N is National Recreation Trail, Newport Cliff Walk

On Day 14 of the A - Z Challenge, N is for National Recreation Trail, Newport Cliff Walk

Have you ever had one of those days where you planned to do something and it wound up being one of the best times you ever had?  

The Cliff Walk in Newport hugs the shore and is a walk in front of the opulent Newport Mansions.  I've lived in Rhode Island most of my life and have never walked this path.  Late last summer, I made plans with a friend to go with me, David and Michael for a walk along the cliff walk.  I brought lunch for the boys while Linda and I planned to have dinner on my deck when we returned home.  

At the beginning of the Cliff walk was the Chanler Hotel and Spiced Pear Restaurant.  I remember reading about the Spiced Pear in the paper a while back.  It was highly recommended.  I said to Linda, "We should stop for a drink after, I heard this place was really good", and she agreed.

The walk was a lot of fun, we peeked over fences, walked along the ocean and got a little exercise.

After our walk we went into the Spiced Pear.  Lunch was ending in 20 minutes and hardly anyone was in the restaurant.  We decided to have an appetizer and drink and David asked if they could eat here.  I figured it was a highly reputable restaurant in Newport, perhaps they could accommodate the allergies.  The waiter checked with the chef and he said he could make them a turkey wrap.  They couldn't eat the fries, but he gave them chips and a pickle.  They were thrilled.  Linda and I ordered pear french martinis and grilled salmon salads.  The food was tremendous, the kids were thrilled to be eating out, and Linda and I were thrilled that the boys were thrilled.  We enjoyed a leisurely lunch, all by ourselves, and laughed and laughed.  I texted my husband photos of the boys eating and he texted back "where are you?"  I texted "Spiced Pear".  He came back with "THAT'S THE MOST EXPENSIVE RESTAURANT IN NEWPORT".  Linda and I were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe.  "I know"  I texted back.

After I went to the ladies'  room, the boys went to the men's room and the waiter brought the check. When I looked at it, I burst out laughing.  Linda asked how much and I was laughing so hard, I couldn't even speak, so I handed it to her.  She started laughing too.  The waiter must have thought we were crazy.  We planned on stopping for chocolate sushi (the most OMG desert I have EVER had in my life) in Jamestown on the way home.  For some reason I googled the restaurant and they were closed that day.  I had paid the check but motioned over for the waiter and requested a desert menu.  The boys returned from the mens room, their eyes wide.  "There's a TV in the bathroom!!!"   I asked "What was on?"  They said in awe, "ESPN".  

Ladies room sink

Linda and I had espresso and cappuccino and we split a "lollipops" desert! 

We seriously laughed all the way home.  Everyone had a great time.  We never expected a simple walk to be so much fun.  The food was great, the company was the greatest, and the men's room had a TV!  My credit card got a good workout!  And...when we got home, I didn't have to cook!