Tag: travel guide

5 Best Colorado Christmas Towns

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Can you believe how quickly December is flying by?! With only one weekend left before Christmas, now is the best time to start planning a fun holiday getaway before the holiday madness really kicks in. This guide to the 5 Best Colorado Christmas Towns highlights some of the most charming and festive towns I recommend visiting for a day or weekend this holiday season.

Breckenridge

Image courtesy of www.GoBreck.com

Breckenridge is the first Colorado Christmas town I recommend visiting for the 2022 holidays. Located a little over an hour and half west of Denver, Breckenridge is known for being a super charming mountain town with lots of personality. Skiing and snowboarding are some of the most popular winter activities in Breckenridge, but the quaint town also offers snowshoeing, sledding, tubing, shopping, and much more!

Estes Park

Another classic Colorado Christmas town is Estes Park, which is about an hour and a half drive north of Denver. Estes Park is considered the gateway to the Rockies since it’s located just a few minutes from one of the main entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park. Estes Park is the perfect destination for a holiday getaway because of the endless festivities the town plans throughout the winter months. Estes Park is also an outdoor-lovers paradise offering plenty of snow activities.

Manitou Springs/Colorado Springs

Image courtesy of www.Roadtrippers.com

A list of the best Colorado Christmas towns would be incomplete without including the home of the North Pole! Manitou Springs is a small town located just outside of Colorado Springs that is full of Christmas spirit around the holidays. The main street through Manitou is lined with cafes, bars, and shops, and a short drive up Highway 24 will take you to the North Pole amusement park! After exploring Manitou Springs, I recommend making the short drive over to Colorado Springs to continue the festivities. Colorado Springs is home to lots of holiday markets and seasonal pop-ups, as well as some incredible shopping and dining that make it an awesome place to spend an afternoon or an entire day.

Georgetown

Georgetown is a lesser-known Colorado Christmas town that is a seriously underrated holiday destination located less than an hour west of Denver. Georgetown is super charming year-round, but the town especially comes alive around the holidays when the historic buildings and homes are decked out in Christmas decorations. Georgetown also hosts several Christmas markets and events that are well-worth a visit.

Vail

Image courtesy of www.Blog.Vail.com

Last, but certainly not least, on this list of the best Colorado Christmas towns is Vail. Vail is well-known for having some of the best skiing in the country, and this Bavarian-style town is an amazing holiday destination. From a festive 5k to a Christmas market and plenty of opportunities to get out and have some fun in the snow, Vail is hard to beat.

I hope this guide to the 5 Best Colorado Christmas Towns is helpful as we approach the holidays. Let me know in the comments what your favorite Colorado town to visit around Christmas is, and I hope you have an excellent holiday season surrounded by loved ones!

Top 5 U.S. National Parks (Plus 3 On My Bucket List)

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Over the years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to visit 11 of the 63 National Parks that can be found throughout the U.S. While all were unique and interesting in their own way, there were definitely some I loved more than others. This is my ranking of the Top 5 U.S. National Parks that I’ve visited so far. As a bonus, I’m also sharing the top 3 National Parks on my travel bucket list that I haven’t yet been to!

Top 5 U.S. National Parks

5. Badlands

Fun fact: I actually used to live in South Dakota as a kid! I have a lot of family there and still love going back to visit because I think South Dakota is a super underrated state. Similarly, I don’t see too many people talking about Badlands National Park, even though it’s one of my favorites. The landscape is super unique and looks like something you might find on another planet. Plus, the park is full of wildlife ranging from bison and bighorn sheep to prairie dogs.

4. Yellowstone

I would actually love to return to Yellowstone National Park and explore some more because my husband and I only got to spend one day in the park when we visited. Still, Yellowstone is such a classic that I highly recommend everyone take a visit. There’s a huge variety of wildlife and landscapes, and it’s unreal to see the massive hot springs and geysers in person. There’s a reason Yellowstone is one of the most popular National Parks!

3. Olympic

Olympic National Park is one of those places you have to see for yourself to believe. I mean, where else in the U.S. can you spend a day exploring rocky beaches, snow-capped mountains, glacial rivers, and thick rainforests? Olympic National Park is full of biodiversity that makes every visit unique from the last.

