David Kriso
Everyone has their favorite town to visit. Whether it is for a day or a weekend, there’s always something about that town that brings you to your senses. Whether it is for recreation, a little peace of mind, or just that opportunity to get away from the bustle of everyday life, you feel connected to that town in a very special way. My kind of town, which I hold dear to my heart is Newport, RI.
Newport, RI is one of the most charming cities in the northeastern United States. It’s that quaint, historic New England town sitting right by the Atlantic Ocean. There’s simply no better location for such a peaceful town. Newport was founded in the year 1639. During the colonial era, it was the site of ship building and a booming fishing industry, which still exists there today. During the late 1800s, it developed as a summer escape for wealthy families including the Goelets and the Vanderbuilts.
In the twentieth century, Newport became an even more prominent town. The US Naval Base opened just north of downtown. In 1947, Robert Goelet, donated his family’s mansion, Ochre Court to the Sisters of Mercy. Salve Regina College was founded. Presently, Salve Regina University is one of my most prominent colleges on the east coast. In 1969, the Newport Bridge (currently named Claiborne Pell Bridge), was built to connect Newport with its across-the-bay neighbor, Jamestown.
Newport, without a doubt, is a town for everyone to experience once or even twice in their lifetime. There are mansions, great restaurants, four and five-star hotels, and a smorgasbord of shops and department stores. In Newport, there is plenty to offer any curious visitor. Newport entertains visitors from all over the world. “Newport, RI: A city to entertain, educate, and inspire” is set to be completed by late May 2016.
