The Battle of the Newports
Last summer I had recently moved to New England and at the advice of everyone who has ever been to the region, I had to visit Newport, Rhode Island. Because I had such good fortune with the foodie tour I took in Providence weeks earlier, I booked the tour in Newport and made a plan for my visit. Shortly after the tour was booked, I was scheduled to take a trip to Newport, California on business. “Well, isn’t this ironic? Two Newports in one month.” I set out to compare the two and decide which one suited me better, the eastern or western version!
First came Newport, Rhode Island. I took the ferry from Providence to Newport and enjoyed taking in the light houses and marina from the water. You can also catch a glimpse of the mansions from the ferry, enough to tease you that the Newport Cliff Walk is a must do. And it is! 3.5 miles along the breakers and some of the most luxurious, old money, gilded age mansions in the United States. In fact, John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier were married at St Mary’s Church and their home in the area became the “summer white house” following JFK’s Presidential victory.
Newport, RI’s historic district boasts cobblestone streets and highest concentration of colonial homes in the US, including one of the oldest taverns in the country, the White Horse Tavern. It’s also home to the US Naval War College which is a working training center for naval officers and Fort Adams State Park which was America’s largest coastal fortification and summer white house for Eisenhower, now turned state park and host to the Newport Jazz Fest. For those with a love of sailing, there is plenty to do and see regarding its America’s cup legacy. I found Newport to be a very vibrant and walkable community with its shops, restaurants, historic and maritime legacy. Oh, did I mention, I had the best clam chowder in my LIFE at a little café in the Marina!
On to Newport, California. This community of 85,000 people boasts some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen stretching from the Newport to Balboa pier! The beaches are large, deep, and have 2.9 miles of “boardwalk”, although it’s actually concrete, running the length of the beach. And while there are a few things to do along the beach, I found it sporadic. Balboa pavilion and the man-made Balboa Island are certainly worth a visit. Particularly, Marine Avenue with its shops and restaurants. It’s very quaint but quickly taken in.
In summing it up, I think my Uber driver in Newport CA said it best. When I told him I was comparing Newport’s east vs west he said, “Oh, that’s easy, I’m a transplant from New England. Newport, RI is old money, the billionaire’s club, with its cobblestone streets and colonial history. Newport, California is new money, the millionaire’s club, with its man-made islands and concrete walkways.” I think he hit the nail on the head! While I enjoyed the beaches of the California version of Newport, I much preferred the charm, history and walk-ability of the Rhode Island version and I look forward to visiting again soon!
What’s going on? Am I transforming into a New Englander? Perhaps, minus the accent!!
Aww, my hometown! (Newport Beach, CA). Even so, I am also a bigger fan of Newport, RI as well!
Lol!! Sorry my dear Shareen!! That said, now that I know you came from the western version, I like it even more! 🙂