2. Grand Teton

In my humble opinion, Grand Teton National Park is probably one of the prettiest areas in the entire country. The mountains look absolutely unreal in person, and the whole park feels wild and rugged. Grand Teton is another park I’d love to return to and spend more time exploring because there’s so much to see and do!

1. Mount Rainier

Of all the National Parks I’ve gotten to visit so far, Mount Rainier National Park is undoubtedly my favorite. Seeing Mount Rainier up close and personal is an amazing experience, and you truly can’t fathom its grandeur until you’re seeing it with your own eyes. Plus, Mount Rainier National Park is where I saw my first wild bear! The whole park feels so magical and is absolutely stunning year-round.

Top 3 U.S. National Parks Bucket List

3. Glacier

Glacier National Park in Montana is one National Park I’ve been wanting to visit for years. The mountains look insanely dramatic and I’ve heard the park is absolutely full of wildlife. Plus, I’d love to pay a visit to RightOnTrek’s EDGE Backpacking Gear Rental Facility that just opened this year. I love that RightOnTrek works to make the outdoors accessible for as many people as possible. And, they make delicious backpacking meals!

2. Yosemite

As someone who loves both hiking and rock-climbing, Yosemite National Park sounds like an absolute dream. I’ve seen so many documentaries about Yosemite and I would love to pay the park a visit in the next couple years. I’ve actually never been to California, so I hope to make a trip out of it and explore a few different areas throughout the state!

1. Gates of the Arctic

Image courtesy of Travel Alaska

Alaska seems to be one of the last truly wild places left in the U.S., and I would absolutely love to spend some time exploring Gates of the Arctic National Park. The wilderness of Alaska looks intimidating but also incredibly beautiful, and I definitely plan on taking a trip to the state – hopefully, sooner rather than later!

What’s your favorite U.S. National Park, and which one would you like to visit next? Let me know in the comments!

Crater Lake – Maroon Bells

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Maroon Bells is an iconic wilderness area in Colorado that is home to some of the most photographed mountains in North America. I’ve wanted to visit Maroon Bells since moving to Colorado in 2020, and my husband and I finally got the chance to go the second weekend of October.

From May to October, peak season at Maroon Bells, you need a reservation to enter the wilderness area. You can either get a reservation to drive into Maroon Bells and park there yourself, or a reservation to park in Aspen and take the shuttle. We weren’t able to snag a parking reservation but we did book a spot on an 11am Saturday shuttle.

Maroon Bells is about 3.5-4 hours from Colorado Springs, so we got up bright and early to make our way to Aspen. We arrived in Aspen early enough to spend about an hour grabbing coffee and exploring the town a bit. There was a farmer’s market going on which we strolled through, and we also popped into a couple shops. We ended up parking in the garage at Aspen Highlands Village which was pretty expensive but very convenient. The shuttle system was very straightforward, and soon we were pulling up to one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen in person.

We decided to take the less than 4 mile out-and-back trail to Crater Lake. The trail begins gradually ascending through a gorgeous aspen grove before heading into a forested area. The trail gets pretty rocky for the last half mile or so to the lake, but is fairly easy with less than 700′ of elevation gain in total.

Crater Lake was very low when we visited given the time of year, but the views were absolutely stunning. We stopped to eat some PB&J’s before heading back down the trail to the visitor’s center. We had to wait for the return shuttle for about 10 minutes which wasn’t bad at all.

I’m so glad we took the time to visit Maroon Bells, and I’d love to return and explore it even more. Have you visited this beautiful wilderness area yet?

Colorado Fall Activities

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Fall is in full swing here in Colorado and I wanted to share some ideas for fun seasonal activities to do throughout the state before winter kicks in!

Leaf-Peeping

A signature Colorado fall activity is leaf-peeping, or venturing out to admire the changing leaves. Aspens in particular can be found all throughout the state and turn vibrant shades of yellow and orange in the fall. You can enjoy leaf-peeping by going on a hike (check out my 2022 and 2021 leaf-peeping blogs for ideas) or taking a drive along a scenic road, such such as Guanella Pass (more ideas here).

Scenic Train Ride

Another fantastic way to enjoy the changing leaves in Colorado is by embarking on a scenic train ride. There are tons of train ride options tht range from short, family-friendly rides to longer adventures that take you all across the state. Popular fall train ride options include the Georgetown Loop Railroad and Royal Gorge Railroad, but you can find more here.

