Naturally Newport

Today is arrival day! Fly into Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) by 2:30PM for a 3PM shuttle to our lodging for the week, the Paradise Farmhouse at the Norman Bird Sanctuary. The airport is an approximately 1.5-hour drive. Other options are to fly into Providence Airport and take a taxi to the lodging, or to drive. If you elect to drive, please meet us at the lodging at 4:30PM on day 1 of the trip. Settle into our restored 18th century farmhouse, catch your first glimpse of the ocean, or stretch your legs on a path out the backdoor as your guides prepare the first delicious group meal. (D)

Norman Bird Sanctuary is not only our home for the week, but also a nonprofit wildlife sanctuary and environmental education center with more than 300 acres of diverse habitats and 7 miles of hiking trails. We’ll start our trip with an exploration of this beautiful oasis, guided by an expert naturalist. Grab some binoculars off the hooks on the farmhouse wall and spend the morning rambling through the forests, fields, and wetlands of our weekend home. After lunch back at the house, we’ll head to Narragansett Bay for an afternoon cruise and introduction into the legends and history of this incredible seaport. Upon returning to the farmhouse, you may choose to relax at home, stroll more sanctuary paths, or enjoy sunset at the nearby beach. No matter your choice we’ll wrap up our day with a well-earned home-cooked dinner. (B, L, D)

Today our activities will dig into the rich history of America’s first resort town. After an early breakfast we’ll head into town to experience Newport’s famous cliff walk. This unique National Recreation Trail is a public right-of-way over private property – allowing visitors the opportunity to stroll through the front yards of some of New England’s most opulent properties. Relish the unique experience of hiking with sea cliffs and crashing waves on one side of you, and manicured lawns and mansions on the other. We’ll take this hike as a choose your own adventure, with the option to do the full 7 mile out and back, or a 3.5-mile end to end. Regardless of your choice, the whole group will reconvene to shop, peruse galleries, and eat lunch on your own on the bustling Thames St. in downtown Newport. In the afternoon we will tour the Breakers, the grandest of Newport’s gilded age summer “cottages” before returning home to our farmhouse sanctuary and another delicious dinner. (B, D)

Our final full day of the trip brings us to our biggest adventure yet – we’ll take to the open ocean to pay a visit to idyllic Block Island. After catching a high-speed ferry across the Atlantic, we’ll disembark in downtown Old Harbor. At just 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, Block Island is known for being easily explored by foot or by bike. Today bikes will be our transportation of choice (helmets provided!), and we will explore the island on a leisurely 7.5-mile self-guided tour. Our gently rolling route will be on a combination of roads and bike paths and will pass by beaches, historical sights…even an animal farm! Our planned loop will end in town, at which point additional mileage and sights may be an option for those who choose, depending on the time. Should you elect to forgo biking and spend the day on your own, the tourism council offers a self-guided walking tour that will take you to beaches, farms, nature preserves, and historical sights – all within 2 miles! Our guides will always be nearby, and we will reconvene at the ferry in the afternoon to return together to Newport. We’ll spend our final night celebrating at a local restaurant. (B, L, D)

Rise early and enjoy one last morning listening to the birds chirp as you drink your coffee. We’ll depart for the airport after breakfast and have you back to the airport by 10AM for flights out after 12PM (B)