Okay, I realize Memorial Day was a month and a half ago and I promised to do better with posting more regularly but guys, social work is tiring. All I want to do on the weekends is lie in bed and binge on Netflix. When I went to Newport, Rhode Island for a night I had every intention of posting about my experience within a couple days. Truth be told, I have been working on this short post since we got back to New York. I kept loosing focus, so finally last weekend I committed to finishing and posting why I think Newport is great for a quick beach getaway.

I just want to start off by saying I love New York City, especially in the summer. So much more to do. But sometimes I get the urge to flee because it can be overwhelming. I work in Manhattan all week and most weekends I do not go to the city. I retreat to East Flatbush, Brooklyn or Wakefield, Bronx to recharge before Monday. Every now and then, though, I crave a getaway from NYC or the state altogether. Just one night away sometimes does it.

For those of you who do not know, I grew up in rural Trinidad in a village called La Brea. La Brea is Spanish for “the tar.” The village is named for its Pitch Lake, the world’s largest natural deposit of asphalt. I lived about a 15 minute walk from there and a five minute walk from the beach. I say all this to say that I gravitate toward villages and beach towns. So when Hildon and I were deciding on where to go for Memorial Day, Newport was a nobrainer.

We did not have a plan. I spoke to a coworker who told me I had to do the Cliff Walk if I do only one thing while there. We also read a few articles and found out that Newport is a food lover’s dream, so our whole stay there revolved around where to eat.

We got to Newport around 9:30am and were famished. We couldn’t check into our hotel until 3pm so we went straight to the Corner Cafe. It is a cozy cafe with an extensive menu and friendly staff. The hostess is from Ireland and we discussed the Celtic spelling of my name (Siobhan). We ended up sitting at the bar. It was Sunday and it is a popular spot for brunch. We were too hungry to wait longer for a table. We had “The Beast.” The portions are generous and the home fries were probably the best I have ever had.

After eating like a lumberjack I was ready to tackle the Cliff Walk.

The Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile public access walkway along Newport’s eastern shore. The weather was perfect at 75 degrees and the cool ocean breeze made the sun bearable. What I like most about the walk is that it is a combination of nature and architecture, because there are over 60 mansions along the cliff. The views are spectacular but I must warn you that some parts of the walk are treacherous. Please wear comfortable shoes. There are restrooms along the way but there is a bit of a wait. We were on the walk for 4 hours because we stopped to take pics (of ourselves and other people) and Hildon took a chance and flew his drone to get better shots of the coast.

After all that walking we drove into town to Thames Street. That is where all the shops are so all the tourists flock there and that day was no exception. The place was crowded and the parking situation was horrendous. It was Memorial Weekend after all. We did not leave crowded NYC to dodge people in Newport. I jumped out of the car at Del’s frozen lemonade, a must when in Newport, and told Hildon to circle the block and pick me up. We sipped as we headed to our hotel to check in and shower before dinner.

We stayed at a Holiday Inn off the island. Hotels in Newport on a holiday weekend can get expensive and honestly I needed to get away from the crowds at night. There used to be a time when we turned our noses up at Holiday Inns, opting for more expensive accommodations. Lately, we have come to realize that staying in posh hotels are a waste of money when we spend most of our time exploring. After check-in we showered, dressed and hit the town for dinner.

We had dinner at Clarke Cooke House at Bannister’s Wharf. The place was packed. Thankfully we made reservations and were seated within half an hour. The waiters, dressed in white jackets and black ties, are so attentive. The food is on the expensive side and we mulled over the menu for a bit before Randy, a handsome man from Montego Bay, suggested the deboned half chicken with roasted potatoes, sauteed corn and an arugula and apple salad. It did not disappoint. Randy even took a pic of us to remember the occasion.

After dinner we walked about the wharf and people watched. All the bars were brimming with rowdy revelers, but we were so tired we looked at each and said “Screw that” and went back to the telly.

We slept in. This was my first stay at a Holiday Inn and I have to say I had one of my best sleeps in a hotel. The bed was so comfortable that I made a note to see what mattress brand they use: Simmons Beautyrest. The Holiday Inn offers free breakfast but we had other plans. After checking out we headed back to the island and had brunch at Belle’s Cafe. We got there at 12:30pm and the line was long. We decided on what to eat on the restaurant’s website while the sun beat down on us. At Belle’s you have to order and wait for your buzzer to vibrate to pick up your food. There is seating indoor and outdoor on the pier. We chose the latter and enjoyed the view of the mariner as we ate our crabcake eggs Benedict and Texas french toast.

It was worth the wait. After brunch we took a short walk along the mariner then started home to avoid traffic.

TIP: Staying off the island is cheaper, but there is a toll to go over Pell Bridge. It costs $2 an axle ($4 round trip) if you are not a Rhode Island resident. It is cheaper with an EZ Pass. I paid a little over $2 for each trip and we went across that bridge six times.

I hope you enjoyed my short, long overdue post. I know what you’re thinking: Took her a month and half to write THIS? Look, social work is kicking my ass but recharging is helping. And I am not making any promises about doing better, because honestly I am doing the best I can. I work full time. I get out often enough, but I write notes all day so all I want to do on the weekend is chill and not look at a computer screen. Thanks for sticking around!