4 Days in Newport, RI: A Family-Friendly Itinerary with Mansions, Seafood & Sunsets

4 days in Newport with my bestie and
my kids - mansions, seafood, and sunsets.

Every year my friend Leanne and I plan a girls' trip somewhere new. This year's destination was Newport, Rhode Island - a place that had quietly climbed to the top of my travel wish list after I became completely hooked on HBO's The Gilded Age. After watching the extravagant mansions and imagining life during America's Gilded Age, I knew I had to see Newport for myself.

The twist? This year my two kids (ages 8 and 10) came along.

What I expected to be a history-filled getaway turned into one of our favorite family trips. Newport surprised me with how easy it was to balance historic sightseeing with kid-friendly fun. Between mansion tours, arcade games, swimming, seafood feasts, sunset cruises, and plenty of ice cream, everyone found something to love.

The biggest splurge? Definitely the food. We made it our mission to chase incredible seafood, creative cocktails, and as many sweet treats as we could fit into four days.

The crew - me, Leanne, and my kids (age 8 & 10)

Where We Stayed

We stayed at Wayfinder Newport, which I chose for affordability without comfort and convience. The pool gave the kids a chance to unwind every afternoon, and one of our favorite perks was the complimentary shuttle to Bowen's Wharf. Not having to worry about parking in downtown Newport made exploring so much easier.

The outdoor pool was a big win for my kids. 
It also had floaties, loungers, and a pool bar.

Day 1: Boats, Chowder & Golden Hour on the Water

We arrived in Newport around 1:00 p.m. and were lucky enough to get an early check-in. The kids immediately changed into swimsuits and spent some time in the pool while we settled in.

That evening we hopped aboard the hotel's complimentary shuttle to Bowen's Wharf and wandered through the shops along Thames Street.

For our first Newport meal, we chose Newport Chowder Company, where I highly recommend ordering the clam chowder with the lobster topper. We also made our first stop at Nitro Bar to see what all the hype was about - and yes, the nitro coffee lives up to it.

Chowder with a "lobster topper"

Plenty of shops and eateries at the wharfs

The highlight of our first day was a Gansett sunset cruise. As the boat cruised through Newport Harbor, we passed enormous yachts, Fort Adams, Castle Hill, and even got to watch the Monday night sailboat races. It was one of those experiences that immediately makes you feel like you're on vacation.  We had originally looked into a sail - but most sailboats didn't allow children.

Back on shore we grabbed Ben & Jerry's, watched the sunset from the wharf, and caught the shuttle back to the hotel.

Monday Night sailing races in Narragansett Bay

Sunset in Newport

Day 2: Touring The Breakers & Walking the Cliff Walk

We kept breakfast simple with bagels and cereal at the hotel before heading to The Breakers for our 9:00 a.m. entry.

If you're visiting in summer, I highly recommend booking the first tour of the day. Parking was plentiful, and it felt much less crowded.

The self-guided audio tour is done through your phone. There is a children's version available, but each child needs their own device. I brought along a couple of old phones and downloaded the audio before arriving, which made everything much easier. Don't forget headphones!

You'll need to download the audio tour and have headphones

The extravagance in The Breakers was impressive

Even the kids really enjoyed exploring the mansion. The stories behind each room helped bring the incredible architecture and Gilded Age history to life.

After touring the mansion, we walked part of the famous Cliff Walk out to the Chinese Tea House before returning the same way.

Cliff Walk is long - we only did a section.

Cliff Walk has some rocky portions.

Back at the hotel we enjoyed packed picnic lunch and another swim before taking the shuttle downtown again.

The kids were thrilled to discover Ryan's Amusement Arcade, which quickly became one of their favorite Newport attractions.

Ryan Amusement on Thames was a
kid-friendly break.

Dinner that evening was at The Mooring Restaurant, where reservations are definitely worth making in advance. The seafood was outstanding, and it was one of our favorite meals of the trip.

