Most Scenic Instagrammable Spots in and around Newport

The Lawn at Castle Hill (Summer Season)

A summertime favorite to enjoy with friends and family and to get the ultimate Instagram photo is the lawn at Castle Hill. Grab a seat on one of their white adirondack chairs overlooking the sailboats passing by in the Newport Harbor, order a blueberry lemonade from their summer cocktail list and take it all in (I like the people watching here too, lol).  The scenery itself makes a great shot especially when the sun goes down on the harbor; a perfect opportunity to make a champagne toast to another idyllic summer evening in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island.

Cliff Walk (Year Round)

A tourist and local favorite overlooking Easton’s Beach and the historic Bellevue Mansions (pictured at the top right is The Breakers) in Newport, Rhode Island is the iconic Cliff Walk. Every point of view from this famous, picturesque path makes a perfect shot for an Instagram photo. Some highlights on Cliff Walk that especially draw the most tourist attention are the “40 steps” that lead down to the water, the Salve Regina campus and the paved path that overlooks the surfers at Ruggles point where surf legends have taken on the dangerous, but best waves on the island.

Newport Film Events (Summer Season)

Each summer, Newport Film hosts a series of free-admission film events around Newport for locals and island visitors to enjoy. The non-profit organization features documentaries from around the world and at the end of the summer they host an annual picnic display competition prior to one of the final films of the season. Two summers ago was Zac Posen’s, “House of Z”, where Posen made a special appearance at the event. Not only is this an enjoyable event for all, but offers many opportunities to capture a great Instagram moment on one of our many historic coastal properties. Picnic setup display pictured at top.

Norman Bird Sanctuary- Hanging Rock and Purgatory Chasm (Both Year Round)

I don’t go here as much as I should. Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown offers a variety of different trails (trail fees are only $7/adult, $6/senior or military, and $3/child or student), that give THE MOST beautiful access to a panoramic view of Sachuest Beach, or as the locals call it: Second Beach. Purgatory Chasm is another landmark that overlooks an opposite view of Second Beach and is the ultimate spot to watch the surfers at “Surfer’s End”- the furthest end of the beach.

Fort Adams & The Eisenhower House Property (Year Round)

Just a little FYI- some of the most accomplished women in the music industry are featured in this photo from Newport Folk Festival 2019 including Dolly Parton, Brandi Carlile, Sheryl Crow, The Highwomen, Linda Perry, Yola, Maggie Rogers, and Maren Morris — to name a few. It was the best Newport Folk festival I’ve ever been to.

The Eisenhower House is among the most popular places for weddings on the island, but the area surrounding the historical property offers more than just a place to host a celebration. Follow Lincoln Drive down to the waterfront, park your car and take in one of the best oceanfront views of the Pell bridge and the sailboat-filled harbor. You can even walk a waterfront path from this local spot that brings you directly to Fort Adams, another popular destination in the summer for enjoying the harbor views and attending the iconic Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival (these festivals are a summer MUST- I’ll definitely be sharing a roundup of Newport festivals in a future post).

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge (Year Round)

This is my “please don’t bother me, I’m trying to be one with nature” place. I love Sachuest Point. It is by far, to me, the most peaceful spot on the island to just take a breath. You are completely surrounded by nature everywhere you turn on this trail and I hope it stays a little bit under the radar, because that’s what makes it so great.

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