My uncle arrived to pick me up at 1:00pm, but first I showed him around my apartment and showed him some of my pictures from the Philippines.  We were on the road before 2:00pm and the ride to Misquamicut took about an hour and a half.

Although I had been to the area several times over the years, it must have been more than a decade since my last visit to Westerly.  My uncle, however, is a frequent visitor and knows his way around well.  He first took us to the bar at Andrea Resort where we had a couple of beers and ordered grilled chicken wraps for lunch.  The sky was a little hazy, but still sunny and hot sitting out on the patio.  Our table was at the edge of the deck by adjacent the beach.

Large seagull walked around on the sand, hoping for scraps.  Strung above the seating area, a net of what appears to be fishing line effectively deterred the birds from swooping out of the sky to steal from the paying customers.  My sandwich was decent, if a bit lighter on the chicken than I had hoped it would be.  We left after our second round of drinks.

Our next stop was Paddy’s, where my uncle ordered a mudslide and I had a Jameson's on the rocks.  Those two drinks alone cost $20, so we considered that sufficient violation for one establishment and ordered no more.  On the other side of the railing from where we sat on the deck was a volleyball net on the beach and a game soon began after we got there.

We found Goodies by the sea on a recent trip to Newport, RI. They had a large variety of candy I didn't think they even made anymore. Treats from my youth like Razzles, Bottlecaps, Spree, Necco Wafers, Gold Rush Gum, Pixie Stix, candy necklaces, even those sugar "buttons" that come on the paper rolls, that look like colored dots on adding machine tape. Took me right back to my childhood when my Mom would get us this stuff for long car trips or going to the movies! They also have a wide variety of chocolates, fudge, cookies, even things like TV show lunch boxes and every conceivable kind of Monopoly Game. This is the place to go if you have a sweet tooth! Well worth checking out if you happen to be in Newport!

Distance: 86 miles
Sights:

I eat out often. This was the worst food ever! Everything is overpriced. The chicken parm was something out of a junior high lunch room. The "steak tips" tasted like rubber. I was with 6 people and everyone was unhappy with their meal. They are a lot of good places to eat in Newport this is not one of them. Whatever you do...DO NOT EAT HERE!

Finally after over seven decades someone converted a run down eyesore of a building into a beautiful hotel. Congratulations on a job well done! This hotel is not only clean, stylish and conveniently located; the staff is impressive and has obviously been trained to anticipate customer needs. I have traveled to this area repeatedly throughout my career and have never been impressed with the hotel offerings. I now look forward to returning. Renaissance Hotels/Marriott have added a jewel to their portfolio!

This is the best traditional French restaurant I've ever been to. Set in the lovely and elegant town of Newport, Rhode Island, La Petite Auberge (French for the little apartment) is set in an 18th century building. The rooms feel very homey and cozy with fireplaces roaring in the winter time, though these would be the rooms of a definitely upscale home. The service is top notch and friendly. The owner used to cook for Charles de Gaulle. I had the best frog's legs of my life here. Escargot was also excellent as was the softest filet mignon I've ever cut. I can't rave about this place enough. Would love to go back.

I got up early and hit the road for Wetherill State Park (about a two-hour drive) for my open water scuba training in Narragansett Bay in Fort.  I’d done my other training in YMCA swimming pools, but the only interesting things to see were the flurry of opaque mystery solids and the occasional used bandage suspended in the water.

It was so much more interesting to dive in a natural environment.  There was a thick layer of silt on sea floor that clouded the water in a murky brown fog whenever one of us kicked too close to the bottom, so many of our tests were performed in poor visibility.  It was still a thrill to experience the sea as I never had before.  I swam peacefully through the long grasses and seaweeds that, if not for my ability to see with the benefit of my scuba mask, would have freaked me out to encounter.  Had I been a swimmer at the surface that very same plant life brushing past a foot would evoke a frantic reflex flight reaction.