After dinner we wandered Thames Street again, eventually finding the colorful umbrella-lined Swinburne Row.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. A major summer rainstorm rolled in, soaking all of us before we hurried back to the shuttle and called it a night.

Umbrellas on a rainy day in Newport

Day 3: Cinnamon Rolls, Historic Taverns & Sunset at Castle Hill

Our morning started with one of Newport's most famous treats - a sourdough cinnamon roll from Co-Dough. Pair that with another nitro coffee from the Nitro Bar location at Equality Park, and I completely understood why people wait in line for both.

Co-dough sourdough cinnamon roll and nitro coffee drink

The kids wanted another round at Ryan's Arcade while Leanne enjoyed some shopping before we met for lunch at the iconic Clarke Cooke House.  I ordered the crab cake along with a classic Narragansett beer while soaking in the harbor views.

Lunch spot at Clarke Cooke House

Great Lunch spot at Clarke Cooke House

Dessert came next with frozen Del's Lemonade on America's Cup Avenue.

Yes...dessert before another pool break.

Frozen Lemonade on Dels

Later that afternoon we headed to White Horse Tavern, America's oldest operating restaurant, serving guests since 1673.  This ended up being my favorite dinner of the trip.  The bacon-wrapped scallops were incredible, and somehow my son managed to finish every bite of his beef Wellington. If you go, don't skip the famous "Candy Bar" dessert.

A fancier attire and vibe at White Horse Tavern

Because we had an early dinner reservation, we still had time to catch sunset at Castle Hill Inn.  Before settling in on the lawn, we took the short five-minute walk to Castle Hill Lighthouse.  Then we grabbed a set of Adirondack chairs overlooking Narragansett Bay. The chairs are first-come, first-served, so arriving early definitely helped.

Cocktails for the adults, Shirley Temples for the kids, sailboats drifting by, and one of the prettiest sunsets of the trip - it was the perfect way to end our final evening.

Castle Hill Lighthouse

Relaxing spot on Castle Hill Inn Lawn - chairs are first come

Waiters will come to you once you sit down for your drink order.

Day 4: One Last Newport Food Stop

Our last morning was spent packing, squeezing in one final swim, and making one final food stop before driving home.  We couldn't leave Newport without visiting Wally's Wieners, where we ordered the towering five-hot-dog and curly fry platter.  Milkshakes made the perfect finale before we hit the road back to New Hampshire.

Wally's Weiners was a great lunch spot!

Tips for Planning Your Newport Trip

• Make restaurant reservations: Some of Newport's most popular restaurants book up well in advance, especially during summer weekends.

• Visit midweek if possible: One of the best decisions we made was traveling Monday through Thursday. I'd seen videos of hour-long waits for Nitro Bar, Co-Dough, and restaurants around Bowen's Wharf. During our midweek visit, we experienced only short waits and a much more relaxed atmosphere.

• Take advantage of hotel shuttles: The complimentary shuttle from Wayfinder saved us both money and the hassle of finding parking downtown.

• Download mansion audio tours ahead of time: If you're traveling with kids, download the audio tour before you arrive and bring headphones. It makes the experience much smoother.

• Book tours early: We had hoped to take the Viking Trolley Tour during our stay, but it was already sold out by the time we looked. If it's on your list, reserve tickets ahead of time.

If you're traveling with kids...

• The hotel pool was absolutely worth it for afternoon downtime.
• Ryan's Amusement Arcade ended up being one of the highlights for both of my kids.
• Next time we'd love to visit the Audrain Automobile Museum and the Sailing Museum, which we just couldn't fit into this itinerary.
• If you're planning to watch sunset at Castle Hill, I'd also recommend bringing a deck of cards or a travel game for the kids. I brought a blanket so they had somewhere to sit on the lawn, and it worked perfectly while I soaked in the view.  

Final Thoughts

Newport completely exceeded my expectations.  I originally planned this trip because I wanted to immerse myself in the Gilded Age history, but I left realizing Newport is just as much a destination for families as it is for history lovers.

