Nothing Like Newport

In my opinion, Newport, RI is one of the most beautiful cities in this country. It has so much to offer as it is located on the rocky New England shore line of the beautiful Narragansett Bay where boaters, tourists and vacation home owners visit the hot spots like Ocean Drive, the Newport Cliff Walk, Second Beach, The International Tennis Hall of Fame and Thames Street’s fabulous shopping.

Although it is enjoyable during any season, Newport in the fall is my favorite. I just returned from a weekend trip I annually take with my friends to celebrate my birthday. We return to Newport each year with a similar agenda, but always try something new.

We always attend the annual Newport Seafood Festival that takes place on Bowen’s Warf, an area loaded with restaurants, outdoor bars, shops and tons of docked boats that set the scene of Newport. Our favorites among the festival full of fresh fried seafood are lobster fritters, calamari and Newport’s Black Pearl restaurant’s famous clam chowder. All of this food is only about $5 per order, and each order serves about two people. To drink, we enjoy freshly squeezed lemonade that consists of about three lemons, a tiny bit of sugar and ice cold water and ice. I have never tasted such delicious lemonade as in Newport, and its only $3.

Another attraction in Newport is its own Newport Vineyards and Winery, which has tours and tastings daily for only $7. You will get a full tour of the vineyard and learn about how they make the wine, and then move into the wine tasting room where you taste about 10 different types of Newport wine, plus you get to take home the glasses!

The fall offers a lot of fun activities, but most tourists visit in the summertime because Newport is known for its beaches. Newport’s largest beaches include Easton's beach or First Beach which has a view of the well-known Cliff Walk that is considered one of the most popular attractions in the city. The Newport Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile (5.6 km) public walkway that borders shoreline and has been deemed a National Recreation Trail. Second Beach is located in Middletown, just down the road from Newport and is the second largest beach in the area.

After a day of shopping and siteseeing, you may want to take a relaxing drive down the breathtaking Ocean Drive, a road unlike any other, that hugs the edge of the Newport’s rocky blue shore. The scene will make any driver want to pull over and capture the picturesque beauty with a camera. Ocean Drive connects to Belleview Avenue where you can see the famous Victorian mansions such as The Breakers, which border the town along the edge of wave-crashing cliffs that outline the beautiful Salve Regina University. Tours for these mansions are at least $25, but simply driving along and stopping in each driveway to see the view may be enough. While in downtown Newport, you can also visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame where The Campbell's Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is held every year from July 6-12.

After a full day of festivities, Newport has great nightlife. Walk down the street and find a fun bar or pub to have a drink with a friend or dance to a live band every Thursday through Saturday night at Pellum or Blues Café. O'Brien's Pub is a cool outdoor bar right by the water that is a great place to stop for a drink while shopping on Thames Street. Cover charge is only $5 and often girls get in free at the Newport bars. Even college students (when traveling in groups of more than 2) can afford to crash in hotels in the area after a fun night. Hotels in the Middletown/Newport area such as The Comfort Inn that have affordable rates for college students who are interested in visiting Newport. They start at $90 per night and some hotels like the Marriot right down town, but it depends how much you are willing to spend. When traveling with a group of 4-5 people, it is easy to split the cost of one room.

The Big E!

Another year flies by and October is here and so are the fall fairs! The biggest of them all, The Big E has come and gone, but it sure was great while it lasted. The Big E attracts all types of people because of the array of attractions and exhibits that it offers. Most fairgoers return for the same things each year no matter what age they are: to be entertained, excited, to learn, eat good food, and feel like a kid again.
It returns to West Springfield, MA each year for over two weeks of fall activities, food, fun and entertainment. The Big E always has a great bunch of musicians who come and perform. This year’s lineup of headlining acts included Boys II Men Foghat, Seether or Bret Michaels, Sugarland and Little Big Town along with a performance by Jamey Johnson.
One popular attraction inside the Big E is the grand North American Midway including a 115-foot spinning Giant Wheel and Polar Express and a Fireball and Niagara Falls Flume as well many other rides for thrill seekers. For the history buffs, there was a walking tour of New England created with life-size state capitals inside the Avenue of States. Similarly, there was Storrowton Village, 19th century New England’s historical building replicas.
My favorite section was by far The Craft Common with handmade creations made by local artists. “I loved the crafts!” said 22-year-old CCSU student and Connecticut resident Caitlin King, who experienced her first time at the Big E just a week ago. “I found something for everyone I know, and decided to buy a bunch of Christmas presents super early.”
Each day there were also Mardi Gras Parades, cooking contests, as well as national and regional sheep shows. Delicious treats like cream puffs, éclairs, chocolate chip cookies and fried dough, and fresh squeezed lemonade were available along every inch of the fair. “I love the food there. There is nothing like fair food,” said 23-year-old college graduate Emily Cowen who is originally from Connecticut. “I feel like I leave the fair five pounds heavier each year.”
Another favorite attraction of mine was The Eastern States Exposition Horse Show competing in many divisions such as Hunt Seat in the historic Coliseum (popular for horse lovers and equestrians who visit the Big E.) The Coliseum used to the place where the Springfield Indians professional hockey team played in the 1950s and '60s. It is now the building is where The Big E holds all of its demonstrations and competitions such as horse shows, and even oxen pulling to sheep herding.

Along with horseshows there are other animal attractions such as the famous Clydesdale horses that are absolutely enourmous, strong animals. There were barns full of sheep, goats and cows as well and even some were being presented by their owners in competitions to win prizes for the best looking, healthiest animal.

The Big E is faithful each year to its loyal fairgoers by returning to the same place with its traditional country, yet circus-like atmosphere, but it always offers something new to the public. It will always have its original, most popular activities and exhibits, but it maintains its New England country fair charm that keeps people coming back each year.

Lyman Orchards

Lyman Orchards located in Middlefied, Connecticut is a great way to get out in the fall weather with family and friends. Lyman's consists of several apple, pear and peach orchards spread across the rolling hills of Middlefield. The orchard store called Apple Barrel is located at the bottom entrance from 9am to 6pm daily. It is full of freshly baked pies with orchard fruits, homemade apply cider, gourmet sandwhiches and tons more of unqiue seasonal foods for fall. As you walk into the store, the aroma of freshly baked apple pie is so enticing that you will have to buy yourself one. Take a drive from Apple Barrel up the hills to pick your favorite apples. Applepicking is cheap and delicious. The trees are bursting with freshly ripened fruit in September and October. Lyman Orchards offers a list and seasonal fruit schedule on their website so that you can pick your favorite fruit. Lyman Orchard's even has a corn maze and a sunflower maze to get lost through with some friends.
Opened in 1972, Lyman Orchards had a goal of growing farm-grown native fruit. Their idea grew to be a popular destination in Connecticut for travelers and are now Connecticut's "largest indoor year 'round farm market."