From 1824 to 1950, soldiers lived, worked, and warred at Fort Adams, the largest coastal fort and the second-largest stone fort in the United States. Now it's open to the public for tours and special events. You can visit the officer's quarters,

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From 1824 to 1950, soldiers lived, worked, and warred at Fort Adams, the largest coastal fort and the second-largest stone fort in the United States. Now it's open to the public for tours and special events. You can visit the officer's quarters, climb the bastions for panoramic views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, walk the 6.5-acre parade field, or explore the tunnels. Inside the restored casemates (structures from which guns are fired) you can view an exhibit explaining the progression of the area’s defense system from 1704 to 2004. Military reenactments and other special events, including outdoor concerts, are held in the summer and fall.

Fort Adams also features a beachside park where you can spend the day swimming, boating, fishing, or tossing a Frisbee. Sailboats and kayaks are available for rent, and serious boat lovers may want to visit the Museum of Yachting, also on the park’s grounds.

You can take a water taxi or ferry to a nearby village or Newport Harbor for lunch, or bring along a picnic (there are tables available). A variety of transportation options (water taxi, taxi, trolley, bus) make it easy to visit the fort and then move on to your next destination without having to take your car out of its parking place at the hotel. But if you want to drive, parking at the fort is plentiful and inexpensive.

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