My left ear felt plugged up for the last dive and, unable to equalize, I had to ascend, but the rest of the day was really good.  I was home by 3:30pm and took a 3-hour nap.

Returning for day two of my training on Sunday, I missed an exit, but still made it there on time.  It was fun to be in the water again and I was excited when we were done.  All went well during the testing and I earned my certification to dive!  My ride home was less thrilling, however.  On Route 72 toward Bristol, a cop stopped me for speeding and gave me a $230 ticket.  Grrr!  I wasn’t even going all that fast, but speeding tickets are a popular revenue source for the government in my state and the fines are huge.

This summer I came up with the idea to visit all 50 states in the US.  Now I know this isn't a new idea, but after traveling to other places around the world, I figured that it would also be a good idea to get to know my own country.

Now I have always wanted to go to Rhode Island since I was a little girl.  Why you ask?  Because it is there.  No, the truth is that when I saw that it was the tiniest state in the country I was sold.  I have even thought about having my first child there, only because I have never known anyone from Rhode Island before.  As you can see, I get crazy ideas in my head and run with them.

The day I visited Rhode Island I actually had the intention of visiting Connecticut only, but my friend Chip mentioned that we were very close to Rhode Island and could hit Providence in 45 minutes from where we were.  I jumped at the chance; who wouldn't?

it was a rainy day on our way to Providence.  I have to say there wasn't much there but interstates and a big water tower that made me a little nervous.  But once we saw the sign welcoming us, my spirits lifted.  First off Providence is close to the border so it didn't take long for us to get out of the car and onto the street.  The first place we visited was the Capitol Building, it was raining at that point so we didn't stay out long, not that there was much to do there on a Sunday in front of the Capitol building anyway.

After that we hopped back into the car and started cruising the streets.  Instead of staying on the main drag we decided to head up to the hills where we had seen some interesting architecture.  What we found was that Providence has a lot of colleges and universities.  That and churchs...hmmm...not a lot to do.  That and it was Sunday!

So we decided we needed to hit civilization, so we hit the mall since it was open.  Now normally when I visit places, I would not go to a mall, but we were desperate!  So we figured this would be interesting...well, for a mall. 

I have to say for a smaller city, the mall was pretty large.  So large that when we tried to leave we couldn't find our car, but I am getting ahead of myself.  Instead of a quick jaunt through the mall as we expected, we actually ended up staying a few hours.  I ended up buying $125 of stuff I didn't need; clothing, jewelry and candles; Yankee Candles, which Chip ended up breaking in the store.  He lifted it up by the lid.  Never a good idea, but he wasn't himself that day.  You could tell they were annoyed, but they were very nice about it.  Good thing I bought something to soften the blow.

After a while we got really hungry and decided to grab some dinner. Chip suggested a restaurant called Fire and Ice.  I wasn't so sure, but nothing else was open.  It was Sunday!  So we grabbed a couple of bowls, threw some food into them and took them to the grill where it was prepared to our liking.  It was pretty good until I saw the bill. $24 for a plate of food!  The woman asked if we wanted more, I told her we were done, she looked shocked.  I guess getting one round isn't usual.  But because I don't like to stuff myself, I paid the price...all $24 of it.  Per Person!  That is why I like to choose smaller less trendy venues, but you live and learn.

After dinner we decided it was time to leave, but we couldn't find our car because we didn't exit the right doors, but after the big dinner we needed the walk so it all worked out.  The rain finally started to clear as we hit the freeway.  But before we left, we were left with one of our most memorable visuals of Rhode Island; a neon blue cross looming over the gloom.  Because God loves neon, my friend.

A short drive north of Newport, the Topiary Gardens surprised me in a pleasant way.  The property was more extensive than I had expected although the Gardens were very compact (so much that I walked past a section or two before realizing I had passed it).  The house of the past owner is open to the public which made the touring more extensive than I had known.  The first floor of the house is decorated in period (one room even has its original wallpaper from prior to 1900) while upstairs is a collection of antique toys.  I especially liked looking at the dollhouses although I have a feeling that my dad would have preferred the tin soldiers.

