Newport & Narragansett Bay

"Newport's most iconic restaurant. Bannister's Wharf, since 1973."

The Clarke Cooke House on Bannister's Wharf is Newport dining — multiple dining levels in a colonial waterfront building, serving New England seafood (lobster, clam chowder, oysters) with views of the harbor and anchored sailboats. The Candy Store downstairs is the casual option; the Boom Boom Room is the formal.

"The best clam shack in Newport County. Lines out the door for a reason."

A Rhode Island clam shack doing fried clams (whole belly — not strips), clam cakes (RI doughnut-like fritters with clam), and chowder. The RI clam cake is the most underrated regional food in New England — ask for a sample before committing to a bag.

"3.5 miles along Newport's cliffs. Mansions on one side, the Atlantic on the other."

The Newport Cliff Walk runs 3.5 miles along Atlantic-facing cliffs past the back lawns and facades of the Gilded Age mansions. The northern half is paved and accessible; the southern half has rough terrain and requires care. The juxtaposition of extreme wealth and raw ocean is distinctly Newport.

"The oldest surviving library building in the US. Still operating."

Built in 1750 and still operating as a lending library, the Redwood is the oldest continuously operating lending library in America and a remarkably intact example of colonial Georgian architecture. George Washington visited. Edgar Allan Poe visited. The reading rooms have barely changed.

"The America's Cup raced here for decades. The sailing is world-class."

Newport is the spiritual home of American sailing — the America's Cup was held here from 1930 to 1983. The MWR sailing program on base has boats and instruction. Narragansett Bay has ideal conditions for daysailing. Learn to sail here and you will have an activity for life.

"The Vanderbilt summer cottage. 70 rooms. Not a metaphor."

Cornelius Vanderbilt II's "summer cottage" has 70 rooms and took 2,500 men two years to build. The Preservation Society of Newport County operates 11 historic properties — the Breakers is the most famous, but the Marble House (William Vanderbilt) and Rosecliff are equally worth visiting.

"The largest coastal fort in the US. Newport Folk Festival grounds."

Fort Adams is a massive 1824 masonry fort on the Narragansett Bay — the largest coastal fortification in America. The state park surrounding it has beach access, fishing, and sailing. The Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals are held on the fort grounds each July.