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burgritto_22 t1_j9ctw7o wrote

I'm going to go against the majority of folks and say no to Newport in high summer. Gets very busy/touristy, which I find to be very unpleasant.

Newport-adjacent Jamestown or Middletown are, in my opinion, preferable to Newport. Middletown has the added advantage of being near enough to Newport to enjoy their beaches without being right in the middle of Newport insanity. The other recommendation I'd give is Westerly/Misquamicut Beach.

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eastcoastflava13 t1_j9f6b2i wrote

You'd advise against Newport in high summer, but not Misquamicut/Westerly? That area is gonna be just as crowded, might as well get the full experience and go to Newport.

Downtown, Mansions, beaches, Fort Adams, cliff walk, Ocean Drive, Brenton Point, etc... So much to do.

OP, here's a RI protip from someone who previously lived in Providence and now lives on the East Bay: Stay in PVD for the city experience and take the ferry to Newport. It's a beautiful ferry ride and is a great way to experience Newport without having to worry about parking. You can bring bikes too, which will open up a lot of activities once you get there.

Edit: PVD in the Summer is awesome bc all the college kids have gone home and everyone is vacationing or on the Cape. Super chill summer vibes.

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devinmarieb t1_j9gqgs9 wrote

I’ve lived here for years and somehow never knew there was a ferry to Newport. Now I have something to add to my summer list!

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eastcoastflava13 t1_j9gqpok wrote

Stops in Bristol too, which is cool. Awesome service that more people should be taking advantage of for sure. And it's relatively cheap, less than $30 round trip, IIRC.

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burgritto_22 t1_j9h8lul wrote

I prefer Westerly as it's slightly less touristy-trappy than Newport hence my rec. :) I also love the vastness of Misquamicut compared to Easton's Beach or 3rd beach. To each his own, however.

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