Directions by Car:
I-95 north or south to RI route 4 south to RI route 1 south to RI route 138 east to Newport Bridge. There is a $4 toll, EZ-pass is accepted. At end of bridge stay in left lane to exit route 138 toward Middletown RI. At end of ramp go left, you will see the hotel on the left. Those coming from north can choose I-95 south to I-195 east to Route 24 south to RI 114 south to avoid bridge toll.
Directions by air:
Fly to T.F. Greene Airport Providence RI which is 30 minutes away or Logan Airport Boston Mass is 90 minutes away.
Newport Rhode Island, also known as the City by the Sea, is located on the southern tip of Adquidneck Island with the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side and Narragansett Bay on the western side. Historic Newport has been one of America's premier vacation destinations for centuries. There are many small shops, restaurants and wharves with ocean views in the downtown area.
Newport was founded in 1639 and was a major port city which contains one of the highest numbers of surviving Colonial era buildings in the United States. It is most famous for its Gilded Age mansions which were the summer cottages of many of the nation's wealthiest families around the turn of the 20th century.
By going on the Trolley tour of downtown Newport we will be able to see many of the Colonial Era building, coastline and Mansions throughout the city. With very narrow streets and limited small parking spaces for our 300's, this is the best way to see the most and keep our cars safe. We will then be stopping at the Breakers Mansion for a tour which is included in the price of the trolley tour, normally $24 a person. The Breakers is the largest mansion and most popular attraction in the state. It was built in 1895 and is the 70 room summer cottage of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Tour includes the gardens and views of the Atlantic Ocean from the front lawn.
The Fort Adams tour has about a mile of walking in and around the fort which was built between 1824 and 1857. The fort is the largest coastal fortification in the United States, offering almost 200 years of military history. The guided tour takes you through the inside quarters, the maze of underground tunnels and restored museum area. We will also climb stairs to the top of the fort walls for panoramic views of the ocean and Newport Bridge. Anyone not able to walk the entire tour can do just part of it.
The cruise to nearby Beavertail Park and Lighthouse, where there is plenty of parking, we can then walk as much as you want or as little and see panoramic views of the rocky coastline and lighthouse. Take a chair and sit and enjoy the views or walk the rocky shoreline. There is a $4 toll on the Newport bridge in both directions, EZ-Pass is accepted. This is the longest bridge in New England at 11,248 feet long and climbs to 400 feet above the bay for stunning views. Well worth the money on a nice clear day.
The car show will be held at the Newport Car Museum. There is plenty of parking for all cars and trailers. The museum will be open the entire day so we can go inside and view the 60+ collection including a Mopar section with a 1957 300C.
The museum has A/C and plenty of seating if anyone wants to get out of the sun for a while. This is a huge, brand new facility with tons of space around the cars and no roped off vehicles for excellent photos. Anyone can try one of their driving simulators with your choice of car and track included in admission. The museum is also letting us use their garage and lift for the concours judging. Judged cars can be unloaded inside if it is raining and stay there for the day. There are a few restaurants nearby that we can leave to get a bite to eat and come back. A list with menus and directions will be in the meet packets. There is no food or drinks available for purchase at the museum, so bring your own with you in the car and it can be consumed outside at the show.
