Newport, RI is one of the most beautiful destinations in New England. And this time of year, with the daffodils blooming and the sun shining, it can’t be beat. We stayed at Gurney’s Newport Hotel & Marina last weekend and it was just the perfect quick couple’s weekend getaway!

The Hotel

Gurney’s is located on Goat Island on the west side of Newport and this means that you have gorgeous views of the water and all the fabulous boats in the harbor. Be sure to request a waterview room!

As soon as you walk in you are immersed in airy nautical décor, which puts you in a vacation mindset ASAP! The rooms are spacious, bright and no fuss, which for a weekend getaway is all you need. And with 257 rooms, this is actually the largest hotel in Newport, which makes it a great option for weddings and all other sorts of events.

With an expansive outdoor area, Gurney’s is the perfect place to just lounge outside in an Adirondack Chair and enjoy the New England springtime. And in the warmer months there is a great outdoor pool and sunbathing area as well!

What to Do

When you feel like venturing into town, you can hop in the Gurney’s shuttle to Bowman’s Wharf, which is right in the middle of all the action.

 First we had a lovely breakfast at this little spot called Cru Cafe.

Next, we strolled through downtown, picked up a gelato from Sticks & Cones, and just enjoyed the sunshine! And we eventually made our way to the famous Cliff Walk! It was seriously the best weekend to explore the Cliff Walk, not only because the weather was perfect, but also because it happened to be smack dab in the middle of the Daffodil Festival!

Dining at Scarpetta’s

Gurney’s is home to Scarpetta’s, the Newport outpost of celebrity chef, Scott Conant. And we were fortunate enough to enjoy a lovely dinner there on our trip. We began with an amuse bouche of crudo and “tuna susci”. And after that refreshing start, our appetizers were: the roasted octopus and braised short rib. The juicy beef and the crispy octopus were just delicious!

For the pasta course we had the Short Rib & Bone Marrow Agnolotti and the Rabbit Malloreddus. Being Scarpetta’s we had high hopes for the pasta and we were not disappointed!

For main courses we had a black cod and sirloin. And what a way to top off the savory courses. And as a finale, of course we had the house specialty the Espresso Budino!

Newport

Newport is just an amazing little city. There is so much to do. Whether you just want to relax and stroll through town, like we did on this trip, or if you want to soak up plenty of history by touring the famous mansions, there is something for everyone.