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    Norman Bird Sanctuary

    4.5 (22 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Well, hello.
    Michael D.

    The Bird Sanctuary is a great place to go for a hike. The trails are not to difficult. Going to the end to "hanging rock" is nice. There is a great view of second beach and surrounding area. You never know what you might see on the way. The deer was as surprised as I was on the walk.

    Starla F.

    What a beautiful parcel of land! The sanctuary is not a large space, however, it is well maintained, great trails and gives the sense you are in a larger area footprint than you think. Staff is friendly and cheerful, the price for admission is very reasonable. We were greeted by the showy daffodil field with resident Turkey on display, a Tom and his small flock of hens. We entered the wooded path and met a doe munching on leaf buds. The trails have walkways that are raised in the "swampy" area and the non walkways were easy to traverse. There are a few more challenging spots, but that just added to the sense of being far away from the hustle and bustle of life. They also have some picknick tables near the entrance, which we took advantage of to eat our lunch after our hike. If you are okay with heights, do the Hanging Rock Trail, I am not one of those brave souls though! Last time I walked the Hanging Rock trail I nearly had a heart attack, I am very very very fearful of heights and steep walls. Go. Give to an old and fabulous animal sanctuary, you won't regret it!

    Megan C.

    What ended up being a true highlight of my trip is a spot I never would have gone to had I not had some expert local intel! The name is a little misleading, though there are certainly birds to look at. It is more of a hiking trail meets beautiful views meets "nature" sanctuary. You arrive at the visitor center for maps and a check in, then the beautiful grounds are yours to explore. You can head all the way into the sanctuary are do some light rock climbing for amazing views of second beach and the ocean. Don't skip this if you're vacationing in Newport!

    Signage
    Joyce H.

    Well-preserved sanctuary with multiple trails that take around ~1 hour each. Most of the trails are paved and there is signage at every crossroad (although it can be a bit hard to see sometimes since it is wood on wood). John at the welcome center was super informative and recommended paths for us based on what we wanted to see and hear. They also had baby chicks in the welcome center to see. They have a filtered water station and the restrooms were clean. We were able to see a blue Jay, robin, and hear a wood pecker (lots of other birds as well that we weren't able to identify). Make sure to check for ticks! Two of them got on me while we were hiking the trails.

    Donuts at the Harvest Fair!
    Morgan C.

    We are so lucky to have a wonderful wildlife preserve like Norman Bird Sanctuary right here on the island for locals and visitors alike to enjoy! While the trails are wonderful for hiking and they offer an extensive amount of conservation and outdoor education programs for all ages, we would never miss the annual Harvest Fair, which occurs every year in October, just when the temperatures chill and the autumn leaves fall. The Fair is a fun and inexpensive weekend festival that includes everything from rustic carnival games and pony rides for kids to a giant tent chock full of vendors and artisans from Rhode Island and beyond. Be sure to carve out some time if you plan to go shopping - it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of gorgeous handmade things for sale! They have everything - art prints, jewelry, housewares, even knitted cozies that fit an ice cream pint. I mean.. truly awesome. Pro tip: if you visit on the second day of the festival, most of the vendors will happily haggle for prices with you. I got an awesome handmade pewter bat barrette, and the owner let me have it for almost half the price! Don't be afraid to negotiate! The foodies won't be disappointed, either! I've been going to the Harvest Fair for years, and this season's had the most food vendors I've seen in recent times. Come hungry! There's vegan burgers and both vegetarian and meaty pulled pork sandwiches, homemade mini donuts, pizza, tacos, and even a small truck that sells cupcakes out of it! Wow! I was impressed. We got the donuts from Sweet B's, which has been popping up all over RI. I'm a huge fan. The powdered sugar donuts were to die for. While the Norman Bird Sanctuary is awesome to visit any time of year, if you find yourself in Rhode Island in the fall, you have to check out the Harvest Fair! It's the best way to kick off Spooky Season in RI!

    Beautiful bird sanctuary in Middletown, RI.
    Lisa L.

