Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Memorial Blvd. to Bellevue Ave.
Newport, Rhode Island
Take a walk along the cliffs on the eastern shore of Newport, Rhode Island's famous Cliff Walk, where you'll see a combination of beautiful shoreline and ocean with Newport's gilded architecture and New England history. Along the 3.5 miles of the public access walkway, you'll encounter gorgeous views of Victorian houses and mansions and the ocean, as well as wildflowers and bird life, so don't forget your camera! A highlight of the walk is the Forty Steps, a stone staircase that winds down the side of one of the cliffs, awarding gorgeous views of the ocean and cliffs. After a storm, the Forty Steps are particularly dramatic, when the higher water levels crash against the rocks. This spot, historically, was where mansion servants gathered for their own social gatherings, filled with dancing and Irish songs.
While about two thirds of the Cliff Walk is smooth and easily walkable, there are parts of Cliff Walk that are a bit rocky and rugged with many steps and is not well suited for wheelchairs and strollers or those who feel unstable on this sort of terrain. Otherwise, you will see people of all ages on Cliff Walk—kids with grandparents, lovebirds on a romantic walk, or people in jogging gear working out.
There's free parking on Narragansett Avenue, so that's a great place to start out, though if you don't want to miss any of the trail, you should start at First Beach and go all the way to Bailey's Beach. Along the way you'll get to climb the Forty Steps and visit the Breakers (one of the famous mansions) and back again. And if you're too tired to walk, you can always opt to take the public trolley back to your car—couldn't be more convenient! If you want to beat the crowds, head out to Cliff Walk in the morning before the houses open for tours, though sunset is also a great time to go for beautiful sunset views. A few notes of caution: Beware of poison ivy and of slippery rocks—guests tackle the trail at their own risk!