Redwood Creek: Top 25 Picnic Destinations

		FORT ADAMS STATE PARK: Newport's Nautical Treasure
		THE SETTING Poised on the southern tip of Aquidneck Island and bound by water on three sides, Newport is an historical and nautical treasure. During the 19th-century Gilded Age, the city became a popular resort home for old-money families such as the Vanderbilts, Belmonts and Astors, and their "summer cottages" remain Newport's number-one tourist attraction. But there are many more reasons to come to Newport, not the least of which are the fresh air, blue waters and calm beaches that take you miles away from your troubles. Situated at the mouth of the Newport Harbor, Fort Adams State Park affords a gorgeous panoramic view of Newport Harbor and the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. Every summer, thousands come to the park for the annual Jazz, Folk, and Blues Festival - but that is not the only time you should enjoy this beautiful place. Any warm day is perfect for a picnic at Fort Adams. Just find a table or grassy spot overlooking the water and enjoy lunch while basking in the cool bay breezes and watching colorful kites sail above you.
		WHAT TO SEE AND DO The park offers a wide range of activities, from saltwater swimming, fishing and boating to soccer, rugby and kite flying. If you can't get enough of Newport's waterfront, visit nearby Fort Wetherill State Park, situated upon 100-foot granite cliffs across the water from Fort Adams. If you have a day or more to enjoy this tiny city by the sea, go horseback riding on one of Newport's pristine beaches, browse the charming shops in the heart of downtown, or charter a yacht for the afternoon. You can take a drive along breathtaking Ocean Drive, tour Colonial Newport or walk the 3.6-mile Cliff Walk, which provides views of the mansions. More tourist-oriented attractions include the Newport Aquarium, the Norman Bird Sanctuary and Hammersmith Farm, the site of the John and Jacqueline Kennedy's much-photographed wedding.
		HOT TIPS If you can, spend more than a day at Newport, so that you can enjoy all the sites this pretty little town has to offer. Stay at one of the waterside resorts or the intimate bed-and-breakfasts in the heart of town for the full treatment, and combine your outdoor adventure with tours of the some of the city's historical sites. If you're driving in from the outskirts of town, note that parking downtown can be a challenge -- and bring lots of quarters for the meters.
		PHOTO OPS With all its gleaming yachts, blue waters and palatial mansions, this city is one big photo op. After you've snapped enough pictures of the boats crowding Narragansett Bay and the cityscapes from Fort Adams, head into town to record a bit of history. The towering summer homes - including the famous Breakers, Marble house and Rosecliff, which was used for the set The Great Gatsby - are postcard perfect. And a walking tour of the Newport's Colonial District, in the northwest part of town, will reveal enough quaint 18th-century homes, churches, cemeteries and gas lamps to fill several rolls of film. Don't miss Trinity Church on Division Street in Queen Anne Square, a majestic structure that was built in 1726.
		LOCAL SPECIALTIES When one thinks of Newport, visions of clam chowder, New England water crackers and fresh oysters come to mind. In the spirit of the socialites who threw many parties on their Newport balconies, finger sandwiches and iced tea would make nice additions to your Fort Adams picnic basket.