Travel

A Hometown Holiday [@NewportRI]

Cassieby Cassie
•
A Hometown Holiday [@NewportRI]

Iconic Giraffe Tree Makes Fashion Statement – Newport Daily News headline, probably

Sitting by the fire playing board games. Curled up on the couch watching movies. Waking up groggy after late night wrapping to greet anticipating little ones at 6am. Christmas passes differently for every family. Mine happens to be on the busier side of life, with a lot of time spent in the car traveling to visit pretty much every relative we realistically can. But according to the song it’s the holiday season, not just the day, that warrants celebration.

22 years of my life have been spent calling Newport my hometown, but I never take advantage of appreciating it during the holiday season. Being away at college means I miss out on a lot of that festive time at home. We pick out our tree right after Thanksgiving and I don’t see it again until after finals. But some of Newport’s best spots are right at my neighborhood’s fingertips – in the downtown area – so this year I decided to spend a little bit of time walking around this wonderful City by the Sea to gaze upon my favorite December decorations.

I’m no professional photographer, but I wanted to share these spots with you in hopes that they inspire two particular things: 1) you’ll want to come visit this beautiful little seaside haunt next Christmas season and / or 2) you’ll go out on adventures to appreciate your own hometown holidays.

Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
Newport Wharfs get a lot of twinkle light bling around shop windows for Christmas. Not to mention an abundance of trees inside of said windows.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
Everything is prettier with a wreath! – Winston Churchill, probably
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
The entirety of December features garnished boats floating around the harbors – a particular specialty of a seaside Christmas.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
Even our docks get decorated. This one at the end of Bannister’s Wharf houses one brave against the waves Christmas Tree.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
Only in Newport would a giant mast serve as a better decoration than a giant tree. My vote is to keep it lit all year round.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
A dockside skating rink which I’m very glad was brought back for the townspeople to enjoy this year. Plenty of wonderful memories spent teaching my little brother how to skate down here.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
The wave is an iconic Newport monument and if you look closely you’ll see two snuggly feet poking out of it.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
America’s Cup meets Thames Street
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
If you ask me – the mansions on Bellevue need a little more Clark Griswold to them. The Elms was the best decorated in my personal, professional, and holiday emotional opinion.
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
Hometown Hometree
Processed with VSCO with t1 preset
Newport Bridge – the best Christmas lights of them all

To you and yours – have a blessed (in any way, shape, or form) Happy Holidays and keep love in your hearts. Looking forward to sharing more Tales of Casstastrophe with you in 2016!

Leave a Reply