Newport attractions

Considered one of the best examples of shingle style architecture in the United States, the Isaac Bell House is one of the almost dozen Newport mansions maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County.The house was built in 1883 for investor and cotton broker Isaac Bell. It had a number of owners over the years, until it was purchased by the Preservation Society in 1996. Today, the house can be toured as a work in progress. The exterior has been renovated, but interior work continues.

New England’s largest estuary, more than 12 million people visit Narragansett Bay every year. Covering just short of 150 miles, small parts of the bay extend into Massachusetts.Life in these parts seems to center around Narragansett Bay. Protected inlets and harbors create great conditions for sailing, fishing, kayaking and just about any activity that requires possibly getting wet. You don’t need to own a boat to get on the water. All sorts of recreational equipment ranging from canoes, to kayaks, boats and jet skis are available to rent.Narragansett Bay is home to marine mammals and more than 60 species of fish and shellfish, as well as more than 200 bird species.

The 13-acre (5-hectare Ballard Park is an elegant Newport oasis ringed with dense forest and plenty of green spots for sun and shade. The park features walking paths, streams, wooded ravines, a vernal pond, and two 19th-century quarries. Parts of the park even offer views of the Atlantic Ocean.