As the only girl in a family of boys, I’m always hunting for destinations that make all of us happy — especially me! Here’s how we did Newport.

We arrived in Middletown, Rhode Island, on the 5th of July with the scent of sparkler smoke still on our fingertips. After dropping our suitcases at our rental house, we walked a few short minutes to Easton’s Beach, where a humid breeze rolled off the ocean and brought with it the briny, salt-soaked air only land-locked Iowans can truly appreciate. Across the water, The Breakers mansion and its equally impressive neighbors dotted the horizon. The picturesque, painting-worthy view kicked off our week-long trip to the East coast.

Middletown, Rhode Island, a town of 17,000, is on the cusp of Newport, just minutes away from the Newport Mansions and the famed downtown Newport shopping. For food lovers like us, we were in prime territory, surrounded by the four, essential food groups: a pizza place next door (Aquidneck Pizza), an ice cream shop (Clementine’s) a block away, a burger joint (Mission) close enough to smell the grill, and a crab shack (Flo’s Crab Shack) across the street. 

As this was my first time to Rhode Island with my 8-year-old and 10-year-old boys, I wasn’t sure exactly what to plan. Mansion tours and bowls overflowing with mussels doused in butter and white wine were right up my Downton Abbey-loving alley, but for my sports-loving boys, I knew I’d have to seek out a variety of activities to keep them entertained. We filled our week-long trip with outings that catered to my husband’s and my boys’ tastes as well as my own and created an unforgettable experience.

Shops for Mom:

As all moms and dads know, browsing little, cute boutiques is about the closest place to hell for kids, especially boys (mine in particular). With limited time for stress-free shopping, here are two shops I recommend spending your precious time in downtown Newport.

Basic Irish Luxury

This little shop is a gem. Full of authentic, imported goods from the Green Isle, I could have spent days here, sifting through the perfumes, Connemara marble worry stones and Claddagh jewelry. Don’t miss the shelves of Irish snacks tucked in the back corner. It’s a cozy store, full of charm, handcrafted pottery, Irish prints, and friendly service. I bought this cute celtic knot hair slide for $20. And I loooove it.

Little Chateau

Our fantastic waitress at The Mooring recommended the Little Chateau as one of her favorite shops. They sell a curated collection of beautiful items, from candles and perfumes to clothing and purses. I purchased a travel-sized Lake & Skye perfume (smells like the ocean) and a Minot candle, and they’re my favorite souvenirs from Rhode Island. A shout out to the owner who also gave my boys football cards (what??!) as I browsed. She made all of our days!

Boys Will Love: 

PB Collectibles

Slightly off the beaten path, this tiny shop (like room for four people) was a great stop for my baseball loving boys and husband. A friendly owner and great selection of autographed items and cards, it's worth the effort to seek it out.

Ryan’s Newport Arcade

We spent an hour here, and my boys won an Iowa Hawkeyes basketball and a stuffed hedgehog, both of which were highlights of the trip for them. This is a prime spot in the middle of the shopping district for a quick family-friendly stop (and to buy you some more time for shopping!).

For The Whole Family:

Easton’s Beach

As boy moms know (and all moms, for that matter), kids love the beach. Easton’s Beach is a public beach steps from Newport's famed Cliff Walk and minutes to downtown Newport. My kids would have been content to only go to the beach and swim in the ocean for the entire week, and if you choose a rental within walking distance, it's a free, guaranteed crowd-pleasing outing any time of the day. When we visited, the ocean was full of red seaweed that stuck to the boys, giving them an overall small pox vibe when they got out of the water, but thankfully, it was harmless and the beach had free outdoor showers to rinse it off before leaving.

Newport Mansions

A high point for all of us was the Newport Mansions. We chose to visit The Breakers and Marble House and used the Newport Mansions App to listen to the self-guided tours along the way. We brought two sets of earbuds and lent the boys one of our phones to listen to the kids’ version, and at the end, all wished we’d had time to visit more. The opulence and grandeur of the mansions left us awe-struck, and I quickly realized two things: 1) I was born in the wrong century and 2) I was meant to be super, super rich.

Newport Gulls 

The Newport Gulls is a collegiate summer baseball team based in Newport. They play at Cardines Field, the oldest baseball stadium in the U.S., located downtown. From the wood bleachers to the houses tucked right behind the outfield, it has an old school baseball vibe that’s dirt cheap to enjoy. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for kids. 

Parking Tip: Park in the Visitors Center parking garage and do some shopping, then go to the game. Bring your game ticket with you at the end of the night and parking for the day will only cost you $2.

Restaurants and Coffee:

The Mooring

I gorged myself on a giant bowl of fresh, white wine and butter-soaked mussels at this restaurant and marked it the best meal I had in Rhode Island. My boys enjoyed burgers and chicken strips, both of which they rated as the best they’d ever had (which if you know how many of these they’ve scarfed in their short years, this holds a lot of weight). My husband had salmon, and it was fresh, light and worth every penny. 

The Coffee Grinder

Tucked inside a building with sea-air worn cedar shakes siding, The Coffee Grinder is the perfect stop after a day of wandering and shopping around Thames Street. We grabbed iced coffees on our way back to our rental house and met the owner, whose passion for what she does made me wish I loved anything as much as she loves coffee. Prices were a bit steep, but it’s vacation, and as we all know, prices on vacation don’t count.

Thanks for coming along with me, the only girl on the trip. Newport was just one stop on our family's travel adventures. We're already dreaming of our next destination, and I’d love to hear from other moms traveling with boys — where do you recommend? Drop a comment and subscribe to come along on the next adventure!