KATIE KENNEDY

I Love New England
📍 Newport, Rhode Island

Blouse || Jeans || Flats ($50 off with SARAHFLINT-BAKATIE) || Handbag || Earrings || Bracelet

Although I was born and raised in Florida, I feel like I must have lived in New England in another life. Every time I visit, I feel so connected with the history, cuisine, and culture that makes this region unique. Luckily for me, I happened to marry a New Englander, and visits to the northeast can be as frequent as we want to be. Earlier this month, we took a trip to Rhode Island for David’s college reunion. He ran track for the University of Rhode Island, and I learned that he was kind of a big deal on campus. After the alumni festivities, we spent a few days in Newport. Because it’s a quintessential nautical town, it’s a huge reason as to why I love New England!

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The History

Founded in 1639, Newport is steeped in all of the colonial charms you can handle. As you stroll through the historic district, you’ll notice countless placards that boast the year a home was built, who lived there, and often what historical event happened there. On my next trip to Newport, which I will probably be sooner than I realize, I want to take a full historical walking tour to learn as much as I can about the town. With whatever New England town you opt to visit, you can find the same kind of history from the colonial era to the present.

The Architecture

Because architecture goes hand in hand with history, it simply has to be on the list. Obviously, I love the coastal feature and colonial design, but it’s so much more than that. No trip to Newport is complete without visiting one of the incredible mansions. These summer “cottages” once belonged to the titans of American industry. Now many of them have been revitalized as a museum by the local preservation society. It gives you an intimate look at the gilded age of American history.

The Food

My home state, Florida, has incredible seafood in its own right, but it’s an entirely different experience to have fresh seafood in New England. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how often I ordered clam chowder. The weather was cool and cloudy, making it perfect for sipping a warm bowl of chowder. Apart from the seafood (like the above, picture-perfect meal from Midtown Oyster), you can also find traditional comfort food that works perfectly with the colonial history. One of my all-time favorite restaurants, White Horse Tavern, can also be found in Newport. Established in 1673, it is considered the oldest restaurant in the country—a must-visit when in New England.

The Style

There is a certain je ne sais quoi to New England style. Because it changes from season to season, it always feels seasonal and festive. At the same time, most elements are classic and haven’t really changed much over time. Think Bean Boots, cable knit sweater, and nautical stripes. I’ve always gravitated towards that look, no matter my location. Being in New England, I was excited to lean into that aesthetic. I almost feel like embracing classic fashion is enough to get me to visit.

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The Weather

When we got home from our New England visit, Florida days still began with heat and humidity. While I appreciate our temperate climate in January and February, it was so lovely to escape to some slightly cooler weather. The summers aren’t as intense, and the falls have such an incredible crispness in the air. Even the cold winters have their own sense of charm, especially around the holidays. While I may never be the first one to sign-up for a snow day, it’s always a fun treat every once in a while.

The Details

As you walk through coastal New England, keep a keen eye out for all of the little details. Anchors, whale tails, and other nautical motifs sometimes make unexpected appearances. Because they were custom built over 200 years ago, the homes themselves have so much attention to detail that gave them a personal touch from each builder. Finding homes older than 100 years is a rarity in St. Pete. I enjoyed drinking in some of the elements that you can’t find elsewhere.

New England, you are always such a treat to visit! While my experience is somewhat limited to Vermont and Rhode Island, I greatly look forward to visiting the other states in our country’s smallest region. New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, I hope to see you all soon!

Love from Newport,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.

Going Back to Newport
📍 Newport, Rhode Island

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Now that October is here, I can finally get in a Fall state of mind. The weather is starting to get cooler here in Florida, but there’s one New England town with some of my favorite Fall memories: Newport, Rhode Island. Just as luck would have, we’ve gone to Newport every year since 2018 (minus 2020, of course). The first time was for a friend’s wedding, but the 2019 trip was thanks to AAA. It was an incredible partnership where AAA sent me to cover the Newport Boat Show. Looking back, it was the first time I felt like I was making real growth in the blogging world. It’s an experience I will always hold dear and will never forget. Tomorrow, we’re waking up bright and early to catch a flight to the Ocean State for some fun events at David’s alma mater. That means going back to Newport! Because I can hardly contain my excitement, here’s a quick roundup of my last trip that started my love for the little nautical town by the sea.