    Went here with the family in early July. It is quite striking and serene. Lots of walking paths with easy hiking trails. Stroll past fields full of bird houses, and explore paths winding through the woods. There are lots of little surprises along the way like cool views and wildlife. There's a welcome center, museum, and grounds that include fields, wetlands, and a forest. There are educational programs run here but we didn't participate in them, instead we bought trail passes -- $7 for adults -- and walked around at our leisure. There was plenty of parking, and bathrooms at the trail head. Definitely a cool place to check out if you're in Middletown.

    Kristen S.

    Beautiful place. $7 to walk the trails. We were able to do all the trails in about two hours. Kind of muddy in some spots so would recommend waiting a couple days after rain to go. We only saw ducks and blue jays. Wish we saw more. Cute gift shop. Plenty of parking. Clean bathrooms. Would come back during a different time of year.

    Brian S.

    A very cool place especially in the snow The Norman Bird Sanctuary has 300 acres of a wide variety of terrain. Ponds, streams, woods, fields, and lots of boulders and rocky ledges. Even some impressive views of the ocean and salt marshes. It was establish by Mable Norman Cerio in 1949 as a place where birds and other critters could live out there lives without being bothered by humans. Of course no hunting is allowed here and people are encourage to walk softly. No biking, jogging, collecting or general screwing around and making noise is tolerated. Just a cool place to see, feel, smell and experience nature. In the winter the hiking can be tough because of the heavy snow but but the peace and quiet makes it worthwhile. Not very people come here in the snow so you can have the place pretty much to your self. The trail up to the summit of hanging rock gets extremely slippery and difficult in the ice and snow so great care must be taken so you don't fall over a cliff or ledge and end up as part of the terrain. The ridge trail is made of rocks called purgatory conglomerate or puddingstone and is of ancient volcanic origin and has a very unusually texture and appearance. Beautiful views of the ocean and surrounding area can be seen in every direction once you reach the top. The only possible negative is the five dollar entrance charge. Lots of other cool places to hike around here are free but the Bird Sanctuary offers numerous educational programs and workshops for schools and community groups and the money goes toward a very worthy cause. I can think of a lot worse things to spend the five dollars on that a great hike though a very cool place.

    Golden-crowned Kinglet from Norman Bird Sanctuary 20201129

    Went for a birding walk at Norman Bird Sanctuary Sunday, 11/29/2020! I was promised a Golden-crowned Kinglet with a crown and our guide did not disappoint. I think his name was Jake? Darn I am too old to remember. I will post the picture....

    View from Hanging Rock
    Becky M.

    I have lived in RI for most of my life. I did not know about the Sanctuary until this summer. What a retreat! Nestled into space between 2nd and 3rd Beach in Newport / Middletown, the Sanctuary is land that was donated by a family and preserved. There are marked hiking paths that take you out to above the beaches, through the ponds in the area and through the quiet of nature. It is hard to believe how close you are to civilization when the sounds fade and you are surrounded by rustling leaves and birds chirping. The hikes and trails are beginner to low-level intermediate. There are a few spots to climb rock formations -- but nothing that needs ropes. The Sanctuary provides educational programming, bird watching, film events, and even a dinner under the stars event. You can become a member and visit as often as you like, or pay a $6 entry fee per visit. There is a Welcome Center and trail maps. The trails are well marked. There's few farm animals (chickens and bees) -- lovely gardens that are maintained by volunteers -- and plenty of pollinating birds and insects to enjoy. A retreat in the midst of Middletown. We saw lots of folks hiking and a few running too. A great way to enjoy being outdoors. I would love to visit in fall.

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    Review Highlights - Norman Bird Sanctuary

    It has the most picturesque scenes of Easton's Beach on Hanging Rock, and also lots of small ponds and sites along the way.

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    Paradise Farmhouse - Walk to beach

    Paradise Farmhouse

    (1 review)

    Just went here in October for a Spark of Life retreat. What a beautiful location. Each bedroom has…read moreits own bathroom, the linens were plentiful and big and fluffy. Each bathroom was really nice as well as the bedrooms. Three of us stay in the room with three bunk beds. Super clean, the toiletries, i.e.. the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, and hand lotion were phenomenal! They were from a local company that makes their own aromatherapy products. I wanted to buy some, but was unable to get to the store in Newport while it was opened. Probably can look on the internet, but I think it's pretty expensive. This place was really amazing and really you couldn't ask for more. Great kitchen, great dining room, great living room, great middle space, bedrooms and outdoor space. Great space, beautiful wood floors, the heat works, beautiful views, the house is right on the property of the bird sanctuary and right next to the gift shop. Beautiful location and easy walk to the beach and just a beautiful Serene peaceful location! Thank you!

