Established in 1965, Fort Adams State Park spans 200 acres and preserves Fort Adams and several other historic landmarks. Here are four tips for visiting the state park to ensure your experience is unforgettable, and not for the wrong reasons.
1. Bring Your Walking Shoes
People wear all sorts of shoes to the famous park. However, they’re often not appropriate for the situation. When you tour the fort and surrounding historic sites, you’ll do a lot of walking.
Make sure your shoes are comfortable enough to walk for an hour during the guided tour. This tour will give you a high-level overview of the fort’s history during its active period from 1799 to 1953 and whet your appetite for more education.
2. Make Time to Tour the Eisenhower House
The park is open from sunrise to sunset every day. Be aware of what time the sun will set on the day you plan to go and make sure you leave plenty of time on your scheduled day to tour the Eisenhower House. Formerly known as Quarters Number One of Fort Adams or Commandant’s Residence, this stately mansion was constructed in 1873.
This sprawling Victorian-style home was first inhabited by General Henry Jackson Hunt after George C. Mason & Son constructed it. Today, it is called the Eisenhower House because President Eisenhower made it his summer residence between 1958 and 1960. Touring this house is like stepping back decades into the past, forgetting momentarily all of the stressors in your life.
3. Stay for the Best Sunset in Newport
You should visit Fort Adams in the late afternoon at least once. The sunset from the west side of the Bay Walk is the most beautiful in the entire city. The Walk takes you along Narragansett Bay’s picturesque East Passage and provides unobstructed views of the sun setting over Jamestown. Be sure your phone or favorite camera is charged so you can take pictures of Clingstone and the Castle Hill, Beavertail, and Rose Island lighthouses.
Though the sun sets in the west, it’s also worth it to stroll down the East Side of the Bay Walk which overlooks Newport Harbor. Across the harbor, you will see the New York Yacht Club, easily identifiable by its white and green awning, the Ida Lewis Yacht Club, the Newport Waterfront straight to the East of the state park, and Goat Island.
4. Go Between the July 4th Weekend and Labor Day
Between July 4th weekend and Labor Day every year, you can take a 90-minute tour of the fort and the rest of the state park in a golf cart. If you think you’ll forget, put it on your calendar. You won’t regret your decision to schedule this special tour.
When you visit Fort Adams, be sure to bring comfortable shoes, make time to tour the Eisenhower House, tour the park in a golf cart, and take in the most beautiful sunset in Newport. For help to get into a better vehicle, call Flood Mazda now. See you soon!
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