Day 1101 Plan B

A day trip to Block Island with my friends turned into a full day in Newport, thanks to the lingering effects of Hurricane Erin. We met up in the morning and headed to the ferry as if all was well. Even when we heard that the high-speed ferry was canceled due to adverse weather conditions, we stayed the course, waiting in line for the traditional ferry.

It wasn’t until we stopped to ask a ferry worker how rough the ride would be that we changed our minds. At first, she tried to assure us it wouldn’t be too bad—but when I told her we were locals and could easily come another day, she leaned in and said, “Oh, absolutely go with your Plan B for the day.”

So off we went. We quickly decided on Newport, with a quick stop in Jamestown for breakfast. We sat at a local favorite overlooking the harbor, with the Newport Bridge in the backdrop, and had what might have been the best egg sandwiches of our lives (or maybe we were just starving).

I mentioned how beautiful Beavertail was, and to my surprise, two out of three of my friends had never been. Off we went to explore the historic lighthouse and arguably one of the most picturesque spots in Rhode Island. Beavertail never disappoints—spectacular views in every direction, a small but well-curated museum, a tiny aquarium, and one of the oldest lighthouses in the country. We wandered around, climbed the rocks, and snapped photos while the wind blew our hair in every direction.

Next up: Newport.

As always, the first order of business was the quest for parking. We lucked out with a lot that charged just $20 for the full day, which felt like a small victory before even stepping onto the cobblestone streets. I reminded everyone we had saved about $60 each by skipping the ferry to Block Island—extra spending money for our impromptu day.

We spent the afternoon shopping, sightseeing, and playing tourist in our own state. One highlight was the umbrella exhibit at Brick Market, hundreds of pastel umbrellas suspended above the narrow walkways, swaying gently in the breeze. It was magical.

We also hunted down the two elephant sculptures gifted to Newport after the Elephant Parade exhibit last year. We found them on the lawn of the library, and all agreed they were well worth the walk.

We browsed every shop we wanted, trying on jewelry and laughing like we had the entire week to explore. We all admitted our husbands would never have had the patience for such leisurely wandering.

For lunch, we landed at Reef, perched at the corner of the outdoor bar. We enjoyed lobster rolls, crispy fries, and most of all, the relaxed, breezy vibe that makes Newport so special. There’s a reason people flock to this town—it never disappoints.

If we’d had more time, I would have loved to bring everyone to Rough Point, but that will have to wait for another day.

It’s funny how exhausting a day off can be. By the time we settled back into the car, we were sun-kissed, wind blown, full, and completely worn out—but happy.

It wasn’t the Block Island adventure we’d planned, but sometimes the best memories come from plan B. And as for Block Island? We’ll be back—hopefully next time without the hurricane winds.