After having tea with the Astor's at Beechwood, Heidi, my ten year old niece from Tacoma, Washington mentioned that she wanted to do two things when we were in Newport: (1) to climb one of the big beech trees ("Auntie Bobbie, they are just the best climbing trees!") and (2) play in the surf. I thought both could be accomplished on the noted "pathway by the sea", Cliff Walk. This 3.5- mile pathway, a National Recreation Trail, starts at Easton's Beach, or First Beach and extends all the way down to Bailey's Beach. At the beginning the trail is relatively easy because it is paved but after the Vanderbuilt's Chinese Tea House, near Ruggles Avenue, the trail becomes more rough and rugged, definitely not for a silly girl with a broken toe. But then again, I am a very determined girl, so we pushed on and did the whole walk to Bailey's. Come hike with a ten year old....and you'll see why hiking can be so much fun.
The first thing I knew we had to find was a "Big Climbing Tree"....Heidi had her mind set on it.
Near one of the mansions we found another "big tree". 
"Auntie Bobbie, this one is just fantastic to hang from. Watch me, I can hang upside down." As she was hanging, she looked at me and paid me the biggest compliment: "When I grow up, Auntie, I want to be a good photographer just like you." Ummm, I thought, now I'm no longer a teacher, a photographer I will be.
Once she had expanded some energy, Heidi was ready to look at the details of the house.
"Auntie Bob, is that statue naked?"
"It does appear that way, doesn't it. Maybe all his clothes got dirty from climbing trees and doing somersaults on the grass. They are probably in the laundry."
Back down on the Trail, I had to fullfil a second wish....
Now that we had walked the length of Cliff Walk, it was time to head back to the car. Our feet were weary, Papa's legs were stiff, and we were starving, so we oped to walk back to our car going down Bellevue Avenue....
We found this cute little hidden garden....
and this wonderful golden tree....
and some lovers stealing some intimate moments.
And of course, we found some "gilded remnants" of an age long ago.
Hope you enjoyed our walk today....now you can understand why Cliff Walk is a National Recreation Trail....it has everything...natural beauty, spectacular views, mansions, and beautiful beach trees, the kind just waiting to be climbed. This was just a snapshot of what you can do in Newport, R.I.
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Comments: 79
what a wonderful journey. what wonderful pictures. what a wonderful niece. :)
Heidi is just a hoot. Before heading off to Hyannisport with her Mom and Papa she was froggin' in the cranberry bogs. She is just full of life.
In the morn, Papa and I leave for Maine...Heidi and her Mom will be house-sitting for us and taking care of the kitties.
Fantastic, Bob! I don't know how you get so many great shots into one photo essay and making it look so easy. Do they let you get up close to these mansions? Aren't they somebody's home?
Faith, many of the Mansions are now run by the Newport Preservation Society and you can buy a ticket...or a combination of tickets for several houses. We normally only tour 2 in a day...too much opulence for me. Your eyes get tired. Alng the Cliff Walk you can see some of the other Mansions up close.
Great photo essay!
Thanks for stopping by John...I'm glad you enjoyed it. I mainly did this for Heidi's Dad, who is in Afganistan. Just another window he can have into his daughter's life.
Fantastic photos! I am glad your niece is enjoying her visit.
She is a riot. Yes, you should go for a day trip...it's only 45 minutes away from you.
A very lovely photo essay. It looks like Heidi had a fabulous day.
I do believe she did have a fine day and she slept like a log...actually all three of them slept in till 10 or so. Me? I was up at 5, my normal time. That's actually when I wrote both essays about Newport.
This would have been heaven for me Bob. A little of everything in this walk. I'm afraid I would have been up the tree right along with your niece. My kind of girl there. This was truly lovely.
My kind of girl, too...much like I was when I was her age.
This was great to see. I am glad she had a wonderful time.
Oh and once a teacher, always a teacher.
You are right, Grems....once a teacher, always a teacher....but I must say, I was pretty excited when she called me a photographer.
Reminds me that Newport is such such such a great place........
And you need to go there, Kathryn...it really is a fun day trip.
Featured in the The Triple Name Club
Thanks for the feature. Now I need to get back to packing. 5 A.M. is going to come really early.
Spectacular photo essay. Heidi's dad will probably cherish this. She has such a wonderful smile. The sights are amazing. So nice to see what it looks like some place else.
Well, the bags are packed and out in the car, so I guess we'll be leavin' for Maine in 40 minutes.
I think David will enjoy these pictures when he sees them.
You did get some absolutely incredible photos. It looks to have been a delightful adventure.
It was a delightful adventure.
What an amazing trail to go on, you do see a bit of everything there. How fun to be there with your niece too~
Thanks for stopping by, Priscilla.
A great photo-essay tour, Bob, that I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in my chair, coffee and ciggy to hand. Ah, hiking doesn't get much better than this.
Of course you would enjoy a hike from the comfort of your chair with coffee and a cig in hand.
It's the perfect way, Bob!
But you need to get out of that chair, Mag, and keep up your "walking routine", September will roll around pretty damn fast....or at least, I hope it does.
I am still trudging, Bob, with gritted teeth.
Stop gritting your teeth, Mag, and enjoy the movement. You really need to get an IPod and play some "uplifting" music and trudgery will turn to ecstacy.
Magi, I think you should get up and dance too...rain or no.
