Things to Do in Head of Westport

Segway of Newport makes the world smaller by equipping customers with wheeled transports ideal for exploring Newport’s beauteous scenery. Crowned by TripAdvisor voters as the town's best tour company, Segway of Newport offers regular guided group tours atop Segways, Ultra Motor electric bicycles, and Dahon folding bikes. After a brief training session, patrons masterfully steer Segways toward Thames Street and onto scenic 10-mile Ocean Drive. Here, they coast past Newport Country Club and Gooseberry Beach before peering over the Cliff Walk's jagged edges and pondering whether the ocean is bouncy. Ultra Motor electric bikes reach speeds up to 20 miles per hour, driven by feet or their own enchanted power, whereas 7-speed cruisers or 21-speed mountain bikes allow riders to set a pace of their choosing.

Bikes & Kites rents and sells a wide variety of outdoorsy goodies and gear, including bikes, kites, Frisbees, sunglasses, beach accessories, and refreshments. With today's side deal, you and a friend will get to take a three-hour, self-guided tour of the seaside atop your choice of bike (the Easton's Beach concession offers 21-speed hybrid bikes or cozy beach cruisers). From Bikes & Kites, take your two-wheeler down the back roads on a leisurely ride to Sachuest Point, or glide through downtown Newport, taking in the town's best views. For a more removed roundabout, pack your rented pedals in your car and unload in Bristol to ride the scenic West Bay Trail, winding through towns along the bay, woodlands, and marshes.

Since he was 14 years old, Matt Gineo has heard the sea’s siren call. As a youth he joined the Sea Scouts, where he learned how to sail, tow, and safely traverse the water. Now the owner of Oldport Marine Services, he maintains a fleet of boats that tour Newport’s rocky coastline daily, showing off the area’s sparkling waters and natural beauty.

Harbor tours work their way up the shoreline, dotted with lighthouses, historical mansions, and bottles containing unread pirate grocery lists. As boats pass by sights such as the Newport Bridge, Jamestown, and the early-19th-century Fort Adams, guides share facts and anecdotes about Newport’s historical role in the pirate world and the slave trade. As tours travel back down the coast, the narrative returns to the present, with tales about the America's Cup and the city’s success as a fishing center.

Oldport Marine Services diversifies itself by offering a number of other aquatic services. Staffers build and repair boats, install engines, and run a water taxi that zips customers across the city faster than riding on the back of a sea serpent.

Norman Bird Sanctuary spans more than 300 acres and seven miles of hiking trails where binoculared bird lovers can spy on local and migratory birds. Hikers can explore the woods or climb Hanging Rock to feast on views of the ocean. In addition, the Sanctuary organizes public programs such as hands-on educational events for children and evening lectures for adults.

Incandescent fish, turtles, and dolphins illuminate the underwater-themed wonder worlds of Oceans 18’s glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course and two lanes of mini bowling that provide indoor fun year-round. Oceans 18 keeps links-lovers entertained with a full-size golf simulator while mini bowling promises all the fun of the alley without the hassle of wearing rental shoes or a bedazzled bowling glove. Patrons can also carry on their competitive spirit in Oceans 18’s extensive arcade.