A Weekend at Gurney’s

You may have heard, but if you haven’t, the Gurney’s you know and love from the Hamptons set down roots in Newport, making for a perfect New England getaway. Last month, I took their team up on the offer to stay for the weekend, and ended up having an awesome time. Between the stunning location, super tasty dining options, and the Gurney’s service we have all come to know and love, it’s sure have you wishing you didn’t have to leave at the end of your stay.

So, where do I begin… obviously with the food, what else?! For our lunch, we plopped down on the patio at The Pineapple Club and indulged in some serious raw bar, and shareable plates – perfect for a brunch or an early start to the weekend. P.S. I definitely recommend the Negroni Fresco to really get your weekend started right. The real star of the culinary show was dinner at Scarpetta. Oh my sweet baby Jesus… I can see why this place is packed to the brim every night. Even if you are down in Newport for a day, this restaurant is a must-visit. Hands down some of the best service, ambiance, and cuisine you’ll find in Newport. I did put my camera away for the evening an didn’t manage to snap pics, but sit down and try it, and trust me when I say, your taste buds will do all the talking for me. Wow.

After dinner, we split a bottle of wine in our room, and caught the notorious Newport sunset from our balcony with a prime view of the Jamestown bridge. Later that night, we made our way over to The Landing, where we inevitably ran into friends and danced to the live band until the wee hours. 

The next day was spent relaxing by the pool. Copper pineapple drinks and friend food abound, making for the perfect Sunday recovery spot… We didn’t stay all day though, as prior to heading to Newport we purchased tickets to Newport Polo – a must if you’re around for a weekend. With a bottle of champagne in one hand and cheesy fries in the other, you could just grab a spot on the lawn and take in the match. This isn’t your typical polo experience. Folks bring oodles of snacks, drinks, and lawn chairs & blankets for the ultimate viewing comfort. To be honest, I didn’t really know what was going on (I’m sure that makes my British family members cringe – sorry guys!), but the point is just to go and hang out and have a good time. Switching gears from horses to horse power, I was super excited to try out Maven – a car sharing app from Chevrolet. I don’t have a car in Boston (for those of you who don’t know, parking is absolutely nuts and impossible in the city), so I needed a way to make it down to Newport in a way that suited my schedule. That’s where Maven comes in. You can borrow cars by the hour or day, which is perfect for those of us who need a flexible schedule for a weekend getaway. Your phone ends up being your key, so once you get within 30 feet or so of your car, you just open the app and you’re on your way. Pro tip: if you are prone to your phone dying, bring an extra battery. A dead phone means no horse power for you. 

If you are in the market for a car sharing service, I highly recommend checking out Maven. They have locations all over, and the service is pretty intuitive. Plus, what other car sharing service has a Cadillac on hand?! Needless to say, this made the drive from Boston to Newport and back pretty fun.

Definitely sad to leave Gurney’s after a fun weekend, but maybe this will inspire your next weekend getaway to Newport! Have any other must-do’s while in this nautical lover’s paradise? Tell me in the comments!