Hi, last minute idea for anniversary weekend in providence and cape town. We would fly into providence Friday evening and leave Sunday night. Wondered if we rented a car, where is best to go to cape cod? we are not really big drivers either, as we are city folk, in early 30s. is it best to drive to cape cod friday and come pack to providence early sunday morning? or is it best to drive saturday to cape cod, return that night, or sunday morning.
providence and cape cod this weekendWell, the drive to the Cape will be pretty easy as it%26#39;s the off-season and there won%26#39;t really be much traffic. But it will be getting dark around 4:30pm, so if you don%26#39;t like driving in the dark you might take that into considereation.
Not sure what you are looking to do while you are on the Cape....in all honesty it%26#39;s a slow time of year for the Cape, although there will be some holiday activites going on. Are you looking for Relaxing piece and quiet, or are you looking for a little bit of activity (like Nightlife, Restaurants, bars, Shopping)
For a quick weekend like that, you might also consider Newport, RI. an easy drive from the airport about 40 minutes. Newport has a lot to do in a more compact areea than the Cape this time of year. The mansions are decorated for the Holidays, and there is plenty of shopping, dining, bars/nightlife, etc to keep you busy.
check out www.gonewport.com for an idea of what there is to do...if you%26#39;re from the DC area and have been to Annapolis, think of Newport as Annapolis on steroids...
providence and cape cod this weekendHi,
I have to agree with what milemarker had to say. Being that it%26#39;s offseason up here, Newport would be a perfect spot to stay for the weekend. You could take a daytrip into Providence or to the Cape if you so choose. The Cape would be about 1-2 hours drive depending on where you wanted to end up. Providence is about 40 minutes from Newport.
Providence is a nice, mid sized city with great shopping and fantastic restaurants. The Federal Hill area is brimming with fantastic italian food. The Downcity (downtown) area also has numerous choices for a delicious meal. Strolling around College Hill (east side) where Brown University is located is a must. Benefit Street has a fantastic collection of early Colonial and Federal stle homes anywhere in the country. All that said, the city is best visited in the warmer months when you could visit places like Roger Williams Park, take in Waterfire or the free concerts Downcity. This is when the city is really hopping.
For me, the Cape is most enjoyable late spring, summer and autumn. Visits there in the winter really do nothing for me. (my sister lives there). The big towns like Falmouth and Hyannis have the most stores restaurants, etc. open, but they provide the least Cape Cod charm. The smaller towns are where it%26#39;s at, and they get pretty buttoned up come winter. The good side of a winter visit is there will be zero traffic problems. I don%26#39;t know, but like I said, the winter is so blah on the Cape.
Back to Newport if your still reading this. Newport is awesome. It offers everything that you could want from Cape Cod during the winter. It has an essense about it that just captures you and makes you want to visit more than once. It has charm. It has beauty. It has architecture. It has fantastic dining. It has cool shops and galleries. It just has it all. And 90% of the places stay open year round. The hotels are all nice. No dumps to be found. And it has to be a top 5 destination in the U.S. for it%26#39;s B%26amp;B%26#39;s. Look through the reviews of all the B%26amp;B%26#39;s in Newport, and there%26#39;s ALOT, and you%26#39;ll be very hard pressed to find bad reviews. Staying in these gorgeous places offseason is such a bargain.
Anyways, that%26#39;s my two cents worth. (maybe a nickel with all that writting, lol) Feel free to ask anymore questions, regardless of where you decide to visit.
Thanks to both of your insight. so we have thrown out the cape cod idea-- will come in a better season with more time, but you say to stay in Newport instead of Providence? i think the travel deal was pushing the nice downtown hotels in providence. i will look into the B%26amp;Bs. Yes, we are looking for a relaxing weekend that is filled with nice walks in historic areas, great dining, and historic sites.
Thanks
Nothing wrong with spending a weekend in Providence. If you can get a great deal, then go for it. Providence will certainly hold your attention for a weekend. Any longer than a few days there and you would be bored, especially in the winter. All the hotels except for the Marriott Downtown Providence are within easy access to downcity, federal hill and the east side. What hotels are they pushing?
As far as Newport goes, I think it would provide a more relaxing type of getaway. Most of the hotels, b%26amp;b%26#39;s, restaurants and shops are located in one area, which makes it convienent. The Cliff Walk, mansions and Brenton Point Park along Ocean drive are a short drive or a long walk from the downtown.
Historical buildings abound in both places.
