Recently, I visited Newport. Living in Rhode Island and not having been to Newport feels like neglecting my duties, so I packed some clothes for my wife and kids and set off. Once I arrived, I immediately understood why people recommend this small town so highly. The smell of the sea, the sunlight, the breeze, and a strangely relaxed atmosphere all hit me at once.

Newport is not just a tourist spot; it perfectly embodies the term 'American resort.' After parking near the harbor, I walked toward Bowen's Wharf, where yachts are lined up, and tourists and locals stroll slowly on the wooden deck. Watching that scene makes you unconsciously slow your pace. Normally, I would have hurried with a cup of coffee in hand, but here, just sitting on a chair and staring at the sea makes time fly by.

The most impressive part was the Cliff Walk. It's a walking path that follows the cliffs, with the Atlantic Ocean stretching endlessly on one side and 19th-century mansions lined up on the other. Walking in the sea breeze, you naturally understand why this town was called a summer retreat for the wealthy. The sound of the waves is right beneath your feet, and the color of the water changes with the time of day. As I walked slowly along that path, my mind felt strangely clear.

After my walk, I returned downtown and had a late lunch of clam chowder and a lobster roll. New England food isn't flashy, but it highlights the flavors of the ingredients, making it easy to enjoy. Especially, eating a lobster roll by the seaside feels completely different from having it in another town. The sunlight, breeze, and sea smell blend in like seasoning.

After the meal, I headed to Bellevue Avenue to check out the mansions. These are summer homes built by America's wealthiest in the past, and just looking at them from the outside is overwhelming in scale and atmosphere. Most are now open like museums, so just touring the exteriors is quite enjoyable. Walking between the mansions, you can really feel that this quiet harbor town was once the center stage of American high society.

As the sun began to set, I returned to the harbor. As the sun slowly descended over the sea, the silhouettes of the yachts darkened one by one, and that view was truly beautiful. There were many tourists, but rather than feeling noisy, it seemed like everyone was quietly enjoying the scenery as if they had come to relax.

Newport isn't flashy. Instead, it has a power that makes you slow down and unwind. When you're tired of the hectic city life, it's a great place to walk, look, eat, and gaze at the sea without a care. I didn't expect this small town, so close to Providence, to provide such great comfort. Next time, I think I'll need to stay for at least one night instead of just a day.