Summer RV Trip 2024 - Part 2: Storybook Sunrises, Sailing, Summer Cottages and Serenity with the Scent of Lavender…

Seeing the well known “I Love New York” sign from the road was a new experience for me. Something about actually driving to New York gives a new sense of accomplishment. We did it! We actually drove that far. And then we drove even further… 

Telling people in Rhode Island and Delaware that we drove there all the way from Miami and seeing their reaction was just awesome. 

We didn’t have this week of our trip planned, and we booked it just 2 nights before. That’s kind of the beauty of RVing- you have everything you need (including games like Headbands and Guess Who)  in that motorhome, so where you end up doesn’t have to be meticulously planned. 

NEWPORT: A CROWN JEWEL OF THE GILDED AGE

Our first stop on this leg of the trip was Rhode Island. This is the smallest state in the country, but it’s bursting with some of the country’s best offerings. We had heard about Newport and couldn’t wait to see it for ourselves. 

I've heard about this city for years, and  it was even better than I expected. Located just 90 minutes south of Boston, and 3 hours from New York, this can easily be done as a day trip/ overnight experience. Known as the City by the Sea, we had the chance to experience the sailing scene, the over the top mansions and their gorgeous views of the Atlantic, with a touch of history and high society.

These mansions date back to the late 19th century, where wealthy well-known families like the Vanderbilts built homes to escape the summer heat, and establish their social standing. The Gilded Age in the United States was a period of rapid economic growth, opulence, and innovation. The mansions in Newport were a symbol of this. Driving down Bellevue Avenue is an experience in itself. We visited 4 mansions over 2 days and each has its own flair, architectural style and story. In 1948, the mansions began allowing visitors to create a preservation society for these spectacular homes and what they came to stand for. 

The Breakers is the most well known, and grand of these homes. In fact, it was one of the first fully electrified homes in the US. My girls loved seeing the children's bedroom. This palace has 70 rooms throughout 5 floors and is built in the Italian renaissance style. It took 2000 workers to build, including artisans brought from Europe. It is a stunning example of the wealth that came quickly during the Industrial Revolution.

All of these “summer cottages” as they were called, are so lavish, tastefully done and upscale. 81 of the homes are maintained by the Newport Restoration Foundation, and their architectural integrity will be preserved for our Nation’s heritage. The affluent residents brought so much to this area and led the way to turning it into the sailing capital of the world.

THE SAILBOATS

I always like to get the view from the water whenever possible and in Newport it’s a must, being the sailing capital of the world! We booked a sailboat tour which was such a beautiful experience! There’s something different about being on a sailboat and the way that the vessel is guided by the waves and wind as opposed to a yacht or a speedboat. This activity on the water is all about peace and serenity. It automatically relaxed us all so we could really appreciate the beauty around us. So many sailboats were out and it's one the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. After sunset, we could see the Jamestown Bridge lit up. 

TOURO SYNAGOGUE

Rhode Island has always championed freedom of religion so it is no surprise that Touro is here, so well preserved, and serving as a symbol of this very important part of our country. This is the oldest synagogue in America, with the longest standing Jewish community, and the second oldest congregation in the U.S. There is an original letter from George Washington witten to the congregation proclaiming the importance of freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. The architecture, layout, and decor are all so unique to this area and worth checking out.

THE NEWPORT VIBE

Castle Hill Inn sits at Narragansett Bay, just a few miles from the main part of town. The stunning views alone would be reason enough to visit, but the short walk to the lighthouse was a major pull for me. 

The mansions and rocky shoreline are just the beginning here. This wonderful city is also home to a yearly jazz festival, folk festival, music festival, and a vibrant culinary scene. Originally a Navy town, it is now home to 18(!) National Historic Landmarks.

TOPIARY GARDENS

A little off the beaten path in Portsmouth, 25 minutes from Newport we visited the Green Topiary Gardens. These aren’t your typical gardens but more like a garden safari come to life. We were greeted by a deer upon arrival (a real one), and then witnessed what you can do with green plants and your imagination. The girls went wild, pretending with the different topiaries and taking pictures with the botanical animals.

We only had 2 full days here, I could have used another full day. If you never thought to visit here, consider this your inspiration to start planning!

MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT - SO MUCH TO SEE AND SO LITTLE TIME!

First we visited Stonington, a borough of Mystic. We walked down the main avenue, went up the unpretentious 29 step Stonington Lighthouse, and then went over to the Mystic Aquarium. 

This is an aquarium done right. It boasts a nice sea lion show, awesome interactions with penguins, stingrays feeding, and my favorites, the beluga whales!. This aquarium is also the perfect size, especially with kids. We actually loved the aquarium so much, we never made it to the well known Seaport here!

DELAWARE - THE MOST SURPRISING STATE OF THEM ALL!

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Delaware is the Wayne’s world scene - “Hi we are in Delaware.“ or maybe the fact that it’s the first official US State. 

But I was so astonished by this tiny state, its abundant, tranquil farm land, and unreal sunsets. 

We visited Brittingham Farm where they harvest 7 varieties of lavender, distill them, and make a huge array of products. We got to play with adorable sheep that are a rare sheep breed- Leicester Longwool sheep that  was more prevalent in the days of George Washington!

REHOBOTH BEACH

This city has spectacular homes, but it’s the boardwalk that impressed us most. Everyone walking around enjoy the fresh air. Each of them savoring massive buckets of Fisher's Popcorn, a bucket of Thrasher’s French Fries, or a soft serve or frozen custard in a cone. Funland is a thrilling arcade type area for kids, plus many rides similar to local fair rides.

Browseabout Books was a welcome sight as I always like to take my kids in and support local bookstores. Go in, touch the pages, sit in a corner and spend time choosing one or a few to remember the trip by!

We headed down to the shore and played for a bit in the sand until we noticed some jelly-like blobs. My kids thought they were melted orbeez and passersby referred to them as jellies but salp are actually (harmless) living breathing tiny animals! When we were there they were too, and you couldn’t walk far along the sand without seeing or touching them.

The beach here is lined with colorful umbrellas, and there are seagulls everywhere (yes they eat leftover/ thrown French fries too). 

The Delaware sunsets were more beautiful than I could have imagined- this stop was truly the most surprising for me.

At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about going on this RV trip with just my 2 youngest girls. But, as the older 3 live it up at sleep away camp, the memories we created with these two will last a lifetime. We focused more on what they wanted, we made smores (of course with all of our chocolate from Hershey), we hugged them goodnight for a little longer, and we drove a little further to explore more of what they were interested in. 

Nine new states were added to our RV map before we started to turn back home. As we started our trek back down towards Miami, we prepped for the last week of this amazing RV journey. Stay tuned for the last leg of our summer 2024 adventures…

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