Haunted Towns and Roads

If you want to tap into your spooky side, consider visiting one of Colorado’s many ghost towns or (allegedly) haunted roads. From Gold Camp Road in Colorado Springs to the abandoned town of St. Elmo near Buena Vista, there are all kinds of spooky places to explore in Colorado, and many have very rich and fascinating histories. Check out this Colorado Ghost Towns guide to plan your visit!

Fall Festivals

There are all kinds of fall festivals throughout Colorado that offer fun and unique activities for the whole family. Whether you want to pick some pumpkins and apples or sample a variety of beer and wine, there’s a Colorado fall festival out there for everybody to enjoy. You can find a full list of this year’s fall festivals on the official State of Colorado website.

What are your favorite fall activities in Colorado?

Black Balsam Knob – North Carolina

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Black Balsam Knob is a beautiful mountain bald located along the Art Loeb Trail in North Carolina. At just 1.5 miles round trip and less than 400 feet of elevation gain, it’s an easy and scenic hike perfect for hikers of all experience levels.

The trailhead to Black Balsam Knob is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway, by milepost 420. The hike begins with a gradual ascent through the forest, which quickly gives way to a more rocky and exposed landscape. You’ll find yourself atop the first of several mountain balds that offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains (when the weather is clear, unlike the day we visited unfortunately).

Continue along a gentle saddle up to the next bald, which is Black Balsam Knob. You’ll reach the summit at about 3/4 of a mile. Take your time enjoying the beautiful views before turning around and heading back down the trail to the parking area.

The hike to Black Balsam Knob is short and sweet, making it a great option for beginner hikers or folks visiting from out of town. What’s your favorite hike in North Carolina?

How to Spend a Weekend in Asheville

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Over Labor Day weekend, my husband and I traveled down to Asheville, NC to visit some friends who live in the area. I had been to Asheville a handful of times before but my husband had never been, so we were really excited to explore the city together! Here are my top recommendations for how to spend a weekend in Asheville.

Grab a Drink at Sierra Nevada Brewery

Our first night in town our friends took us to Sierra Nevada Brewery, technically in the nearby town of Fletcher. The taproom is absolutely massive, featuring an indoor dining room, outdoor kitchen/bar, garden, and an outdoor stage for live music. The whole space was really laidback and fun to explore, and even though it was busy, the property was large enough that it never felt crowded. I tried an Oktoberfest beer which was delicious! Asheville is definitely known for its breweries, and Sierra Nevada is one of the best.

Hike to Black Balsam Knob

Our first full morning in Asheville we set off for the Blue Ridge Parkway to hike up to Black Balsam Knob. The weather was very chilly, windy, and rainy – which we weren’t super prepared for – but we still had a blast! The hike follows the Art Loeb Trail up to Black Balsam Knob, a beautiful mountain bald with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The hike is short, sweet, and scenic, perfect for visitors from out of town! I plan to write up a whole blog post with more info about this hike, so stay tuned.

Enjoy Some Amazing Food

Asheville has a surprisingly amazing food scene, and we definitely ate good on our trip. Even though I didn’t take many pictures of the meals we enjoyed, every single one of them was delicious! For breakfast, we enjoyed some biscuits at Biscuit Head, a super popular spot that offers all kinds of biscuit platters and sandwiches. Lunch one day was at Laughing Seed Cafe, a delicious vegetarian-friendly spot in downtown Asheville where I got some amazing (albeit a bit ugly) loaded fries. Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack was also a great lunch spot that even offers vegan chicken! Finally, we also enjoyed some tasty tacos from White Duck Taco Shop, which features fun menu items like Greek and Korean-inspired tacos.

Spend an Evening Bar-Hopping

Though Asheville is better known for its breweries, the downtown area is also home to some awesome and unique bars. The first stop on our evening of bar-hopping was Citizen Vinyl, a record store/cafe/bar that also prints its own records! I got a gin and citrus cocktail which was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed the art deco-inspired interior.

Next up was Top of the Monk, an intimate rooftop bar with a casual, unfussy vibe. I tried a tropical drink with toasted coconut (which was lit on fire right in front me!) and even though it wasn’t my favorite drink of the night, the fun, laidback atmosphere more than made up for it.

Our last stop was Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar, a small cocktail bar situated inside a bookstore! This was definitely my favorite bar of the night, and the sangria I ordered was absolutely delicious. We all had fun sipping on champagne and wine and browsing the extensive collection of books.