Once done looking at the house (it was only open until five while the grounds are open until six although you do have arrive before 5 in order to pay your entrance fee), I followed the map to discover the approximately eighty sculpted trees/bushes in the gardens.  A green man greets visitors.  About thirty steps in a variety of animals cavort: elephant, giraffe, lion, camel.  Passing beneath arches leads one to an obelisk; ahead are teddy bears and unicorns.  Just to the left is another collection including a man on horseback and a stag.  Opposite this grouping are the newest additions: a Rhode Island red rooster, a baby giraffe, and a dog.  An arbor covered in grapevines provides shade while the lily pond is a relaxing sight.

After my visit to the Topiary Garden, I returned to Providence, put gas in the car before returning it, and headed into the airport.  Thunderstorms in the Baltimore area had grounded a number of flights which caused delays.  Flying carry-on proved useful again as I was able to switch flights and land back in Maryland only about 15 minutes late (with plenty of time to meet up with some friends and go see the new Harry Potter movie).

I checked out of my hostel this morning and trekked over to my car to leave my backpack.  Then I headed back up the hill to Bellevue Avenue and the mansions.  First on the list: Chateau-Sur-Mer which while still very impressive, is not as overwhelming as the Breakers and Marble House.  The downstairs rooms are built to impress but the upstairs was built for everyday living.  The decor of the dining room sticks out the most in my mind.  The designs around the fireplace are very bright and vivid while the more subdued wallpaper is made from a leather that almost shimmers.  While waiting for a tour to begin, visitors wander around the morning room and look at displays of pictures and newspaper clippings about the family and property.

Following my tour of Chateau-Sur-Mer, I headed up to Marine St. entrance of the Cliff Walk (it is not marked from the road; in fact the road up to it is made of gravel and not likely to be driven on) to finish off the last two miles.  I really enjoyed this section mainly because at several times the path disappeared among the rocks, and I got to climb around to create my own crossing.  It is also possible to reach the water here although not for swimming.  Views of several magnificent homes appear as well.  This is the longest stretch without any exits (I believe 1 3/4 miles), so be prepared to hike longer than during the other parts of the Cliff Walk.  The fog burned off as I walked enough for me to get sunburned despite wearing sunscreen :P

My final Newport mansion was Rosecliff which is designed after the Grand Trianon at Versailles.  It receives its name from the owner of the property before the mansion was built, a gentleman named George Bancroft who bred roses there.  Inside is a gorgeous ballroom--the largest in Newport--with windows lining both of the long sides.  The ballroom is also known for being the site of filming for parts of several movies including The Great Gatsby.  The stairwell adds a uniqueness to the house: it is heart-shaped.  Once upstairs, visitors can roam at their own pace to view the bedrooms.

I finally got to live the dream of going to the smallest state in the USA, Rhode Island.  It happened by accident which is usually how most people find themselves in Rhode Island.  Still I went with an open mind and a loving heart and had a great time, even though it was a Sunday and not a lot was open.

I hadn't been to a mall that big in a while, but then again I only go to the mall about three times a year and it's in Portland, Oregon which really leaves a lot to be desired.  I got a few great shirts, some candles and even got lost in the catacombs of the mall parking lot.  Good times!

