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Hi folks,
Sorry I haven't been around participating on the board for the last few days but we took a last minute exchange to Newport, RI and although I had a dial up connection to Road Runner last year while we were there I couldn't get connected this year. Each time I would try it seemed to connect but I couldn't get thru to email or on the internet.
Anyway, took an exchange to Fairfield Newport On Shore, right down on the watefront and in a very convient part of town. There are 4 Fairfields right in downtown Newport and 2 more in the Jamestown area just across the bay.
Although Newport is a mainly a summer resort they have "Christmas in Newport" which runs all thru December. Several of the mansions are open and fully decorated for Christmas, they have Holiday Concerts at various locations thruout the month and a lot of scheduled events on most days. We went on a last minute whim last year and really had a great time and we had an RCI deposit that was getting ready to expire so decided to go again this year. We only stayed for 5 days this year but had a great time.
Went to a music program 4 of the 5 nites we were there. The concerts were very diverse but all really good.
The first one was Friday night, just after we got there, the anual Christmas Music Program at the Salve Regina University a choir and small orchestra made up of students and faculity at the college (excellent). The University is right on the ocean, just off Bellvue Ave (where all the mansions are). It was originally one of the mansions and several buildings and lots of land were given to one of the nun orders to start the college. Beautiful setting and great concert.
The other concerts were another orchestra/choir at a local church, the Invisible Church spirituals at an African American Baptist Church and then on our last night The Nutmeg and Mistletoe concert which is a concert put on by many of the local musicians with each musician or group doing one or two songs (mostly Christmas or Holiday music) We really liked this concert last year and made sure we were there this year while it was going on.
Also many of the local restaurants have specials during this month for 2 dinners and a bottle of wine.
The weather this year was fantastic 40's ane 50's each day. We walked parts of the famous Cliff Walk a couple of days. Cliff Walk is a trail along the coast that goes for about 4 miles. It has really great views both on the ocean side and on the land side at many points are the backs of the old mansions which also provides some very nice views. The walk is like a paved bike trail for about 2/3's of the way with some steps up and down at various points but the other 1/3 is kind of unimproved with just markers set in the stones along the coast to show where the trail is. You need to walk up over some pretty rough rocky areas but it is fun and again the views are great. There were lobster boats setting and checiing their traps just off shore.
Also did a short hike out to a really nice small lighthouse. Got great pictures of it last year that I did some work in photoshop turning the photo in to a pen and ink drawing and made our Christmas Card from it last year. There was a wreath with crossed oars on the side of the lighthouse last year but wasn't up this year.
We also did a tour of B&B's that was pretty interesting. Many of them are in buildings that date back to the 1700's.
For all the events that are part of the Christmas in Newport celebration there are allowed to charge a fee but the fee must go to a charity.
There are a lot of really nice shops both downtown on the wharfs and on Bellvue Avenue.
Christmas in Newport to expand there season a couple of other ways, they have a Winter Festival during February and also another Festival during September.
Anyway, we had great time and it's a nice getaway for us as it is within driving distance.
I would recommend a trip there to anyone as it is a lot of fun. Someday I will go there during the summer season as that looks like it would also be a great time .
Sorry I haven't been around participating on the board for the last few days but we took a last minute exchange to Newport, RI and although I had a dial up connection to Road Runner last year while we were there I couldn't get connected this year. Each time I would try it seemed to connect but I couldn't get thru to email or on the internet.
Anyway, took an exchange to Fairfield Newport On Shore, right down on the watefront and in a very convient part of town. There are 4 Fairfields right in downtown Newport and 2 more in the Jamestown area just across the bay.
Although Newport is a mainly a summer resort they have "Christmas in Newport" which runs all thru December. Several of the mansions are open and fully decorated for Christmas, they have Holiday Concerts at various locations thruout the month and a lot of scheduled events on most days. We went on a last minute whim last year and really had a great time and we had an RCI deposit that was getting ready to expire so decided to go again this year. We only stayed for 5 days this year but had a great time.
Went to a music program 4 of the 5 nites we were there. The concerts were very diverse but all really good.
The first one was Friday night, just after we got there, the anual Christmas Music Program at the Salve Regina University a choir and small orchestra made up of students and faculity at the college (excellent). The University is right on the ocean, just off Bellvue Ave (where all the mansions are). It was originally one of the mansions and several buildings and lots of land were given to one of the nun orders to start the college. Beautiful setting and great concert.
The other concerts were another orchestra/choir at a local church, the Invisible Church spirituals at an African American Baptist Church and then on our last night The Nutmeg and Mistletoe concert which is a concert put on by many of the local musicians with each musician or group doing one or two songs (mostly Christmas or Holiday music) We really liked this concert last year and made sure we were there this year while it was going on.
Also many of the local restaurants have specials during this month for 2 dinners and a bottle of wine.
The weather this year was fantastic 40's ane 50's each day. We walked parts of the famous Cliff Walk a couple of days. Cliff Walk is a trail along the coast that goes for about 4 miles. It has really great views both on the ocean side and on the land side at many points are the backs of the old mansions which also provides some very nice views. The walk is like a paved bike trail for about 2/3's of the way with some steps up and down at various points but the other 1/3 is kind of unimproved with just markers set in the stones along the coast to show where the trail is. You need to walk up over some pretty rough rocky areas but it is fun and again the views are great. There were lobster boats setting and checiing their traps just off shore.
Also did a short hike out to a really nice small lighthouse. Got great pictures of it last year that I did some work in photoshop turning the photo in to a pen and ink drawing and made our Christmas Card from it last year. There was a wreath with crossed oars on the side of the lighthouse last year but wasn't up this year.
We also did a tour of B&B's that was pretty interesting. Many of them are in buildings that date back to the 1700's.
For all the events that are part of the Christmas in Newport celebration there are allowed to charge a fee but the fee must go to a charity.
There are a lot of really nice shops both downtown on the wharfs and on Bellvue Avenue.
Christmas in Newport to expand there season a couple of other ways, they have a Winter Festival during February and also another Festival during September.
Anyway, we had great time and it's a nice getaway for us as it is within driving distance.
I would recommend a trip there to anyone as it is a lot of fun. Someday I will go there during the summer season as that looks like it would also be a great time .
I would like to go up during Christmas break for a few days.
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