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Arrival, information and getting around
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There are actually three towns on Aquidneck Island:
Portsmouth
is at the northern edge, and then comes the appropriately named
Middletown
, with
Newport
, the southernmost, just below it. The mainland is connected to the island from I-95 on US-138 by the
Jamestown Bridge
to Conanincut Island, and from there by the
Newport Bridge
($2 toll each way).
Newport itself, spanning only ten miles, is easy to walk around. Thames (pronounced Thaymz ) Street is the main road, with Bellevue Avenue, or Mansion Row, parallel to the east. Maps and advice are available from the large visitor center at 23 America's Cup Ave (daily: summer 8am-8pm; rest of year 9am-5pm; tel 401/849-8048 or 1-800/976-5122, ).
The adjacent
Gateway Center
, the least expensive place to park a car, is also the terminal for Bonanza (tel 401/846-1820,
) and RIPTA
buses
; the latter run regularly through town, to the beaches and on to Providence ($1.25-3.50; tel 401/781-9400 or 1-800/244-0444,
). Also based at the Center are free summer
shuttle buses
connecting the main sights and shopping areas (daily 10am-7pm) and Viking Tours, whose bus and harbor excursions take in admission to one or more mansions ($10-38; tel 401/847-6921). Rented
bikes
, good for getting to the quieter beaches, cost $5 per hour ($25 a day) at Ten Speed Spokes, 18 Elm St, next to the visitor center (Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, summer also Sun noon-5pm; tel 401/847-5609,
). The Newport Historical Society organizes
walking tours
through colonial Newport on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in summer at 10am (tours depart from the Museum of Natural History; usually $7; tel 401/841-8770). Easily the best and most relaxing way of getting a good look at the mansions and the town is on the beautiful
Madeleine
A
schooner
(tel 401/847-0298,
), which leaves several times daily from Bannister's Wharf; the $25 price for a ninety-minute tour is ultimately better value than the cheaper motorboat tours. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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United States,
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