Good nightlife in both places as well.
The outdoor ice skating rink in downcity Providence is always a fun way to spend a couple hours. Rentals are available.
Providence Place Mall is a very nice shopping center in downcity. Lots of restaurants there as well. The shops of Newport are much more charming than the urban shops of Providence, but Providence has more to offer overall.
Great places to eat in both cities.
Providence has the river while Newport has the ocean.
I agree with Will that both places for a weekend will fill up your time.
Re: Newport, I did a quick look on Orbitz, and you can find some great lodging prices this wweekend.
Marriott for $159
Newport Harbor Hotel for $139
Quality Inn and Suites $99
Comfort Inn and Suites $99
Vanderbilt Hall $179
America%26#39;s Cup Inn $114
Inn at Castle Hill $350
etc...
There are also many chain hotels like Hampton Inn, Howard Johnson and Holiday Inn Express in Middletown that would be under $100
Providence Hotels will probably be little bit lower this time of year.
Thanks, i%26#39;m feeling great about the purchase i made early this morning. wanted to stay at a B%26amp;B in newport, but nothing could beat the deal we got--2 nights hotel, 2 round trip plane tickets and a rental car for $360 per person! Hotel is Providence Biltmore. we picked cuase its on the historic registry and our choices were slim.
We will arrive at the hotel around 9:30. What neighborhoods do you recommend that will be still lively for dinner at 10pm?
Any restaurant recommendations--we eat everything, and will be looking for nice restaurants locals favor.
We plan to leave in the morning for the day in newport and come back late night. Any restaurant recommendations for specific restaurants in newport?
Thanks
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about the later night eats of Providence can help out.
As far as neighborhoods, Federal Hill has tons of restaurants and cafes with an italian influence...I know they have Cafes open late, not sure which restauraants will serve later though.
Also the Thayer Street area near Brown University has many bars and restaurants...again, hopefully someone can give you more specifics as to what will be serving late...also ask at the Hotel, they%26#39;ll have some good reccomendations.
As far as Newport, if you%26#39;re into seafood, check out The Mooring. If you like Clam Chowder (NE style) check out the tavern at the Black Pearl. Also the Clarke Cooke House and 22 Bowens have good food.
For more casual food/drinks, check out the Brick Alley, Buskers, Mudville Pub, Red Parrot, Zeldas.
If you%26#39;re staying past say 5:00pm, check out the 5th Element for a hip, loungy type place...really good wood grilled pizzas, as well as other entree%26#39;s and tappa style apps.
Basically, as you%26#39;re exploring Newport, keep looking at the menues as you walk by....see what grabs your attention...most a pretty solid restaurants that wouldn%26#39;t be in business long if they weren%26#39;t.
First of all, you got a great deal!
For your late night arrival, I recommend either Citron or Local 121 for drinks and eats.
Other dining suggestions for Providence:
Federal Hill:
Costantino%26#39;s
Camille%26#39;s
Angelo%26#39;s Civita Farnese
Blue Grotto
Providence Oyster
Providence Prime
Pastiche Fine Desserts
Geppetto%26#39;s Wood Grilled Pizza
Downcity:
Gracie%26#39;s
Al Forno
New Rivers
Parkside Rotisserie %26amp; Bar
Cafe Nuovo
Hemenway%26#39;s Seafood %26amp; Oyster Bar
XO Prime
Fleming%26#39;s Steakhouse
East Side:
La Laiterie
Kabob -N- Curry
East Side Pocket
For Newport, milemarker has given you some great suggestions. I only want to add Tucker%26#39;s Bistro to the list.
Gotta say- never before have I noticed more funky, hip stores and restaurants than in Newport right now. Sometimes it seems there is more going on down here than in Providence. Awesome sunset too.
Newport, like the Cape also has its fair share of ocean and beach. Be sure to drive around Ocean Drive, maybe Fort Adams and go to Sachuest (2nd) Beach in Middletown, a five minute ride from Newport. Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge is also a nice getaway. There really is a lot to see and do in Newport in a day, if you decide not to spend it all in the Mansions.
golisw- I saw the words Providence, nice walks and historic buildings- and remembered when we lived there that I gave my wife a book by William McKenzie Woodward. It had many, many walk routes with details of each historic building along the walk, for the City of Providence.
We lived there from 2000-2005, and used it the last two years we were there.
If you are in to touring Providence by foot, this book will be invaluable if you can get a copy.
Perhaps someone here can remember the exact title.
good luck,D
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