Christmas in Newport: Take a trip to the City by the Sea to feel like you're in a movie

Katie Landeck, Providence Journal
Updated ·4 min read

Hallmark may have picked Mystic as the backdrop for a Christmas movie this year, but we think there's another small coastal New England city that's equally cinematic: Newport.

Seriously, here's a quick point-for-point comparison of some of the places highlighted in "Mystic Christmas." An illuminated boat parade? Newport has it. The Mystic Seaport Museum? Consider the Newport mansions as one alternative. The Olde Mistick Village shopping area? Try Bowen's Wharf and the rest of the downtown.

You get the idea.

Christmas has been a big event in the City by the Sea for a long time, formalized in 1971 with the annual "Christmas in Newport" event that's grown into a whole month of community events and sparkling lights draped throughout the downtown, the harbors and wharves, the restored Colonials in the Point and Historic Hill, and Bellevue Avenue.

If you're looking to take a festive day trip to Newport (as a bonus, parking is free this time of year), here are some of the Christmas things to do for your bucket list that will make you feel like you're in a Hallmark movie.

Stroll along Cliff Walk with a hot cocoa

The hot chocolate at The Chanler comes with all the toppings you could want to fuel your stroll on the Cliff Walk.
The hot chocolate at The Chanler comes with all the toppings you could want to fuel your stroll on the Cliff Walk.

The Cliff Walk makes just about every guide to Newport, as the views are breathtaking. A large portion of the walk is paved, making it extremely accessible, and walkers get a glimpse of the mansions. To make it Christmas-themed, stop at The Chanler, 117 Memorial Blvd., at the start of the walk, and get one of their artisanal hot cocoas. There's a time and a place for Swiss Miss, but this is so much more. These luxurious cups can be enjoyed by a fire pit or taken along while you stroll, and they come in creamy milk chocolate or richer dark chocolate with Instagram-worthy toppings. There's also an adult version. Parking is complimentary. The hot chocolate bar is open Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. through Dec. 24; Tuesday through Friday from Dec. 26 to 29 from 1 to 4 p.m.; and then Saturday and Sunday from Feb. 3 to March 24. from 1 to 4 p.m.

Take in the splendor of the mansions

See what Christmas was like in the Gilded Age at the Newport mansions, all decked out for the holidays.
See what Christmas was like in the Gilded Age at the Newport mansions, all decked out for the holidays.

For over-the-top holiday decorations, there is no place like The Breakers, Marble House and The Elms. Between the three Gilded Age mansions, 30 Christmas trees have been professionally decorated, hundreds of evergreen boughs brought in for decorations, and, of course, there's the 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree in the Great Hall of the Breakers. Visitors can choose between seeing the houses during the daytime or buying a separate ticket to the Sparkling Lights at The Breakers.

Go shopping in the downtown

Do some shopping at Bowen’s Wharf, where a Christmas tree helps get you in the spirit.
Do some shopping at Bowen’s Wharf, where a Christmas tree helps get you in the spirit.

If you have holiday shopping to do, Newport's downtown, right on the water, offers one of the most beautiful settings you'll find anywhere to shop. And parking is free. Here's a tip: Thames Street and Bowen's Wharf are the most obvious places to shop, and you absolutely should check them out, but it's also worth spreading out a bit and heading up to see the stores on Broadway, Spring Street, Bellevue Avenue and even over on Bridge Street. It's a bigger shopping district to explore than you might think.

Some stores you might want to check out include the Kiel James Patrick boutique, Wald & Sea, Cottage & Garden and Matriarch. There are too many great options to list them all, but hitting those will send you walking all around town, giving you a chance to explore what's in other shop windows that catch your eye.

Take a walk through The Point

If you're looking for old-style Christmas charm, take a walk through The Point neighborhood (encompassing Washington Street, Second Street and Third Street), which has one of the highest concentrations of Colonial houses in the country. Thanks in part to Newport's annual doorway decorating contest, these old houses look beautiful this time of year, both during the day and at night. It's a photo-worthy walk, and if you go down to Battery Park, at 107 Washington St., you'll find one of the best spots to photograph the iconic Pell Bridge.

Head to Surfer's End to see the mysterious tree

The Christmas tree brings plenty of happiness to the Surfer's End of Sachuest Beach in Middletown.
The Christmas tree brings plenty of happiness to the Surfer's End of Sachuest Beach in Middletown.

Technically, this one is in Middletown, but it's one of those cute, quirky local traditions that just feels like it would make the cut in a Hallmark movie. Every year, at Sachuest Beach, known locally as Second Beach, a Christmas tree is put in the sand and decorated for the season at the end of the beach known as Surfer's End. It's beautiful, fun and a good excuse to head to the beach and watch some waves. Can't beat that.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Christmas in Newport: Guide to shopping, decorations, mansions