    From the owner: Perfect for eco-conscious families, friends and companies to custom build their own retreat…read more Explore our beautiful beaches & hiking trails or choose to incorporate birding, Norman Bird Sanctuary's public programs, camps, guided nature walks and off-site excursions. Our Farmhouse can be rented for a three night minimum from April - October and for a two night minimum from November - March. Week long stays, Monday - Sunday are available as well. The rental rate is $1600.00 per night and the Farmhouse sleeps up to 16 guests.

    Greenvale Vineyards - Vidal Blanc

    Greenvale Vineyards

    (202 reviews)

    $$

    Stopped by the Vineyard on Saturday for their Harvest Festival! First time there and it will not…read morebe my last. Fantastic wine to go with amazing views. A perfect place to sit back and enjoy your day. The festival had artisans and food vendors. It was a fun time! A few tips- the festival starts at 11- I would recommend you arrive before 12noon. Also, the bathroom line was long.

    Stay away from the big corporate places and absolutely go here !…read moreSo I'm already planning my child's wedding here and she doesn't even have a boyfriend. We accidentally stumbled upon this insanely amazing vineyard on our way back to the airport from Newport. It is off the beaten path and right on the river. The staff is beyond friendly and really knew their wine. They have an extensive wine list. I would highly suggest getting the flights. At the particular time we were there if you bought two different flights, you were only missing out on tasting three different wines. If you are a Chardonnay lover, they have four different types right now oak undo in a few more. They have one wine right now that screams Thanksgiving dinner. They are all back is to die for. You were right on the river and they have bonfires some nights as well. Plenty of inside and outside seating of course they do a wine club which I still may go back and do. I truly cannot say enough about this place. It just seems like you're in a rustic German village drinking wine looking out on a a vineyard on one side and a beautiful river on the other.

    Queen Anne's Loft - Dining room with large french doors that open for an open air feel

    Queen Anne's Loft

    (5 reviews)

    I'm a little late to this review, but it had to be done. Our wedding was 9/22/24 at Queen Anne's…read moreLoft. My husband and I wanted a venue that was both intimate and romantic. Queen Anne's was exactly that for us. We had about 75 guests, and were comfortable, but cozy. Here are some words that come to mind when I think of the space: chic, vintage, intentional, beautiful, versatile and lovely. Amanda, the owner, was great from the start. Patient, kind and helpful. Her experience was evident throughout our entire planning process. She worked with us to up to the very end, easing our little anxieties and assisting us with whatever we needed. The staff at Queen Anne's was amazing! We were so pleased with the above and beyond service. A room flip was needed after the ceremony, for the reception. It was done in a timely, efficient fashion, and for that, we (and our guests), were so grateful. Food was exactly what we expected- and delicious. We opted for food stations, rather than a formal sit-down dinner. Appetizer platters, salad, sliders and pizza. Everything was fantastic. No complaints from us or our guests. We had a blast! Our wedding was everything we wanted and more. Queen Anne's and Amanda have so much to do with our unforgettable experience! 15/10 recommend. P.S. Photos by Mat & Ash Photography (the best)

    We had our wedding at Queen Anne's Loft and I couldn't be happier. It was a cozy winter ceremony,…read morethe staff were attentive, the ambiance was amazing. It perfected suited our smaller wedding, about 50 guests in all (Not including our musical quartet), and never felt rushed, cramped, or inconvenienced. The food was delicious, served timely to everyone with no issues. But the chandelier was the beautiful centerpiece highlighting the warm glow for an evening ceremony. Amanda was always available for any questions and there on the event day to ensure it started without a hitch. Would highly recommend this venue for anyone looking for a romantic and enchanting spot in Newport.

    Norman Bird Sanctuary - venues - Updated June 2026

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