Visit Biltmore

One of the most popular attractions in Asheville is the Biltmore Estate, the largest home in the country which was built by the legendary Vanderbilt family. I have actually toured Biltmore before but Solomon had never been, so we wanted to at least stop by for him to see the property. We didn’t go inside the house this time, but we did get to explore the gardens and conservatory which were beautiful. There is a lot to see and do on the Biltmore property, and it’s definitely worth a trip if you’ve never been.

Explore the River Arts District

Last, but certainly not least, was the River Arts District (RAD), a super artsy and quirky neighborhood of Asheville. RAD is full of art galleries, studios, vintage shops, and some great food and drink spots. We grabbed a beer at Wedge Brewery before checking out some thrift stores and then ended our visit with a trip to Summit Coffee, where I got a delicious iced maple latte.

Asheville is an amazing weekend destination in the Southeast. With amazing food, drinks, hiking, shopping, and so much more, there’s really something for everyone to enjoy. Huge thanks to Grant and Callan for hosting us and showing us around this awesome city!

How I Spent 30 Hours in Washington DC

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I recently had the opportunity to take a quick solo trip to Washington DC, and I ended up only spending about 30 hours in the city. Even though my trip was super short, I still got to see some incredible sights and do some top DC activities. Here’s exactly how I spent my 30 hours in Washington DC!
P.S. make sure to also check out my vlog from the trip right here!

Day One

8am – land in DC and hop on the metro
9am – get off at Capitol South station and walk over to the Capitol
9:20am – head over to the National Mall and walk over to Museum of Natural History
10-11am – explore the museum

11am – walk to National Archives Museum and check out the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence
11:20am – head over to the White House
11:40am – take some pictures of the White House
11:50am – Old Ebbitt Grill for lunch (don’t forget to check out my post about Everything I Ate in Washington DC)
12-12:45pm – lunch

1pm – check in to Sofitel
1-3:30pm – shower/nap in hotel
3:30pm – head to Museum of American History
3:45-4:45pm – explore the museum

4:45pm – walk to dinner at Oyamel
5-6pm – dinner

6pm – head to Dolcezza for dessert

6:30pm – walk back to hotel
6:45pm – in for the night!

Day Two

8:45am – Uber to Farmers Fishers Bakers in Georgetown
9-10am – breakfast

10am – walk to Compass Coffee for a pumpkin spice latte

10:30am – Uber back to hotel and pack up
10:40am – hop on a scooter and head over to Lincoln Memorial
10:50am – explore the Lincoln Memorial

11am – head back to hotel
11:30am-12pm – relax in hotel
12pm – hop on the metro and head to the airport for 2pm flight

Everything I Ate in Washington DC

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I recently took a spontaneous solo trip to Washington DC and one of the things I was looking forward to the most was enjoying some delicious food! From previous trips to DC I remembered the city has some excellent food options and I wanted to try a variety of restaurants I’d never been to before. Here’s everything I ate during my 30 hours in Washington DC!

Day 1

Lunch: Old Ebbitt Grill

For my first meal in DC, I arranged a lunch reservation at Old Ebbitt Grill. As I was researching lunch options near the National Mall, where I planned to be most of the day, Old Ebbitt Grill kept popping up as one of the highest-rated restaurants in the area. The restaurant is just a block or so away from the White House and holds the title of oldest bar in Washington DC, having been in operation since 1856. I definitely suggest making a reservation if possible because lunchtime on a Saturday was incredibly popular.
I started off with their Queen Bee cocktail, a gin and soda concoction with lemon juice and hibiscus syrup which was super light and refreshing. I also got a cup of New England clam chowder soup which wasn’t super creamy but had great flavor. For my entree, I tried the jumbo lump crab cake sandwich with a side caesar salad. The crab cake had a very mild flavor which was especially delicious with a squeeze of lemon on top. I almost wish the crab cake had more of a fritter vibe, as it was a bit one-note with the crab, but overall I really enjoyed it. The caesar salad and side of coleslaw were tasty as well, and I definitely left satisfied.

