Once the summer retreat of America's upper crust, Newport, Rhode Island has a gorgeous shoreline where captains of industry and captains of sailboats still congregate.
About 80 miles from Boston , Newport also offers ample romantic attractions to keep a couple busy for a weekend.
Something you'll definitely want to do is visit one or more of the glorious Newport mansions, where a century ago the monied class cavorted and their servants kept a stiff upper lip.
While The Breakers is considered the most lavish of the Gilded Era "cottages," Astors' Beechwood Mansion brings the era to life. There costumed performers re-enact those bygone days and also interact with visitors.
The 3.5-mile-long Cliff Walk not only provides great exercise and views of the Bay, it also affords glimpses of several of the mansions.
Sports aficionados have two tony landmarks worth visiting: The International Tennis Hall of Fame is more than a museum; it's a place where you can actually play on the regulation clay courts (do reserve in advance).
The Museum of Yachting is a repository of classic wooden boats and their history at scenic Fort Adams State Park, right on the waterfront, and an ideal place for a romantic picnic.
