I love when we stumble upon bloggers who visit Newport and soak up the best the City-by-the-Sea and its surrounding coastal communities have to offer, so when I came across this recent post on much-loved Carrots 'n' Cake written by Boston-based Tina Haupert, I had to share (her blog has been featured in People, Shape, Women’s Day and Health magazines). Carrots 'n' Cake (such a great name, right?) focuses on Tina’s love of food and fitness, so naturally, she combined the two when spend this past weekend here on Aquidneck Island. Her adventures included apple picking at Rocky Brook Orchard in Middletown, a run along Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue, sailing, an afternoon at Castle Hill, a night of dancing and more. Read the weekend round up by clicking here (or here for apple picking or here for the sights along Tina’s run)!
(Pictured: Tina and friends aboard schooner Aquidneck!)
The autumn weather has arrived (and I have become a legal 21 year old) just in time for the 19th Annual International Oktoberfest this Columbus Day Weekend! Come to the Newport Yachting Center to enjoy the best of traditional German food, music, dance and festivities.
The wonderful weekend opens with SPITZE! Oktoberfest Show Band, followed by a crowd favorite, the Tapping of the Keg Ceremony. Entertainment will continue all weekend with performances by The Alex Meixner Band, Die Schlauberger, the 18-time Grammy Award-winning Jimmy Sturr Orchestra (polka, anyone?) and Rhode Island’s own Alpenblumen Bavarian folk dancers, to name a few.
As a typical, poor college student I couldn’t be more exited to sample the festival food! Schnitzels & Giggles, a family business from New Hampshire, will be serving up their award-winning Austro-German cuisine prepared by Chef Bob Graf, including his Weiner Schintzel Sandwich, knackwurst, brat on a stick, German potato salad and more.
Parents--while the kids are kept busy with crafts and activities at the Kindergarten tent, take some time to visit your own “garten.” Head over to the International Biergarten to quench your thirst and taste the flavors of fall found in many delightfully brewed lagers and ales. You’ll find a variety of styles and limited-time seasonal brews to please your palate, including beers from Spaten, Sam Adams, Amstel Light, Harpoon, Sierra Nevada, Widmer, Kona, Guinness, and local favorites Newport Storm and Narragansett. Prost!
Welcome to the third and final installment of my round-up of great places to play with your children (click here for the Tiny Tots edition and click here for the Mixed Bag edition). Today's focus: kids at that delightfully ambitious age of practicing tricks on their skateboard or offering up advice on what they are “just dying” to try next. These suggestions are perfect for this little brood.
Fort Adams Pack the bikes, helmets, and water bottles for this 2-mile bike loop around the fort that is fun for the whole family, now called the Bay Walk. You will have the best view in town as you bike and play with your big kids on one of our city’s most welcoming spots in town. *Make it the “great expedition” by popping into Sail Newport and renting a tandem kayak. You’ll be the coolest parents around! Fort Adams State Park, Newport
Sachuest Point Middletown’s wildlife refuge is so inviting for a great hike/exploration with your big kids and adults alike. Allow them to map out your course, and be sure to spot one of the many local deer that reside up on this majestic point as you loop through the paths. Sachuest Point Road, Middletown
Norman Bird Sanctuary: The elementary ages are at the perfect stage for a great climb up to Hanging
Rock. Pack water, a snack bar (they always get hungry at the most random times), and hike up to the most marvelous view in town. Third Beach Road, Middletown, www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
Whatever activity you decide, take advantage of the outdoors while this weather lasts! Please be sure to share any “Must Do’s” you wish me to spot, and join me on Newport Connext to meet other local moms, to print out some amazing recipes, and get the skinny on living the family like in and around the City-by-the-Sea! Happy Fallin’!
Hiking Sachuest Point
Even though Newport and Bristol County are relishing in warmer than usual temperatures (the forecast calls for 70s this weekend—hooray for Indian summer!), autumn is (un)officially tights, boots and warm, snuggly sweater season.
Fortunately in this part of the world, certain styles, most notably nautically-influenced looks for men, women and children, resonate all year round. Whether it’s a foul weather ready Henri Lloyd performance jacket with simple khakis or Nantucket reds, or a flattering, 3/4 sleeve, striped boatneck top for her (also known as French sailor stripe shirts), classic usurps trendy any day in Newport.
