Just back from Oceancliff 1 & 2 in Newport, RI

[Polly Metallic]

I'm so glad we took this RCI exchange. Our main objective was to visit the mansions, so we didn't think being downtown near the harbor was essential. The view from Oceancliff is fabulous. Our one bedroom two bath unit was spacious and in reasonably good condition, but the exterior of the building is weathered. Brenton State Park and Fort Adams (which also has a park) is super close. The views from both are amazing, and there are picnic tables at both. The Newport Harbor Ferry (Hop-on-hop-off service) stops at Fort Adams. We used this as a means to enjoy a harbor boat trip while also getting transportation to Bowen's Wharf. We bought a Membership Plus One ticket for the mansions which saved us a lot on entrance fees. We also did a special guided tour (discounted for members) at The Elms, that centered on the servants' lives and took us from basement to rooftop. Prior to the start of our timeshare week, we spent two nights at the Jailhouse Inn downtown, across from the White Horse Tavern. That gave us an opportunity to do a lot of sightseeing in the historic area and not deal with traffic or paid parking. So, I feel like we got our fill of downtown, the wharf area, the mansions, and the scenic area near Oceancliff. We had a wonderful time!

 

[rickandcindy23]

Sounds like a trip in my future!

 

[missyrcrews]

Hmm....perhaps I should put this on "the list!"

 

[andre10056]

Having toured all manner of castles in Europe, I have to say that none of them impressed me to the same extent as the multiple summer "cottages" in Newport. Truly magnificent and beyond belief. My relatives from Europe, very much familiar with castles in their home countries and elsewhere in Europe, were in awe.

Definitely belongs on everyone's bucket list.

The Breakers | Newport Mansions

The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial pre-eminence in the Gilded Age. It is the flagship of the Newport Mansions and an icon of the City-by-the-Sea.

www.newportmansions.org

 

[WinniWoman]

I’ve thought about visiting that area to see the mansions, but I’m not sure if I’d like a whole week there so I keep putting it off. It’s not the kind of thing we normally plan vacations around. Thanks for the info. Will give it more thought. At least we can drive to it.

 

[andre10056]

I’ve thought about visiting that area to see the mansions, but I’m not sure if I’d like a whole week there so I keep putting it off. It’s not the kind of thing we normally plan vacations around. Thanks for the info. Will give it more thought. At least we can drive to it.

Yes. I live within 1 1/2 hours driving distance so I might go down for the day. Not to take anything away from Newport, which has great views and a great "downtown" with great restaurants, but I just don't feel a compelling reason to stay seven nights in light of my relative proximity. I love just walking around the "stunningly beautiful architecture" streets surrounding Brown University in not so far away Providence...but I'm not going to stay a week there, either.

So, if that's your perception (as it is mine), something that may interest you is that many towns/cites in Cape Cod (the ones closest to the gateway to the Cape, the Bourne Bridge) are within an hour and a half hours' drive from the Breakers...so perhaps a Newport mansions part of a multiactivity Cape oceanfront/oceanview vacation?

Many Cape resorts are available at a minimum cost offseason via the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Supposedly, you have to be a service member or veteran or one generation up or down from such service member...and I am a veteran...but I think they could truly care less.

I would prefer to go to the Cape before their whale watching excursions end at the end of October. Although the hauntingly beautiful dunes (particularly on the way to Providence...do a search for "primary dune areas on Cape Cod") and seascapes are awe-inspiring anytime.

 

[rapmarks]

Sounds like my kind of trip. We bought the membership when we stayed in Newport and it was so worthwhile. We too did the back of the house tour of the Elms, and there were only four people on the tour. We also toured Fort Adams, did a harbor boat ride, and we drove up to the Green Animal Topiary Gardens. We even went on the Doris Duke mansion tour. On that tour we were the only ones. That was one of the nicest exchanges we did.