Whether you're touring opulent mansions, sailing past million-dollar yachts, eating incredible seafood, watching sunsets over Narragansett Bay, or simply letting kids burn off energy at the arcade and pool, Newport offers a little bit of everything.

It was the perfect mix of girls' getaway and family vacation - and I already know we'll be back.

Can't wait to go back to Newport!

Want More? Check out my instagram for video and read my blogs about similar trips here:

Family Weekend in NYC

Puerto Rico Family Vaca

3 Days in Key Largo

1 Week Girls Trip in Southern Florida

Newport Rhode Island - perfect four days

Glamping with Gray Whales: Baja Expeditions in San Ignacio Lagoon

My 74-year-old mom, generously treated me to this once-in-a-lifetime adventure with Baja Expeditions in San Ignacio Lagoon to get close encounters with the gray whales that go there to winter, breed, and calf.  As a self-identified “whale-hugger”, former whale naturalist and marine biologist - this experience had been on my bucket-list for a long time.  This was more than a vacation, more than an adventure…for me - it was a religious experience and the ultimate privilege.

Here’s the breakdown of my experience:

Getting to Baja: Cabo San Lucas

We flew into Cabo San Lucas on February 22 and intentionally arrived a day early. Baja weather and small plane schedules can shift with wind, and coming from the east coast, I didn’t want travel delays to impact my ability to get to remote San Ignacio. Arriving early also allowed us to take advantage of the included Cabo activities offered through the program.

My mom arranged a private car transfer, about 45 minutes, into town. We stayed at Los Milagros Hotel, just two blocks from SeeCreatures, which is the meeting location for the San Ignacio excursion.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo Day 1

We walked down to the marina and had Mexican food at a restaurant set up under a tent right on the water. Pelicans dove dramatically for fish while boats rocked in the harbor. It felt good to trade New Hampshire winter for sun and salt air.

Cabo Day 2

We had brunch at Casasola Cafe and Brunch and wandered again along the marina and beach. In the afternoon we took advantage of the offered photography class with SeeCreatures - run by Australian Ryan Sault and gave us good tips for getting video and photos on our excursion.  Next, we took advantage of the included humpback whale watch in Cabo with SeeCreatures.  We saw a mama and calf, multiple breaches, and the iconic El Arco glowing at sunset.

Dinner was casual and delicious at Tacos Guss on the same block as our hotel. It is cash only, though U.S. dollars are accepted. They bring out an enormous tray of salsas and fillings so you can build your own tacos.

Amazing humpack whale watch in Cabo San Lucas

Sunset in Cabo San Lucas

---

The Flight North to San Ignacio Lagoon

The next morning we checked out early and arrived at SeeCreatures at 6:15 a.m. A continental breakfast was waiting, and from there we were transported to the private aviation side of the Cabo airport.

We boarded a 14-person Cessna and flew two hours north over desert coastline and salt flats until we reached San Ignacio Lagoon dirt airstrip.  It really felt like a remote adventure!  On arrival, the camp staff was waiting with champagne and SUVs to drive us and our luggage to camp.

Our plane to San Ignacio Lagoon

Amazing views on the way to San Ignacio Lagoon

---

Camp Life with Baja Expeditions

The Baja Expeditions camp is a temporary eco camp built for the four month whale season. There are three levels of tents. We stayed in the highest tier called Luxury.  Our tent included: real beds with linens, carpteted floors, small living room, and a built in bathroom with a camper-style toilet, sink, and shower.

The camp was separated into three groups based on your level of luxury and about 20-25 guest in each section with their own staff.  For our group we had a beautify dining tent, bar tent, and the whole camp shared a “dive bar” built out of an old school bus.   It felt remote but comfortable. You are absolutely off the grid, yet thoughtfully cared for.