It’s the perfect time of year to take advantage of local end-of-season sales and stock up on multi-season favorites. As some say, the key to dressing for a day or night in Newport is layering, layering, layering! Be sure to check out the busy shopping areas about town including Bellevue Avenue and William Street, Brick Market Place, Washington Square, upper and lower Thames Street, plus Spring and Franklin Streets in Newport; Thames and Hope Streets in Bristol, Main and Water Streets in Warren, or uncover your own local hidden gems!
It’s Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Harvest Fair this weekend! See that exclamation mark...that’s for all the enthusiasm and endearing memories that goes along with this announcement. There is something so heartwarming about this fall festival, from the pitched tents in the plowed down field, to parking on the grass, to the sound of kids running all about laughing. This is a cherished family weekend event full of autumn fair fun. Frankly, it’s the closest we’ll ever get to a small town country fair, and the kids love it!
Norman Bird Sanctuary, a.k.a NBS, provides adults with a plethora of local crafts to buy, a country shop full of local jams & baked goods, the home & garden competitions, and two full days of old fashioned kid fun from the hay rides, to the mud pit (yep...the kids go nuts for this), old-fashioned tug-o-war (see below!), to the Scarecrow contest...its an event not to be missed!
Fortunately it goes all weekend so you can easily plan it around your soccer matches, kid activities, and family scheduling. Come enjoy a great day(s) of fun! And bring that camera.
October 1st-2nd (Saturday & Sunday),10am-5pm at Norman Bird Sanctuary, Third Beach Rd., Middletown, RI, (401) 846-2577, www.normanbirdsanctuary.org
For more family-friendly fun and to connect with local moms, visit www.NewportConnext.com
The second in my trilogy of Outdoor Play and Parks picks continues (scroll down or click here for the first post on the series focusing on tiny tots). Today I’m featuring a trio of spaces I love for when you’re accommodating multiple ages, which moms of more than one know how challenging can be. These are perfect for the play-date, or family time, of kiddos ranging from the sippy cup stage to the doing wheelies stage!
Jamestown Community Park I can’t say enough about this park! It has climbing, crawling, and running areas suited for all ages & stages. A perfect mini-trip topped off with a stop at the library, adjacent to this town’s park. 26 North Road, Jamestown
Howland Park Dads love this park! With a paved hockey rink that beckons kids to bring their bikes, balls, and roller blades, this park is always packed with families having fun. Third Beach Road, Middletown
King Park Oh the view! Bring a ball, the dog, and lunch as the kids energetically fling themselves, back and forth, on the playground’s glider, and the family Fido runs all around on the little town beach. Wellington Avenue, Newport
Stay tuned next week for my final park picks for the "all grown up" kiddos--you know, the ones who have it all figured out, and connect with other Newport moms, get the Family 401 and "Yummy Tummy" recipes, and find out more about family life in the City-by-the-Sea by visiting NewportConnext.com!
The sights and sounds of Newport in the fall are always divine, but if you’re looking to enjoy some extraordinary events this weekend in Newport, there are two great festivals that you do not want to miss taking place!
Friday, Saturday Sunday: September 23-25 - The 6th Annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival. With events at Rosecliff and Marble House, this magnificent affair has been described as “the most sophisticated wine & food festival on the East Coast,” and in just five years has become one of the most anticipated food and wine events in the country. This three-day event features more than 100 of the world’s finest vintners and more than two dozen of New England’s finest restaurants and caterers. On Sunday, the amazing Jazz Brunch takes place (sold separately) at the Hotel Viking with special guest Lidia Bastianich, renowned chef, television personality and restaurateur.
Saturday & Sunday September 24-25 - If what you need is some quality family time, head down to the Newport Arts Festival at the Newport Yachting Center this Saturday and Sunday. The kids will be able to observe man
y different types of art, including, glass work, photography, pottery and more. The art will also be on sale in case mom and dad want to purchase! Listen to the sounds of jazz and bluegrass while you treat yourself to chowder and homemade ice cream. The kids will love the special children’s entertainment that is planned to take place. Adult admission is $8 and children under 12 are free.
Make sure you visit GoNewport.com for a complete calendar of events taking place this fall!
