# Newport RI and Fall River MA **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 12, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052 "2011-09-12T14:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/1 "2011-09-12T14:59:11Z")
Headed to both places this weekend… looking for suggestions on restaurants, lodging and things to do. In Newport I think we’re headed to the Breakers unless one of the other mansions should be our choice. We also might do a Segway tour because we did one a few years ago and had a lot of fun with it. Any great stores we should poke into? We’re avid readers but not looking for antiques. Where might we stay that won’t break the bank? Need to keep it under $200/night. I have a small Lizzie Borden obsession, so that’s the reason for the stop in Fall River. I need to go see the house! The husband hates seafood but I love it, so restaurants that have decent offerings of all types are appreciated. Any cool hole in the wall places to look for? Great breakfasts? Casual lunches? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/2 "2011-09-12T15:28:39Z")
I have only stayed overnight in Newport on the Navy Base for work, since I live so close. Most of the shops are on Thames Street, along the water. Along with a ton of restaurants. The White Horse Tavern is the most historic, and the Black Pearl and Christie’s are also popular. Most places have seafood on the menu, but other things too. As for Fall River, if you also like the Titanic, the Marine Museum has a fairly big exhibit of stuff, thanks to a connection with Bob Ballard who found the sucker. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/3 "2011-09-12T16:33:19Z")
If it’s available you can stay at one of the [cheaper rooms](http://www.lizzie-borden.com/Rooms.html)in the Lizzie Borden house for under $200. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/4 "2011-09-12T16:45:11Z")
Fall River is also the home of the [Battleship Cove](http://www.battleshipcove.com/) collection of museum ships and exhibits, including USS _Massachusetts_ BB59, and several smaller vessels. However, I’d be leery of trying to combine it with visits to other places in Fall River. For someone with an interest in the exhibits, I think the cove would be a very full day. Without that interest, I can only imagine how tedious even an hour there might be. A very hit or miss sort of place, I’d think. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/5 "2011-09-12T16:58:04Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/6 "2011-09-12T17:23:06Z")
Breakers is the mansion to go to if you are only going to one. It is the biggest, and probably most impressive, though I think there are “prettier” houses out there, like Marble House and Beachwood. Newport hotels can be a bit pricey, but if you want to stay in Middletown, they have plenty of nice chain hotels within a 10 minute drive. Thames Street/America’s Cup Ave (as recommended above) is the place to go for shopping and there are plenty of places for lunch as well. There are some cute Irish pubs there. If you have time, you can take a stroll along Cliff Walk - great ocean views and you can see the back of the mansions (most are still privately owned). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/7 "2011-09-12T17:40:28Z")
> [@Skara\_Brae](#): > > Breakers is the mansion to go to if you are only going to one. It is the biggest, and probably most impressive, though I think there are “prettier” houses out there, like Marble House and Beachwood. > > Newport hotels can be a bit pricey, but if you want to stay in Middletown, they have plenty of nice chain hotels within a 10 minute drive. > > Thames Street/America’s Cup Ave (as recommended above) is the place to go for shopping and there are plenty of places for lunch as well. There are some cute Irish pubs there. > > If you have time, you can take a stroll along Cliff Walk - great ocean views and you can see the back of the mansions (most are still privately owned). Great suggestions, and I will note that Marble House is, IIRC, the one used in the move _The Great Gatsby_. Also, be aware that Thames street is pronounced as spelled (rhymes with James), not like the river in England. I haven’t been there for awhile, but my favorite restaurants are [The Black Pearl](http://www.blackpearlnewport.com/) and [The Whitehorse Tavern](http://www.whitehorsetavern.us/). The latter is billed as the oldest continuously operating restaurant/pub in the US. At The Black Pearl, have the lobster and chowder. It’s real NE clam chowder like you’ve never had before. ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/8 "2011-09-12T17:53:57Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Great suggestions, and I will note that Marble House is, IIRC, the one used in the move _The Great Gatsby_. Rosecliff is the one used in Gatsby -it also was used in “True Lies”, when Arnold is in a Swiss Mansion doing the Tango. The Breakers is the #1 mansion, although their tours are now recorded and done with headphones if that matters to you. You might also want to hit Broadway for a place to eat - locals are more likely to dine there than the more touristy spots on the water. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/9 "2011-09-12T18:08:19Z")
