public in 1948 and today is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
We arrived at The Breakers right as it opened at 9:00 am. They are generally open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Double-check their website for seasonal changes. There is a modest-sized parking lot across the street from The Breakers. It fills up fast. We saw cars circling the lot a couple hours after opening.
Admission is $26.00 for adults and $8 for youth ages 6-17. Your ticket allows you to go on a self-guided audio tour of the house, grounds, and the Stable & Carriage House (which is a few blocks away). You could also purchase tickets that allow you to visit up to a total of 5 Newport Mansions.
When you enter the house you are given a choice of the self-guided Main Audio Tour or a Family Audio Tour. The lightweight, handheld players look like cell phones are very easy to use. If you have kids with you, I highly recommend the Family Tour. You and your children can listen to first-person accounts of life in the house itself. It brings the house, the furnishings, and sculptures to life as you walk room to room. We really enjoyed it. Allow about 1 1/2 hours to tour the property and grounds.
Stable & Carriage House
Don’t forget to visit the Stable & Carriage House. This stop is often overlooked. Right in front of the Carriage House, there is street parking for a couple vehicles. Inside you will find old carriages, memorabilia, and more. Our entire visit took about 20 minutes. So it’s a quick stop, but worth making.
Cliff Walk
Before leaving The Breakers, I highly suggest a stroll out on the Cliff Walk. There is an access point near the south end of The Breakers (outside the property gates). Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile walking trail passing some of the most popular sites in Newport. There are several access points and you can turn around at any point.
Parts of the Cliff Walk are paved and some are rugged, rocky shoreline or dirt paths. We started our stroll at The Breakers and headed right as you are looking at the ocean. The path quickly changed rocky and rock scrambling was required. The kids loved hopping from rock to rock. After a short while, we turned around and retraced our steps. The views were spectacular! The entire walk would make a great couples activity.
By now it was nearly lunchtime and next on our agenda was Fort Adams State Park. Fort Adams is located right on the shore of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. As you are driving to the Fort pay attention to the signs. Google Maps tried to send us down a dead-end road. As you are approaching the fort you will pass the harbor and marina on your right. We found a parking spot facing the marina and enjoyed a picnic lunch before our fort tour.
Fort Adams State Park
Fort Adams State Park is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm during the summer months. Operating hours vary during the other seasons so check their website before you visit. During the summer, guided tours start hourly. Tours are approximately 1-1.5 miles long and mostly flat, but there is a set of steep stairs to climb and rough walkways.
Tours are $15 for adults and $8 for youth ages 6-17. They also have a Family rate of $40 for 2 adults and up to 4 youth. This is a bargain for families with 2 or more kids. Discounts are also available for military, seniors, and college students.
Tours take you inside the fort to view quarters where officers and their families lived. You also ascend to the overlook for a wonderful view of the harbor and bay. During your walk, you will learn about past and future restoration plans and will head beneath the walls of the fort into the underground tunnels. Our kids loved the tunnels!
Later, be sure to head back behind the fort. There are picnic tables and lots of space for kids to run. Our kids loved exploring the shoreline. After a fun, full day in Newport, we headed back across the river to our hotel in West Warwick, Rhode Island.
Coming up
Coming up in my next post we’ll leave Rhode Island and begin traveling through Massachusetts. We will spend days 4-7 exploring Cape Cod, Plymouth, and Boston. Stay tuned!
- 15 Day New England Roadtrip Part 2: Massachusetts
- 15 Day New England Roadtrip Part 3: Maine
- Part 4: New Hampshire
- Part 5: Vermont
Are you looking for more road trip ideas:
- 7 Days in Central Kentucky
- 4 Days with Kids in Washington D.C.
- Skyline Drive and Upper Blue Ridge Parkway Roadtrip
- 7 Tips to Create the Perfect Roadtrip
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I did not receive compensation for this post.
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