Our East coast travels are continuing in the most successful way. In Newport, Rhode Island, Steve completed a marathon in his 36th state.

Along the way we explored this historic and beautiful seaside town. In our few days there we walked the famed Cliff Walk to view Gilded Aged mansions that have defined the town for centuries. The Breakers, the Elms, Marble House and others offer a unique trip through years of American history, architecture, and landscape design. We didn’t go inside any of the properties, but peered in through the gates as we strolled the Cliff Walk.

Newport is rooted in a seafaring lifestyle. Visiting the shipyards and forts gave us a sense of what drives this beautiful place. 

Once the marathon was over we traveled south to another historic seaport town: Mystic, Connecticut. Here we toured the Mystic Seaport Museum to learn about all kinds of ships. Whalers, schooners, steamboats, catboats, tugboats, and more are on display at the nation’s leading maritime museum. 

Our friends Cheryl and Alan came up from Old Saybrook for lunch one day and we loved catching up with them. We had lunch in beautiful Stonington and spent all afternoon reminiscing, and of course, planning our next get-together. 

Just north of Mystic, back towards Rhode Island, lies the hamlet of Watch Hill. It’s a community for the rich who seek privacy in contrast to nearby Newport. Famous residents of Watch Hill have included Henry Ford, Clark Gable, and most recently Taylor Swift. Her mansion, Holiday House, stands on the highest point, overlooking the sea. 

As we moved south along the Eastern seaboard, we couldn’t pass up a weekend in “the city.” Yes, visiting New York City with an RV is a bit of a challenge, but we were up to it. We stayed at Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan. The views of NYC were spectacular from the waterfront, and it was an easy train ride to the heart of it all.

You may remember that we lived here for three months back in 2016 just after we retired. During that time we did “all the things.” This visit we decided to just enjoy the city, revisit a few of our favorite haunts, and soak it all in. We had a beautiful weekend for wandering and averaged about seven miles each day. 

Getting in and out of these big cities can be a little challenging but we are doing it. Sometimes a wrong turn or missed exit results in a nice surprise. For example, the Garmin tried to take us across the Key bridge in Baltimore, not knowing the bridge was out due to a ship strike. Our new route took us right past Fort McHenry in Baltimore. That meant one more stamp in the passport book and a little more history. The leaves are at peak color now and we are soaking it all in.