Dinner: Oyamel

After exploring a few more museums, I headed to Oyamel for dinner. I was super excited to see they had an entire station dedicated to making fresh guacamole, and I was definitely not disappointed. I tried their spicy guacamole which was some of the best restaurant-made guacamole I’ve ever had. It was incredibly fresh and all the flavors were perfectly balanced, from the bite of the jalapeno to the fresh-squeezed lime. Don’t worry, I didn’t eat that entire bowl – though I was defintely a bit tempted! I also ordered their classic margarita which was equally fresh and delicious.
For my main course I tried a dish I had never heard of: cabacitas con frijoles. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it ended up being a very light stew of white beans, squash, corn, and spices. I absolutely loved this dish and am eager to try and recreate it at home.

Dessert: Dolcezza

Of course, I had to save room for dessert. I ended up swinging by Dolcezza to pick up some gelato, and this ended up being one of the highlights of all the food I tried in DC. I grabbed a pint of their black and white cookie batter gelato without sampling it or reading the description first, because I’m a sucker for anything cookie batter! The flavor ended up being amazing, with stripes of icing and chocolate ganache and chunks of cake. It wasn’t overly sweet, but definitely hit the spot after a long of day of walking in the DC heat.

Day 2

Breakfast: Farmers Fishers Bakers

To kick off day 2 in DC I made my way over to Georgetown to enjoy breakfast at Farmers Fishers Bakers. I heard Farmers Fishers Bakers offers some of the best brunch in town, and I was excited to try for myself. To start, I ordered a bellini which was very light and refreshing – the perfect way to kick off Sunday brunch in my opinion!
My first round through the buffet I grabbed some fresh green beans, parmesan grits, sourdough bread, yogurt with granola, hummus, and a sweet corn pancake. The highlights from this round were definitely the sourdough and hummus as well as the corn pancake.
My second time through the buffet I opted for broiled grapefruit, fresh pineapple, hashbrowns, a buttermilk pancake, and a french toast stick. My favorites by far ended up being the broiled grapefruit and french toast stick.
My main complaint with Farmers Fishers Bakers is the buffet itself was a bit disorganized, with there being no defined line or sense of which direction to go. People were wandering all over the place, hopping in and out of line, and there also happened to be a large group of children running around which made things a bit stressful (though that obviously wasn’t the restaurant’s fault). While the dining experience was a bit chaotic, I did enjoy all of the food I tried and would definitely love to return to try more.

Compass Coffee

After breakfast I set out on a mission to find some fall-inspired coffee, and I settled on the local chain Compass Coffee. The space itself was very cool with tons of seating, and it was obviously a very popular work/study location for locals. I tried the pumpkin spice cold brew which was super delicious, with just the right amount of sweet and spice while still maintaining a smooth cold brew flavor.

Lunch: Cava

My final meal in DC was lunch, which I actually ended up eating at the airport. I didn’t have high hopes for airport food options, but was pleasantly surprised to see Cava, which I consider the Mediterranean version of Chipotle. I had eaten at Cava on a previous trip to DC, and remembered it was super quick, fresh, and delicious.
I got a greens and grains bowl with their super green lettuce mix, brown rice, lentils, falafel, roasted vegetables, tzatziki, hummus, pickled red onion, cucumber, feta, and harissa vinaigrette. My bowl was super delicious and filling and ended up being the perfect airport lunch option.

All in all, I was super impressed with all the food I tried during my time in Washington DC. DC has some amazing food options and I always thoroughly enjoy trying new restaurants and dishes during my visits. What are some of your favorite restaurants in the DC area?

Best Things to Do in McMinnville, OR

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McMinnville is a charming Oregon town just an hour southwest of Portland. The town is well-known for its historic ties to the Oregon Trail and for the various wineries that can be found throughout the area. I recently spent a few days in McMinnville over July 4, and these are some of my favorite things I did while visiting!

Check out the historic homes

The town of McMinnville was first established in the mid-1800s, and the area’s rich history is still evident today. There are tons of historic homes throughout McMinnville, and many can be found on sidestreets near the main downtown area. A great way to enjoy these homes is taking a drive or walk through town!

Go shopping downtown

McMinnville’s downtown area, which primarily runs down NE 3rd St, is super cute and full of awesome shops. You can shop for everything from clothes to art and locally-made treats. I highly recommend taking a stroll down NE 3rd St and popping into any stores that catch your eye.