 

[WinniWoman]

Yes. I live within 1 1/2 hours driving distance so I might go down for the day. Not to take anything away from Newport, which has great views and a great "downtown" with great restaurants, but I just don't feel a compelling reason to stay seven nights in light of my relative proximity. I love just walking around the "stunningly beautiful architecture" streets surrounding Brown University in not so far away Providence...but I'm not going to stay a week there, either.

So, if that's your perception (as it is mine), something that may interest you is that many towns/cites in Cape Cod (the ones closest to the gateway to the Cape, the Bourne Bridge) are within an hour and a half hours' drive from the Breakers...so perhaps a Newport mansions part of a multiactivity Cape oceanfront/oceanview vacation?

Many Cape resorts are available at a minimum cost offseason via the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Supposedly, you have to be a service member or veteran or one generation up or down from such service member...and I am a veteran...but I think they could truly care less.

I would prefer to go to the Cape before their whale watching excursions end at the end of October. Although the hauntingly beautiful dunes (particularly on the way to Providence...do a search for "primary dune areas on Cape Cod") and seascapes are awe-inspiring anytime.

Thanks. I actually am not a fan of the Cape. Been twice. Did the whale watching thing out of Provincetown with Greenpeace years ago. Did Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket also. Liked the National Seashore. But no desire to go back.

 

[andre10056]

Thanks. I actually am not a fan of the Cape. Been twice. Did the whale watching thing out of Provincetown with Greenpeace years ago. Did Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket also. Liked the National Seashore. But no desire to go back.

Provincetown is well worth visiting. Interesting architecture, incredible views, nice people, fun. But I loved the Dunes.

First day we took a tour a like this:

Art's also has its own dune tour Youtube video.

The Art's dune tour is $42 per adult, $25 per kid. Available until the end of October.

Thereafter, we hiked the dunes. Met great people along our way. Experienced an environment and views like no other.

But, getting back to Newport, the Newport Jazz Festival has always been a great festival for me There have been over the years some amazing festival performers, but admittedly it's more of a younger crowd that attends. I'm a jazz aficionado, so more often than not for at least one of the three days, I'm there! Coming up soon August 1 thru 3.

There is also a Newport Folk Festival. I hear there are many families with kids running around who go to that. July 25 through July 27. I may have to check that out as well.

 

[rapmarks]

Thanks. I actually am not a fan of the Cape. Been twice. Did the whale watching thing out of Provincetown with Greenpeace years ago. Did Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket also. Liked the National Seashore. But no desire to go back.

Love your new avatar

 

[jp10558]

Yes. I live within 1 1/2 hours driving distance so I might go down for the day. Not to take anything away from Newport, which has great views and a great "downtown" with great restaurants, but I just don't feel a compelling reason to stay seven nights in light of my relative proximity. I love just walking around the "stunningly beautiful architecture" streets surrounding Brown University in not so far away Providence...but I'm not going to stay a week there, either.

So, if that's your perception (as it is mine), something that may interest you is that many towns/cites in Cape Cod (the ones closest to the gateway to the Cape, the Bourne Bridge) are within an hour and a half hours' drive from the Breakers...so perhaps a Newport mansions part of a multiactivity Cape oceanfront/oceanview vacation?

Many Cape resorts are available at a minimum cost offseason via the Armed Forces Vacation Club. Supposedly, you have to be a service member or veteran or one generation up or down from such service member...and I am a veteran...but I think they could truly care less.

I would prefer to go to the Cape before their whale watching excursions end at the end of October. Although the hauntingly beautiful dunes (particularly on the way to Providence...do a search for "primary dune areas on Cape Cod") and seascapes are awe-inspiring anytime.

I'm not so sure I'd want to go to the Cape off season (well, I've never gone at all lol), but maybe if there's a deal when it's not freezing. I do plan to go to Newport sometime, my sister went there last year at a Wyndham and loved it, so I want to go.

 

[WinniWoman]

Love your new avatar

Thanks.