Our Luxury Glamping Tent

Dining tent

---

The Daily Rhythm

Each day followed a steady structure:

• Made-to-order breakfast

• Two 90-minute morning whale watches

• Lunch back at camp

• One 90-minute afternoon whale watch

• Cocktail hour and snacks

• Dinner

• Evening naturalist program
  

Daily Schedule

The guides are professional marine biologists. The whale watch boats are 10-person dory-style boats captained by local fishermen.  Some guests skipped certain outings to relax, book a massage, or sleep in.

The larger group was divided in to boats with up to 9 guests in each.

Close encounters were common, but touching was not.
 Although everyone in our 24 person group touched once!

I chose to skip one afternoon whale watch to visit the local village and participate in sea turtle tagging with Eco Tortugas. It was a meaningful look at conservation work happening in the community.

Releasing a young green sea turtle
after measuring and tagging her.

Measuring the turtle with Eco Tortugas

---

A Protected Whale Sanctuary

San Ignacio Lagoon is part of El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Whale watching here is tightly regulated and highly limited:

• A set number of boats allowed in the observation zone

• Daily patrols by enforcement officers

• No feeding or chasing whales

• Boats immediately back off during mating behaviors
  

Some whales were friendlier than others.

I got to "pet" a gray whale on my first whale watch.
On the rest of the days, I stepped back so others got a turn.

We saw the sherrif patrol boat every single day. The respect for the animals is not performative. It is enforced.

The gray whales approach on their own terms. The interaction happens because they choose it.  

Every whale watch was special.  Some days whales approached our boats (all 24 people in our group got to touch a whale once on the trip). One day we got to observe (from a respectful distance) males doing their mating ritual **including a rare sighting of the male gentialia - called the “pink floyd”, a mama and calf swim by, and lots of spy hopping and a few breaching behaviors.  My favorites were when the whales swam close to the boat - the spray of their breath hitting you, hearing the breath, and watching their shadows go under the boat.  And of course my absolute favorite part was touching it.

---

The Cost

This is not an inexpensive trip. The 4 day, 3 night Baja Expeditions experience ranges from $2,600 to $3,100 per person depending on tent level.

This price includes: the small plane flight from Cabo, all meals at camp, all whale watches, and the naturalist programming.

Not included in the expedition cost was gratuities (approximately $300), alcohol ($5 to $10 per drink), massages, Turtle tagging experience ($40 cash), Cabo hotel nights, and our flights in and out of Cabo.

My mom treated me to this experience because it was outside my personal travel budget and she wanted us to share something meaningful together. I am deeply aware of the privilege of that gift.

Amazing star viewing from camp at night!

I enjoyed cocktail hour at the "dive bar"
 after our afternoon whale watches.

The staff took your meal orders the day before
so it was ready for when you came to dinner. 
The food and service were superior.

---

Packing Tips

You are limited to a 22-pound soft-sided suitcase due to the small plane, so pack strategically.I brought: wind/hiking pants, sun shirts, warm layers for cool mornings, a lightweight puffer, and sneakers. Weather ranged from 90 F early afternoon to 40 F at night. Desert climate!

The sun is super intense at the lagoon. I highly recommend bringing: neck gaiter/buff, wide-brim hat, polarized sunglasses to cut the glare and see the whales.

Even though its warm, everyone covers up from the sun. 
Highly recommend a neck gaiter/buff.  They provide the white boots.

Baja Expeditions provide waterproof boots, windbreakers, and sunscreen, although I preferred using my own wind layer.

Most guests simply brought phones for photography.  I bought a go pro for the trip and was able to get some underwater video/photos when the whale was close to the boat.

I was able to get some underwater shots
close to the boat with my new go pro.

---

Final Thoughts

If wildlife and conservation-centered travel matter to you, San Ignacio Lagoon deserves a place on your radar. This was the trip of a lifetime.

It is not just a trip. It is an encounter.

You might also enjoy these similar adventures:

- A week in Costa Rica on the Papagayo Coast

- The Ultimate Iceland Road Trip

- Florida Keys - National Parks and Wildlife

And don't forget to follow me on Instagram for more tips and travel inspo!!