Learn about the local history

McMinnville is home to a number of museums that educate visitors on various facets of the town and its history. One of the most well-known museums in the area is Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, a huge museum that holds a number of civilian and military aircrafts. Another great option is the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center, which focuses on McMinnville’s agricultural history.

Taste some local wine

A visit to McMinnville would truly be incomplete without sampling some local wine! There are a lot of tasting rooms and wine bars in downtown McMinnville, and all offer unique blends and offerings. I was thoroughly impressed with my visit to R. Stuart, but you really can’t go wrong in McMinnville.

Keep your eyes on the skies

Did you know McMinnville is home to the country’s second largest annual UFO festival (with Roswell, New Mexico being the location of the first largest)? In 1950, a number of UFO photographs taken on a local McMinnville farm were published in the city’s newspaper. Since then, the small town has become a surprising hub for UFO-chasers. Whether or not you believe in aliens, it is fun to keep an eye on the skies during your visit. In fact, my dad is big into astrophotography, and he captured some amazing star photos during our time in McMinnville (though we didn’t spot any UFOs). Check out his website to see more incredible astrophotography!

I highly recommend a visit to this charming Oregon town, and if you’ve been before I’d love to hear what your favorite activities in the area are!

How to Explore Newport, OR

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Newport is a quaint town on the coast of Oregon that is teeming with things to see and do. Located just 2 hours southwest of Portland and 5 hours south of Seattle, Newport is the perfect coastal escape. From rugged coastline to charming shops and some delicious food, Newport truly has it all. If it’s your first time visiting Newport, these are some of the top activities to make the most out of your trip.

Start your day with some coffee

Newport is home to a number of great coffee spots, so make sure to kick off your visit with a cup of Joe. If you prefer something quick, check out one of the coffee stands in town, such as Bonnie’s Espresso or Camp One. There are also a lot of roasters in town where you can enjoy a more laidback coffeeshop experience. My favorite is Surf Town Coffee – make sure to try their lavender chai!

Grab some treats

Another activity I recommend doing in the morning is paying a visit to Pacific Sourdough, which is technically 20 minutes down the road in Waldport. Pacific Sourdough is a legendary bakery that is well-known throughout the Pacific Northwest. They offer a wide variety of breads and both sweet and savory baked goods. I’ve sample the sourdough baguette, lemon rosemary sourdough, lemon bar, lemon poppyseed loaf, chocolate chunk cookie, marionberry muffin, and old-fashioned sugar cookie, and all were to die for! Warning: be prepared to wait in line if you don’t arrive before opening.

Go seal-spotting and explore some tidal pools

You can spot all kinds of animals throughout Newport, from eagles to whales and seals and so much more. One of the best places to do some wildlife-spotting is Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. Near the Yaquina Head Lighthouse you can find a set of stairs leading right down to the rocky beaches below. At low tide, countless tidal pools of all shapes and sizes are formed where you can spot anemones, starfish, crabs, and other marine life. You’re also likely to spot some seals in the distance! The Yaquina Head area is not only beautiful but also an incredible opportunity to experience Newport’s biodiversity firsthand.

Enjoy some local grub

Unsurprisingly, Newport is known for serving up some exceptionally delicious seafood. You can find everything from small hole-in-the-wall joints to upscale culinary experiences, and almost all are sure to impress. Clam chowder, oyster shooters, and fish and chips abound in Newport, and there are some amazing restaurant options to sample some of freshest and most flavorful seafood I’ve had in the PNW.

Buy fish straight from the source

For seafood-lovers, Newport is a true paradise. There are several great markets in town where you can buy some incredible seafood. One of the coolest options for purchasing seafood is Chelsea Rose, where you can buy a variety of items straight off the boat! Just head down to the pier off of Bay Boulevard and keep an eye out for the vessel. Right down the road is Local Ocean Seafoods, which is another awesome spot to purchase seafood as well.

Get high (in the sky)

Just 15-20 minutes north of Newport you can find Cape Foulweather, a beautiful land formation rising several hundred feet above the sea. There’s a stunning view from this point and you’re guaranteed to get some amazing photos. I also think this would be an amazing place to go stargazing or do some astrophotography, which my dad is really into (you can see some of photos right here).

Despite its small size, Newport offers a surprising amount of activities and sights that make it the perfect weekend destination. I hope you find this guide helpful as you plan your trip, and if you’ve been to Newport before I’d love to hear your top recommendations!