Early October proved to be the perfect time to make my first visit to Newport.  The weather was cooperative: warm, cloudless days ideal for walking and exploring.  I was delighted by the old part of the town and its streets of 18th century houses and good public buildings.  Newport’s glory, however, is its cliff walk of three and a half miles, which offers lovely views of the ocean.

The many hideous mansions that line the walk  – bloated monuments to the hubris, self-importance, and poor taste of the 19th century plutocrats who built them – don’t spoil the experience.  If you love architecture, you can safely ignore these mostly horrible pastiches of European grandeur and take instead a stroll down Spring Street, where you’ll find several perfect expressions of the 18th century vernacular style.