The Lizzie Borden house isn’t the only place with her “relics”. The supposed weapon itself and other items are in the Fall River Historical Society. > **[Lizzie Borden Murderabilia, Fall River, Massachusetts](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2108)** > > A selection of mementoes from alleged murderess Lizzie Borden are on display, including a hatchet head, blood-stained artifacts, and her cutlery. If you go to Newport, you can always go see the Newport Tower. It was held by some to be built by the Vikings, or a Greenland archbishop before Columbus. Historical excavation seems to supports its being built by Governore Benedict rnold (ancestor of the Revolutionary War Figure) > **[Newport Tower (Rhode Island)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_Tower_(Rhode_Island))** > > The Newport Tower, also known as the Old Stone Mill, is a round stone tower located in Touro Park in Newport, Rhode Island, the remains of a windmill built in the mid-17th century. It has received attention due to speculation that it is actually several centuries older and would thus represent evidence of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact. Carbon dating shows this belief to be incorrect. > Other names given to the tower include Round Tower, Touro Tower, Viking Tower, and Newport Stone Tower. > T... ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/10 "2011-09-12T18:17:47Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > I have a small Lizzie Borden obsession, so that’s the reason for the stop in Fall River. I need to go see the house! Do you think she dunnit? Or the maid, or someone else? ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/11 "2011-09-12T19:11:07Z")
Fall River has tons of Portuguese and seafood restaurants-many are very good. It also has the old mills-many of which are now cut-rate shopping malls (I bought a name brand suit at one for about 80% off). You can also vistit Dighton Rock State Park-it is kind of interesting. Newport and FR are worlds apart-Newport id rich, FR is poor to middle class. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/12 "2011-09-12T19:55:27Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Do you think she dunnit? Or the maid, or someone else? There’s no way to know for certain without sending Nancy Grace back in time. Even if it’s to a year other than 1892 and a place other than Fall River. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/13 "2011-09-12T19:58:31Z")
I’ve never been to Newport but I’ve read many books about the Vanderbilts. Marble House was actually by far the more expensive house, and its owner- the horrid Alva Smith Vanderbilt (a penniless belle from Bama who hit paydirt and later forced- literally with threats of murder- her daughter to marry the Duke of Marlborough) rarely used it other than for suffragette meetings after she married her second husband, O.P.H. Belmont, and moved into his mansion at Belcourt when in Newport. [Belcourt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belcourt_Castle) is famous for having stables that were part of the mansion. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/14 "2011-09-12T20:11:01Z")
For restaurants in Newport, we went to 22 Bowen’s and The Mooring. Both were really good. The Red Parrot was also go for lunch. Plus no trip to a seashore vacation town would be complete without picking up one of those ubiquitous Black Dog T-shirts. When we did the Breakers tour, we had an actual guide. Also the cliff walk is kind of fun if you aren’t enfeebled. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/15 "2011-09-12T20:12:38Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Fall River has tons of Portuguese and seafood restaurants-many are very good. It also has the old mills-many of which are now cut-rate shopping malls (I bought a name brand suit at one for about 80% off). **You can also vistit Dighton Rock State Park-it is kind of interesting.** > Newport and FR are worlds apart-Newport id rich, FR is poor to middle class. I’ve been there to see it. Several years ago, I brought my not-yet-wife Pepper Mill to see Dighton Rock, but the Rock is now housed in a structure, which was locked. to this day, she hasn’t seen it. We always joke about how we went to see Dighton Rock, “but it was closed.” The Moral is: If you want to see Dighton Rock, check the schedule to be sure it’s open. Here in Massachusetts, the Rocks NEVER close. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/16 "2011-09-12T20:22:38Z")
When we were in Newport last year, we went [here](http://www.12metercharters.com/) and spent a couple of hours on _Heritage_. My husband even got to take a turn at the helm. It was an amazing experience for sailors and novices alike. The captain and mate were not only great boat handlers, but they shared all kinds of interesting trivia about the places we sailed past. I can highly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![WreckingCrew](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wreckingcrew/32/4080_2.png) [@WreckingCrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WreckingCrew)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/17 "2011-09-12T20:44:58Z")
Yeah, the Breakers went the audio tour route about 2 years ago. And just looking, it seems 4 of them are now audio tours. Here is the info for the main Mansions - other are open, but are not part of the Preservation Society of Newport. Oh, if you like Tennis, the Hall of Fame is there too. > **[Plan a Visit | Newport Mansions](http://www.newportmansions.org/plan-a-visit/)** ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/18 "2011-09-12T20:55:42Z")
Thanks all for the feedback! Sorry I put this in the wrong board. > [@Eve](#): > > Do you think she dunnit? Or the maid, or someone else? I do think she did it - although my mind might be changed after this trip! Who knows what evidence I’ll see that might change my opinion. “Oh you can’t chop your mother up in Massachusetts…” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/19 "2011-09-12T20:58:53Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Plus no trip to a seashore vacation town would be complete without picking up one of those ubiquitous Black Dog T-shirts. Buying a Black Dog shirt anywhere except Martha’s Vineyard is just wrong. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052/20 "2011-09-12T21:03:05Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Buying a Black Dog shirt anywhere except Martha’s Vineyard is just wrong. It should be a criminal offense! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/newport-ri-and-fall-river-ma/596052.md?page=2)