I trudge, trudge, trudge even through the rain, Renda. LOL
A chocolate doughnut sounds good, Jean!
Me, too, Magi! Oh! And a chocolate doughnut... :o)
**DUNK**
You can hike with a chocolate donut!
What a great photo essay! I enjoyed the walk very much and your niece is precious! She's definitely full of life & her smile is infectious! The picture of you and her on the rock by the ocean is absolutely wonderful!!
Heidi's smile is infectious.
You are quite the photographer. I'd like to move in and be a carefree caretaker there. Yeah.
AS LONG AS YOU CAN COOK, YOU CAN GO WITH ME ANYWHERE, jAN. Funny thing is...Fran brought to Flye Point her grand-daughter Alyssa and her partner Kate. The meals we have been having...tonight Kate made stir-fry and a raspberry meregue pie.....ummmmm.
My two cooks left for Boston this A.M. at 6....Alyssa is teaching summer school and Kate has class this afternoon. Hop on a plane, Jan, we have two free bedrooms at the "Jib".
Utterly Fabulous essay! Thanks so much, really, I needed that today :) There is something incredibly healing in just the sight of children enjoying Nature. Trees are special favorites of mine amongst the endless array of Teachers found in Nature...
On an editing note, this delightful essay needs a little rearranging around the middle so we can view all of your lovely photos easily. Also, did you truly mean "after she had expanded some energy", as in to extend in one or more directions/become larger in size, volume or quantity/exaggerate/elaborate.... or did you mean "expended" as in spent; used up; exhausted?
LoL 'Cause... Most kids I know can both expand and expend! I'll be back later to peruse your wonderful pics at length when I can truly appreciate them all.
:) wishing you laughter
I did mean expended, thanks for the edit.
Elizabob...you are a photographer and still a teacher, your walls have just disappeared. What a lovely walk. Lucky niece!
My walls have disappeared, that is true...but you are right, I'll always be a teacher.
You know all the good spots, Bob.
You should see the places we went to today....real Down Maine places.... I took lots of pictures but I can't do anything with them till I get back to Mass next week.
I loved your journey. It was wonderful and your sharing it with us was even more wonderful. Thanks you very much.
Thanks Lee for stopping by. We are on a new journey this week...the coast of Maine. Look for some really neat photo/essays next week. Don't have the ability to download pictures here.
Great photos! I remember when I used to climb trees as a kid. That feels so long ago!
Thanks for stopping by Stephanie. I am a kid at heart so when Heidi mentioned climbing trees, I could well understand her need. She is a real Tomboy and enjoys doing really physical activities.
Oh what beautiful seaside and rocks and trees and flowers and... I love this. But the climbing tree is best!
You sure did get some great pictures here! Tree climbing was my favorite thing to do when I was a kid. I fell out of many. I guess that explains it all.
What a fantastic journey. The shots, all of them, are wonderful. I especially like the poses the two had while the photos were taken....those will be worth hanging on to forever.
The mansions are beautiful. A town where I have some clients has some wonderful, very old houses.....more the victorian persuasion and all historical. I have got to find time to stop and do a "photo shoot" of them.
Heidi and her Mom Kristen have a really close relationship. David, Kristen's husband, has been away "half of Heidi's lifetime) with Iraq, Afganistan and 9-11.
It is good they have a tight bond, but sad that David has to be away so much....
Came back to enjoy these again. Good thing you didn't go when it was sotrming although you might have met Roy there.
Throughout the day, I must admit, I was on the lookout for Roy...knowing he haunts Newport with his camera, I thought we might run into him.
Very nice I live in RI
and have only been there one time it is very nice
nice to meet you
Jim Denice Warwick RI
Hi Jim...nice to meet you. Yes, you should take a trip down to Newport...lots to see and do.
Fantastic photos. I'm head'n for Maine too. Maybe we'll run into eachother!
I don't think so...we just got back from 9 days in Maine. I need to tend my gardens.
Beautiful photos! Now that you have retired I hope to see more of your beautiful photos.
Yes, yes, now I am RETIRED and as one of my students said "Now that you are grown up, you can be an artist." Maybe not an artist but I will have time to travel and take pictures.
Congrats on your Zoomit win!
Wonderful photo essay, elizabeth!
Congrats on your Zoomit win!
congradulations....
Gorgeous photo essay
Congratulations on your Zoomit win
Great photos & essay.
Congrats on your Zoomit win!
Wonderful Bob. Congratulations.
What a wonderful summer adventure, Bob ;-) I feel so lucky to be invited along!
Those beech trees are outstanding! Congrats on your Zommit win!! ;-)
What a beautiful photo essay and wonderful places to explore and enjoy. You had the best companion too, the eyes and excitement of a child who appreciates all of these wonderful pieces of beauty to add something very special to your experience.
Congratulations on your Zoomit win.
I'm back with congratulations, Elizabeth.
such a great place and a fine photography!
Thank you Buzzy. I feel honored that you chose this photo/essay.
A beautiful place and a lovely day for you. Congratulations on your summer stuff win!
Beautiful photos and the place is even lovelier than I remembered. Thanks for the tour.
Mz E - once a teacher - always a teacher. My grandfather's students visited him for as long as he lived. He was gifted like you.
Photography is a wonderful creative outlet, I can vouch for the pleasure I receive from photographing my surroundings.
CONGRATS on your zoomit win!
Beautifully done! Congratulations on your Zommit win!!