The exclusive enclave of Newport, made famous by Gilded Age elite, has a new, happening resort. Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina, a sister property to famed Gurney’s Montauk, opened in 2017 with unobstructed water views — and ultra-preppy guests posing in front of them.
Situated on 10-acre Goat Island (yes, real-life goats still reside here in their own enclosure) and surrounded on all sides by water, this unique property has the feeling and amenities of being on a luxury liner sans the seasickness. Toss some Top-Siders in your weekender bag, ditch the Dramamine, and prepare to soak up the nautical ambience.
The 257-room resort — which includes a charming green lighthouse and plenty of crisp, white Adirondack chairs for drinking in the views of Narragansett Bay, Newport Harbor, and the Newport Bridge — is located just one mile (a free five-minute shuttle ride) from the happening downtown scene.
But like today’s amenity-laden cruise ships, there’s really no need to leave: The resort boasts a fitness center and spa with private deck; a branch of celebrity chef Scott Conant’s fine-dining Italian restaurant, Scarpetta; indoor and outdoor pools; a buzzy three-tiered outdoor deck with comfy couches and sleek firepits; and, for seafaring sorts, a 22-foot marina — all right on-site.
• Summer rates from $799/night; www.gurneysresorts.com
While You’re in the Area
Hit the Courts
Channel your inner Roger Federer on the 13 meticulously manicured grass courts at the International Tennis Hall of Fame, home of the first US Open, in 1881.
Stomp Some Divots
It’s not just for the Ralph Lauren logo. Catch an exciting polo match, a favorite pastime of one-percenters, during the 28th annual Newport International Polo Series, running June 1 to September 28.
Hear Some Jazz
A must for lovers of all that jazz, the 65th Annual Newport Jazz Festival brings 60-plus artists, including Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae, to four stages August 2-4.
Stroll Cliff Walk
This iconic 3.5-mile amble along Newport’s coast features breathtaking ocean panoramas on one side and the summer “cottages” of America’s wealthiest Gilded Age families, on the other.