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Left: Button-Down || Sweater || Jeans || Ballet Flats || Sunglasses || Earrings

Right: Slip Dress || Heels || Wrap || Clutch

Road Tripping from NYC

Our day started by taking an early train ride from Manhattan to pick up a rental car in Connecticut. NYC Insider Tip: it’s much cheaper to rent a car from CT. From there, we drove the quiet two and a half hours to Newport. Once we checked into the Newport Beach Hotel, the first objective was to find authentic New England clam chowder almost immediately. I’ll never call myself an expert, but lunch at the Black Pearl Patio is pretty hard to beat! There’s excellent food and nearly unrivaled views of the harbor. It was the perfect place to begin a quintessential Newport weekend! 

Date Night at The Vanderbilt and White Horse Tavern

To cap off the day, we had a quiet date night at some historic spots around town. Pre-dinner cocktails were held at the rooftop bar of the luxurious Vanderbilt Hotel. The Roof Deck is called one of the best-kept secrets in Newport and offers sweeping views of the water. It was no surprise that the sunsets are always stunning from here. I wish we had more time to mix and mingle with Newport society, but it was off to dinner reservations at the White Horse Tavern. Established in 1673, it’s the oldest operating restaurant in the United States and the 10th oldest in the world. Our entire meal was exquisite, from start to finish, including a bottle of Chilean Malbec and classic entrees. While there are a few other historic restaurants in Newport, definitely make the first a priority! 

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Left: Tee || Jeans || Sneakers || Bracelet || Earrings

Right: Similar Dress || Heels || Clutch || Earrings

Day One of the Newport Boat Show

On Day One of the Newport Boat Show, we got up early to walk into town and begin our day with Coffee Grinder. This teeny-tiny coffee shop is in an iconic location, right on Bannister’s Wharf. Grab your coffee and pastry to-go and either walk along the waterfront or daydream amongst the colonial houses. While there were so many homes to love, I was always partial to the bright colonial blue ones. Once at the Boat Show, we had our fill of window shopping and daydreaming. I learned so much about boating culture and met the nicest people along the way in the process.

Dinner at the Clarke Cooke House

Our second dinner in Newport was just as incredible as the first. The Clarke Cooke House is another New England legend. It offers casual dining in the Bistro and Candy Store, but we were so fortunate to snag a reservation at the Porch. In this intimate corner, you are surrounded by pink and green decor that I absolutely loved. While the menu offers some of the freshest seafood you can possibly find, whatever you do, don’t skip The Snowball in Hell for dessert. It pairs perfectly with a fun little cocktail called Newport Water (Veuve Clicquot, Grand Marnier, St. Germain, on the Rocks).

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Left: Sweater || Stripe Tee || Jeans || Sandals || Clutch

Right: Sweater || Similar Skirt || Heels

Day Two of the Newport Boat Show

On the second day of the Newport Boat Show, we took more time to explore the boats. We “tried a few on,” and I can definitely I can see myself taking on the boating life, full-on! Is it too early to already be excited about retirement? Since it was surprisingly warm for a New England September day, we treated ourselves to a local classic: Del’s Lemonade. It’s a simple frozen treat that I can’t wait to get my hands on again!

Shopping Through Newport

For a small town, Newport has so many perfectly New England boutiques. Each visit requires at least a few hours to peruse and pick up a fun souvenir. One of the biggest names in Rhode Island style is Kiel James Patrick. There are so many wonderful nautical pieces, and it’s hard to narrow down what to buy. I’ll absolutely be leaving some room in my suitcase. Other favorites include Monelle (I love shopping their sister store in Vermont) and Pink Pineapple (for adorable intarsia sweaters).

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Left: Sweater (Similar)

Right: Button-Down || Jeans || Sneakers || Earrings

Dinner at Flo’s Clam Shack

Our final night in Newport was such a lovely, quiet one! We opted for an earlier dinner at Flo’s Clam Shack. This spot across the street from the beach is no-frills but is still a must-visit! Put any sort of diet to the side because various types of tried seafood make up the bulk of the menu. Another noteworthy item is the Bottle of Moet and Hot Dog special. It definitely sticks out on the menu and maybe what I order on the next visit. After dinner, we sat on the rooftop deck of our nearby hotel to admire a final New England sunset with Narragansett, a local favorite!

Sunrise Cliff Walk and Drive Home

We got up before the sun for our final act in Newport to take an iconic Cliff Walk sunrise. Here, you get pristine views of two things: the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean and the Newport Mansions. Either one, alone, is a reason to visit. Having worked up an appetite, we had breakfast at Belle’s Cafe. Located at the Newport Shipyard, I loved watching the boats come and go!

I’m beyond excited to get back to this little spot by the sea. I have to say now, don’t be surprised if someday we decide to take the plunge and become full-time Rhode Islanders. Until then, Newport, I’ll see you tomorrow!

Love from Rhode Island,
Katie

As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.