Travel

Strike it rich in Newport

Ah Newport, that quintessential New England resort town, so charming, so blue-blood, so expensive! That’s definitely true during summer — when the streets teem with Helly Hansen-outfitted yachters and well-heeled ladies in head-to-toe Tory Burch. But in low season, which stretches into early May, this Rhode Island destination relaxes its attitude and its prices, making it ideal for a quick jaunt.

A ticket on Amtrak to Kingston, RI, is as low as $57 each way — and in three hours you’ll be at the station. Unfortunately, you’ll then have to spring for a $60 taxi ride to Newport, unless you want to be on a local bus for an hour.

Head to the Cliff Walk, the famous 3 ¹/₂-mile path that hugs the shoreline of Easton Bay and the Atlantic. You’ll be one of the few people out — besides a small contingent of very brave surfers — soaking up the commanding ocean vistas, with waves smashing dramatically into the rocky shore. Peek over the hedges and admire the enormous Gilded Age mansions of America’s richest families: the Vanderbilts (the Breakers, Marble House), the Astors (Beechwood) and Doris Duke, whose Rough Point home commands Newport’s best views.

If it gets too chilly, tour one of these spectacular “summer cottages”; The Vanderbilts’ mansions are open year-round, while you’ll have to wait until late April or May for the others to open. (And while fewer are open, they’re also far less crowded.)

Want get a taste of what it’s like to live a tycoon? Stay at the opulent circa-1870s Chanler at Cliff Walk, a member of the prestigious Preferred Hotel Group and Newport’s only hotel situated right on the walkway (thechanler.com).

Each of the 20 rooms evoke a particular time period or theme — so take your pick: Maybe it’s the Gothic room (swathed in deep purples and medieval wood arches), or the recently renovated Regency (where you can sleep beneath a $7,000 silk bedspread and enjoy a private terrace) or the natty Nantucket (nautical touches, plus an outdoor hot tub with ocean views). For as little as $299, you can enjoy the top-floor Greek Revival room, with a queen bed, gas fireplace, ocean views and a walkout deck. (In July, the same room swells to $649.)

You’ll also get a break on a gourmet meal: The Chanler’s upscale Spiced Pear restaurant offers a Winter Culinary Comfort menu, with three courses for just $32 (a two-course lunch is $18). Chef Thomas Duffy changes it up frequently; recent items have included a citrus crab-cake appetizer, an entree of braised short rib with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts and a creme brulee with a peanut-butter tartlet for dessert.