Traveling for a professional conference has it's pros and cons. The biggest pro is that conferences always take me to fun places. The biggest con is that most of my day is filled with meetings and professional learning sessions.
Despite the long days of meetings and sessions, we still made the most of this trip, especially in sightseeing and eating delicious food.
Fo this trip, we arrived in Newport on a cold Saturday in March and stayed through Thursday, trying to take in as much as we could. While here, the temperatures were both bitter cold (6 degree wind chill) and moderate (49 degrees and light rain). We've also traveled to Newport in June and September, previously. The weather in September was amazing....but it was so very crowded and finding parking was difficult. Winter in Newport is still beautiful, the crowds are not a problem, parking is easy, restaurant reservations are much easier to attain....so don't let the cold keep you away.
Rather than giving an overview of each day, I figured I would wrap up this trip by detailing some of our favorites.
Favorite Coffee Spot:
April: Mission, No Vacancy Campfire Latte: This is a perfect balance of espresso, milk, smoked sea salt, and maple syrup. The only complaint is that it didn't come in a larger serving.
As a side note, Mission is only open for breakfast on Sunday. We went back later one afternoon hoping to get coffee and we learned they only do it on Mission Sundays. So plan accordingly.
Ginger: Empire Tea and Coffee, Mocha Latte with 2% milk: Many coffee shops do not carry 1% or 2% milk, so I was happy when we visited Empire Tea and Coffee and I learned I could get a latte without full fat milk. My coffee was delicious. Not too sweet, not too bitter.
Favorite Drinky Drink:
April: Tropical Painkiller from Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant: April doesn't like cinnamon or nutmeg so she got this without those additions. Perfect, creamy, cold....a true painkiller. If you've never had a Painkiller before, they are traditionally made with dark rum, but this rendition uses Bacardi Tropical Rum, which makes the fruity flavor of the juices come through.
Ginger: Ginger Pom from The Mooring I hate actual Ginger but I love Ginger Beer, so I was excited to see this on the menu. It was so refreshing with the fresh lime. I highly recommend this one if you enjoy tequila.
Favorite Dish: We ate well in Newport, so selecting favorites in this category was hard. After some thought we each had favorites that rose to the top of our list.
April: Tantanmen Ramen from Yagi Noodles. We were disappointed when we found out that Yagi Noodles was closed for renovation...however, during their renovation, they had planned a pop-up location at the Wayfinder Hotel. We were so relieved, since this restaurant was on our list of "musts" when we first planned our Newport get away.
The Tantanmen was slightly spicy with a rich a highly flavorful broth. The homemade noodles were perfectly cooked. The beef was finely chopped...and the marinated egg gave it the perfect touch. We must add...everyone here was SUPER friendly. They gave us other restaurant recommendations and we really enjoyed chatting with them.
Ginger: Mussels from The Mooring
Although this dish is considered an appetizer, I chose it for my entree. I love mussels and will often order them whenever I find them. Without a doubt, these were the best mussels I have ever eaten. They were not rubbery or chewy, which can happen when they are overcooked. The sourdough bread paired well with the broth.
Favorite Low-Key Activity:
Sightseeing Ocean Drive.
Ocean Drive is 10 miles of magic, where rugged cliffs, crashing waves, and HUGE houses make every turn more breathtaking than the last. As we passed each house, we tried to imagine what it must be like to live there, having the Atlantic Ocean as your view.
Favorite Historical Activity:
Walking Tour Our conference provided an optional add-on historical walking tour, to our registration. I LOVE walking tours and make them a part of most of our trips. Our group was huge (maybe 50 people or so) and Jeff, our guide from Rhogue Island Tours was wonderful. Going inside Trinity Episcopal Church and seeing this beautiful, historical was an added bonus. I was only expecting us to see the outside...so being able to go inside was a treat (plus it was warm).
As this trip comes to an end, I can confidently say that Newport in March did not disappoint. Sure, the days were packed with meetings, but we still managed to eat well, explore, and soak in the beauty of this coastal town. From sipping the best lattes to indulging in unforgettable meals (seriously, those mussels!), every experience added to our love for this place. The mix of history, scenery, and incredible food makes Newport a destination worth visiting in any season—yes, even when the wind chill is in the single digits!
Until next time, Newport…we’ll be back.
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