6 Things to do in Newport, Rhode Island, with Kids

Newport is an ideal destination for family travel, offering a wide variety of activities to please all ages. You’ll want to see at least one of the famous mansions, with Marble House one of the best large houses for young visitors. While not as big as others, Marble House features enough eye-boggling glamor to keep kids engaged. After a mansion tour, keep kids happy with these active options.

Picnic at a Mansion

That’s right. With a Stroll the Gardens and Grounds ticket, you can take your picnic lunch to enjoy on the lawns of The Breakers, The Elms, Marble House or at Green Animals Topiary Garden in nearby Portsmouth.

Go Seal Watching

On a boat excursion with Save the Bay, your family can watch harbor seals lounging on Citing Rock near Rose Island. A naturalist guide will talk about the life and habits of seals, as well as seal conservation and protection. This is a good way to get beautiful photos of Narragansett Bay, Newport Harbor and the historic Rose Island Lighthouse.

Learn to Sail

Newport is the Sailing Capital of the World, and in a one-hour lesson with an expert from Sail Newport, your whole family can safely learn how sailboats fly on the wind. Family groups include up to two adults and three children, with life jackets also available.

Go on a Scavenger Hunt

The Norman Bird Sanctuary welcomes kids with Scavenger Hunt BINGO and other self-guided nature activities that engage them with the wildlife and seashore environment. They can look for seasonal wildflowers, find the Fairy Forest, identify birds as they explore the trails and hike to Hanging Rock.

Fly a Kite

Another way to put the wind to good use is flying a kite. The steady breeze across Brenton Point, a park on Ocean Drive, is perfect for kite flying. Brenton Point sees many kites grace the skies on windy days. Brenton Point State Park is also a good place for kids to run off energy, with picnic tables available throughout the park, too.

Go to the Beach

If the weather is warm, kids won’t want to be surrounded by all this ocean without some time at the beach. A favorite for families with older kids is Easton Beach, at the start of the Cliff Walk, for its rolling, boogie board-friendly waves. Better for younger kids is the adjacent one- to five-mile Second Beach, where the surf is calm. At the other side of Newport, Fort Adams State Park beach features roped-off areas for younger children, along with showers and free parking.