 

[WinniWoman]

I'm not so sure I'd want to go to the Cape off season (well, I've never gone at all lol), but maybe if there's a deal when it's not freezing. I do plan to go to Newport sometime, my sister went there last year at a Wyndham and loved it, so I want to go.

Last time we went it was in September after Labor Day.

 

[andre10056]

I'm not so sure I'd want to go to the Cape off season (well, I've never gone at all lol), but maybe if there's a deal when it's not freezing. I do plan to go to Newport sometime, my sister went there last year at a Wyndham and loved it, so I want to go.

The Cape, like Newport, is a year round residential community. Year round restaurants. Year round everything except for year round summer weather which means no year round roasting on the beach nor at outdoor pools.

The fall offers watching the cranberry harvest, picking pumpkins, and most years unbelievably beautiful foliage, in addition to whales. dunes, Provincetown.

And, if you like watching hockey, anywhere in Massachusetts, including the Cape, will afford you the opportunity to see some of the best youth hockey players in the world. Massachusetts has produced many top college hockey and NHL players and some of them have come from the Cape.

Here's an article that has a more comprehensive list of fall things to do:

Fall On Cape Cod | Second Summer | Things to Do on Cape Cod in The Fall

Fall is Cape Cod's Second Summer! Come celebrate the seasonal contrast of vibrant blue ocean, shimmering gold foliage, and scarlet-drenched cranberry bogs.

www.capecodchamber.org

 

[andre10056]

Chatham named as one of eight of the United States' "coolest" coastal seafood locations:

Chatham, MA​

Scallops at Mac's Chatham Fish & Lobster in Chatham, MA.Image: Courtesy of Mac's Chatham Fish & Lobster

From Bourne to Provincetown, Cape Cod is packed with dozens of seafood shacks, but we prefer to head to Chatham. Start your trip at Chatham Pier Fish Market to watch the fishing boats come in as you try sherry-spiked lobster bisque and fried whole belly clam rolls. Slightly further inland, Mac’s Chatham Fish & Lobster is great for raw littlenecks and Wellfleet oysters. Elsewhere, you’ll find local seafood done up with international flavors at Impudent Oyster (Basque-style gambas al ajillo, Portuguese mussels) and Del Mar Bar & Bistro (lobster tostadas, yellowfin ceviche).

Save time for a visit to the Shark Center, a visitor center run by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, where you can learn about the revered apex predator.

Where to stay: You're getting more than just a comfy bed the historic Chatham Inn. It's home to the area’s only Relais & Châteaux restaurant, Cuvee, where the seven-course tasting menu might include hamachi with yuzu and trout roe or steelhead trout with fruits de mer and coconut lime nage.

More to explore in Chatham

 

[Polly Metallic]

Having toured all manner of castles in Europe, I have to say that none of them impressed me to the same extent as the multiple summer "cottages" in Newport. Truly magnificent and beyond belief. My relatives from Europe, very much familiar with castles in their home countries and elsewhere in Europe, were in awe.

Definitely belongs on everyone's bucket list.

The Breakers | Newport Mansions

The Breakers is the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial pre-eminence in the Gilded Age. It is the flagship of the Newport Mansions and an icon of the City-by-the-Sea.

www.newportmansions.org

Wow. Interesting to hear your relatives’ reaction!

 

[Polly Metallic]

I’ve thought about visiting that area to see the mansions, but I’m not sure if I’d like a whole week there so I keep putting it off. It’s not the kind of thing we normally plan vacations around. Thanks for the info. Will give it more thought. At least we can drive to it.

There is so much else to do you wouldn’t be bored staying a week.

 

[Polly Metallic]

I'm not so sure I'd want to go to the Cape off season (well, I've never gone at all lol), but maybe if there's a deal when it's not freezing. I do plan to go to Newport sometime, my sister went there last year at a Wyndham and loved it, so I want to go.

We went to the Cape mid September last year. The worst of the crowds were gone and the weather was still quite nice though we did get our share of rain during the week.