New England Road Trip: Arlington to Newport & Scituate
This spring, Vic, Sky, and I packed up the car and headed north for a long weekend road trip through Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. What started as a drive to a friend's wedding turned into one of those trips filled with coastal walks, seafood dinners, charming towns, and plenty of stops along the way. Wednesday: Arlington to Stamford, Connecticut
The first day was intentionally easy, giving us time to enjoy the journey rather than rush through it.
Our first stop was Philadelphia for lunch at John's Roast Pork. While the city is famous for cheesesteaks, this local institution lives up to the hype and made for the perfect road trip pit stop.
Back on the road, we stopped in Greenwich, Connecticut, for a walk and some fresh air before continuing north. Traveling with Sky always means finding opportunities to stretch our legs and explore.
We ended the day in Stamford, where we checked into our hotel and headed out for a walk along the waterfront and nearby dog park. For dinner, we kept it simple with pizza and Peronis at Remo's—a perfect first-night meal after a day on the road.
Thursday: Stamford to Newport, Rhode Island
Before heading to Newport, we made a quick stop in Mystic to charge the car. We planned to grab a slice at the famous Mystic Pizza, but instead found ourselves craving something lighter and picked up breakfast bowls from Boost instead.
From Mystic, it was a scenic drive along the coast to Newport.
The afternoon was spent wandering the charming streets lined with boutiques, historic homes, and classic New England architecture. Newport is one of those places that immediately makes you want to slow down and explore.
For dinner, we headed to The Mooring, where we enjoyed clam chowder, fresh oysters, seafood pasta, a lobster roll, and local Rhode Island beers while overlooking the harbor.
We stayed at the America's Cup Inn, which was perfectly located within walking distance of the shops, restaurants, and Bowen's Wharf.
Friday: Exploring Newport's Cliff Walk
One of the highlights of the trip was Newport's famous Cliff Walk.
Before setting out, we stopped by Marco's Cafe to pick up sandwiches for lunch. The salmon lox sandwich and chopped Italian were both excellent and easy to bring along for the walk.
We started near Marble House, parking in the nearby lot and taking time to admire the grounds before beginning the trail. We walked the more rugged southern section toward The Breakers before turning around and heading back. This portion of the Cliff Walk offers some of the most dramatic ocean views and feels a bit more adventurous than the northern section.
The Highlight of the Trip: the Cliff Walk in Rhode Island
After spending the morning along the shoreline, we drove north to Scituate, Massachusetts, where we were attending a friend's wedding. That evening we met up with friends at The Village Tavern and enjoyed a relaxed night before the festivities.
Saturday: A Morning in Scituate
Our Airbnb was within walking distance of Peggotty Beach, making for an ideal start to the day. The water was freezing in late May, but that didn't stop Vic and Sky from taking a quick dip while I enjoyed the views from shore. Afterward, we grabbed lunch at Knead Bakery, where we picked up fresh artisan wraps before getting ready for the wedding. That afternoon and evening were spent celebrating our friends at the beautiful Barker House, one of the reasons for the entire trip.
Sunday: The Drive Home
After a weekend of coastal walks, seafood dinners, charming New England towns, and celebrating with friends, we packed up the car and made the drive back to Virginia.
Sometimes the best trips aren't packed with endless sightseeing. They're the ones that leave room for spontaneous stops, long walks by the water, good meals, and time spent with people you love.
Art Inspired by New England
