Visiting the Newport Boat Show

Long-Sleeve Tee || White Jeans || Canvas Sneakers || Earrings || Watch || Bracelet

Okay, my Newport sharing continues! Earlier in the week, here, I introduced my road trip to Newport, Rhode Island with AAA Northeast. The purpose of the trip was to take in all that the Newport Boat Show had to offer. Even though I grew up in Florida, and have been around boats my entire life, I’ve never owned a boat. If I’m being honest, I was nervous that going to this event was going to make me look like a fish out of water. Even if you have zero knowledge about boating, you will still feel welcome at this event.

Celebrating it’s 49th year, the boat show is as much a part of the town as the Cliff Walk and New England Clam Chowder. Serious boaters and daydreamers alike from around the Northeast flock to Newport to do some shopping and maybe leave with an incredible savings. Something I didn’t expect was how much space the event would take up. For the weekend, 13 acres along the downtown waterfront are dedicated to all things boat related. That includes hundreds of boats at all sizes and price points, nearly a dozen tents for nautical accessories, and several local food vendors.

Like I said before, David and I were not actually in the market for a boat, but it sure was fun to pretend! My favorite thing about the NIBS was getting to hop on the different vessels and “try them on”. We, I quickly learned, have slightly different tastes when it comes to boats. I’m partial to the classic look, wooden accents with navy trim, ala the Kennedys. David, on the other hand, wanted something that looked fast. At one point he admitted that he was going for the “Bond villain look.” Surprisingly, we found a middle ground and even a dock close to Manhattan to keep it. If we ever decide to take the plunge, we are ready on both fronts.

Everyone at the NIBS, both exhibitors and visitors, was so friendly. It was refreshing to be away from the city and talk with people who like the simpler things in life. That is, being on the water. Since St. Pete has a huge boating culture too, it reminded me a lot of home. It’s exactly what I needed after a summer of change. More importantly, it’s nice to know of a laidback town to escape to that’s just a quick train ride away. The whole trip can be done in under four hours from NYC.

David: Pullover || Shirt || Shorts || Shoes || Sunglasses

Interested in attending the Newport Boat Show yourself? Well, the dates for 2020 have already been announced. On September 17th through the 20th, the party will start all over again. I would say to book your hotel as soon as you can. It’s a huge weekend for the town and hotel rooms will sell out quickly. You have so many hotel options in Newport, but we opted to stay a little farther away from the action. Our stay at the Newport Beach Hotel couldn’t have been more ideal. It was across the street from the beach and close to the iconic Cliff Walk. We decided to get our steps in and walk the 30 minutes into town, but a free shuttle service can get you there in 5.

The Newport Boat Show was a trip that I had been looking to all summer long. I knew I was going to have such a good time in this ocean front town, but I had no idea I was going to fall in love! Check back next week for more Newport content, including my city guide and packing list. See you soon!

Love from NYC,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.

Road Tripping with AAA

Button Down || Sweater || Jeans || Flats || Sunglasses || Earrings || Bracelet || Watch

Wow! What a weekend! If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram, then I’m sure you’ve already seen a boat load of pictures from our trip to Newport, Rhode Island. A little background story… Back in July, the wonderful team at AAA Northeast invited me to take a road trip and the Newport International Boat Show was the destination. As a lover of travel, the ocean and all seaside towns, I couldn’t have been more honored for the invitation.

My earliest memories of AAA actually start with road trips too. My parents, who have been loyal members for ages, would always make AAA their first destination before a long drive. No trip to grandma’s house was complete without one of their TripTik Maps or Guide Books to help lead the way. As the self-appointed navigator, I would pore over the maps and give directions that I’m sure my dad didn’t need.

Jump back to the present day and it’s important to know that AAA is more than just maps. They can help you with every aspect of traveling, both large and small, domestic and abroad. Although roadside assistance is their bread and butter, the discounts they offer from their partners will pay for your membership.

Okay, let’s talk about the actual trip. David and I got up bright and early to get on the road. Since we’re based in NYC, we actually decided to take the train into Stamford, CT as the first leg of our journey. Something I’ve heard from lots of seasoned New Yorkers is that renting a car in Connecticut is much cheaper than in the city. 45 minutes later and we’re at the Stamford train station with the Hertz office right across the street. The timing couldn’t have been better. Since AAA and Hertz have a fantastic partnership, and members have exclusive discounts, getting the car and on the open road was a snap. Off we went!

Two and half hours later, we were in the picturesque town of Newport. I couldn’t wait to get checked into our hotel and start exploring the boat show! Our stay was at the Newport Beach Hotel and it made for the perfect location! About a 30 minute walk from Bannister’s Wharf, we were just far enough away from the action and could enjoy some quiet. Almost completely surrounded by water, we had completely unobstructed views of the sunrise on First Beach, but could also take in the sunset at the hotel’s private rooftop deck. It was the best of everything.

Back in town, we took in all that the Newport Boat Show had to offer! Living in the city, we don’t have a boat just yet, but it’s always fun to daydream. We don’t plan on living in the city forever and being by the water is always home. If you are in the market, it’s probably the best place to shop, or at least start your search. The boat show had a little something for everyone. If you are on a budget, they had small crafts that cost a few thousand dollars. For the shopper with deep pockets, there were options costing several millions. Obviously, David and I wanted to take a look at those, but it was all just part of the daydream. The people working were so friendly and were happy to answer all of our questions.

Our time in Newport simply flew by! On Monday, reluctant to go back to the city, we made a quick stop at the nearby Shell gas station before returning our rental car to Hertz and catching the train. AAA members, along with their many other discounts, can save 5 cents per gallon at any Shell gas station. Even though we became car free since moving to New York, that’s a perk to keep in mind when we travel or when we decide to add a car into our life again.

Once again, thank you so much to AAA Northeast, Hertz, Shell, Newport Beach Hotel, and the Newport International Boat Show for an absolutely amazing trip! This is only the beginning of my love for Newport and I have AAA to thank for that! Be sure to check back soon for a Newport City Guide and my Packing List.

Love from NYC,
Katie

If you are more interested in travel than style, be sure to visit my exclusive travel page, here.