If you have a hankerin' to hear more about Rhode Island take a look here:

http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/17362

I have to say I wasn't impressed by the Fire and Ice. It is a Mongolian grill type place where you choose what you want such as meats, vegetables, sauces and they cook it up right in front of you. I have been to a few of these places in the past and this one was probably my least favorite. The sauces weren’t that exceptional and I felt it was too expensive for what is was. Especially if you aren’t a big eater and don’t plan on gorging yourself. The décor was fun and the staff was very nice as well, so all was not lost…

We went for an an hour drive from CT to RI to try an american style mongolian BBQ restaurant. the ambience is whimsical and modern. this is a popular college hang out. there is a 4ft in radius bbq stove top in the middle of the food bar section. i would only go here on a weekday. you can walk in, sit and eat. i would like to come back to try the brunch. PRO: if you like "all-u-can-eat" in a flat price of $16.99 CON: you won't enjoy eating together. you will be spending time waiting for your food to be cooked. The food bar is stocked and re-stocked throughout the day with fresh vegetables, seafood, chicken, beef, udon noodles, pasta and more. All you have to do is take a bowl and pile it high with whatever you want. We even have a hamburger bar, with fresh ground beef and all the fixins'. After you decide on what you want, choose from one of our sauces, like Greenberg's Teriyaki, Fajita and more. Take our sauce and your bowl up to the grill and watch as our chefs prepare your meal for you. We'll even bring warm tortillas and rice to your table for you to enjoy with your meal. While the exact selection changes daily, you're sure to find a wide range of choices that includes: Sirloin, Chicken Breast, Turkey, Lamb, Salmon, Calamari, Shrimp, Scallops, Sausage, Hamburger, Tofu and more. For fresh vegetables, our market is the place. Again, the exact selections depend on the day . . . but with an average of forty different vegetables, finding something you love will never be a problem. A typical day at the market includes: red onions, green peppers, jalapeño peppers, chopped fresh garlic, water chestnuts, broccoli, snow peas, tomatoes, black olives, roasted red and yellow peppers, mushrooms, squash, zucchini and more. We always have at least ten different sauces for you to choose from, like Zesty Pomodoro, Sweet Chili, Fajita and more. Plus, when you get to the grill, we can also add soy sauce or hot sauce to your meal! Just take your bowl and sauce up to the grill and we'll get cooking for you. Our grill chefs will get your meal back to you in just a few minutes. So take a moment to relax by the grill and before you know it, your meal will be ready for you to enjoy. And don't forget, there will be warm tortillas and rice waiting for you when you get back to your table.

With an earlier start this morning, we went to the visitor center in Newport and bought a pass to visit 5 mansions. We also took the trolley for transportation which ended up being a waste. It was nice for the drive to the 1st mansion but then you had to wait around for what seemed like an eternity to catch it again, so we ended up walking and only saw 3 mansions. The 1st one was the ELMS that was a self guided audio tour. Elms was built in 1901 for a coal baron. This was actually my favorite of all. I liked being able to go at my own pace and also being able to hear. (with the help of headphones) We walked to Chateau-sur-Mer, built in 1852 and was the 1st of the mansions. This was one of the few that was a year round residence. The rest were summer homes only! I just can't imagine. We then walked to the biggest one of all the BREAKERS. After a hour long wait in line outside, we finally got in. This one is against the Atlantic Ocean and only saw a few rooms for as big as it is. This was a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt. By this time, the rest of the mansions were closed and we did wait for the trolley to take us back. We had dinner and walked part of the cliff walk at night which was a little spooky but pretty cool only hearing the sound of the ocean and not able to see it.  By the end of the day, Nicole said, "You see one mansion, you've seen them all." Not me I have to see ALL of them.

On my way south from Boston I stopped overnight in Providence to visit Sigel, another camp friend, and get a taste of college life.  I actually got a taste last year when I stayed with Merry, but I still find it fun & fascinating!  We don't have so much of the college-dorm-lifestyle in Australia, so it always seems slightly tv/movie-like to see that this is really how people do college in America. 

So we had dinner, Sigel wrote a paper, and we went to see a movied - King of Kong - it was absolutely hilarious!  It's actually a documentary about the battle over the world-record title for playing Donkey Kong - it was actually quite fascinating, & frustrating, & funny (do you like my alliteration there?) and you should all go see it!