Lidia Bastianich in the kitchen and ready for her Newport debut!
I love the fall! I love the brisk, cool air, the change of the season’s colors, and the undeniable bustle of life and laughter at the parks in the afternoons. Its a time of change, from those brilliant golden hues dressing our trees to the new layers of clothing on the kids. Here are my top picks of outdoor park/recreation fun for moms, dads, and little one to enjoy all season long. Get shaking, and enjoy this colorful season!
FOR THE TINY TOTS
Whether just beginning to walk, or puffing out their little chest after a big-kid day of nursery/pre-school, these are the perfect spots for a few hours of play-date fun.
Freeborn Park This park is perfectly tailored for ages 1-3 years. In fact, we named it the baby park because all the equipment is sized just so. Freeborn Street, Newport
Newport Library Park-This park is pre-k play-date central! From use of space, to the swings, to the perfect jungle gym it makes perfect sense why moms love this park. Corner of King Street & Bowery Street, Newport
Cardines Field Key component: its fenced in! Between the toddler friendly ramps and easy climbs, this park is a little local treat. The corner of Bridge Street & America’s Cup Avenue, Newport
Simmon’s Farm This great little petting zoo provides big belly laughs amongst kiddos as the farm animals eagerly greet their little guests in hopes of being fed some of the petting zoo food Simmons Farm provides. A must do! 1942 West Main Rd., Middletown, simmonsorganicfarmri.com
Stay tuned next week for my park picks for all ages, and connect with other Newport moms, get savory recipes and find out more about family life in the City-by-the-Sea by visiting NewportConnext.com
There’s already the slightest hint of fall in the air, and though curling up in front of the fireplace and making chili to watch football sounds just about heavenly, take this time to still appreciate the wealth of outdoor experiences here in Newport and Bristol County.
If you haven’t made time this summer to venture out to Portsmouth’s Greenvale Vineyards for their Jazz Saturdays, you’re missing out. Take in the sounds of live jazz from 1–4pm while sipping their award-winning Skipping Stone White (a savory blend of 90% Cayuga and 10% Vidal Blanc). Just up the road, Newport International Polo takes to the field at Glen Farm, this Saturday evening welcoming the national team of Brazil which promises to be an exciting match. Tailgating encouraged! And of course, downtown Newport is abuzz with the excitement that only the Newport International Boat Show can bring, with hundreds of boats to board and fabulous nautical finds!
As the new marketing intern at the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau, I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to share my favorite things about Newport. I fell in love with this City-by-the-Sea about three years ago and I am known to boast about it to anyone who will listen.
One of my more indulgent spots is Beluga FroYo, a frozen yogurt shop with a twist. It differs from a traditional ice cream shop because Beluga allows you to create your own masterpiece. I’m a lifelong ice cream lover, but things changed when my best friend found out she was lactose-intolerant. We began to seek out frozen yogurt, which to my surprise, I enjoyed as much as ice cream, and even came to prefer it because of its smooth texture (okay, honestly? I just felt less guilty and my pants fit a little better). Beluga has the right idea, because not only did they bring this new trend to Newport, one of America’s favorite cities, but they also made it a hands-on experience.
On your first visit, you may be overwhelmed—after all, there are typically about 10 flavors of frozen yogurt available at Beluga, which rotate daily. Use the self-serve machines to fill up your bowl with flavors like New York Cheesecake, Thin Mint Cookies or Hawaiian Pineapple (don’t worry, they still have plain, old vanilla for those of you who are old-fashioned). Then hit the topping bar which is stocked fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, chocolate chips, sprinkles, chocolate sauce and caramel, fruity pebbles and granola. After your creation is complete, weigh your masterpiece to pay by the pound. This treat can be pricey depending on how much you indulge yourself; however, you can get a good-sized portion for around five dollars. Enjoy!
Beluga Frozen Yogurt is located at 217 Goddard Row and is open daily 10am—10pm.
Melanie Saltys, a senior at Roger Williams University, is in her final year at RWU’s Gabelli School of Business where she is majoring in marketing. She is also pursing a minor in psychology and enjoys playing intramural field hockey. She will be interning at the Newport CVB through the semester. Stay tuned for her posts on From Stem to Stern as she chronicles her Newport experience.