new england adventure: rhode island & connecticut

Leaving to start our journey for home was bitter sweet - we were having such a good time together! 

BUT we still had a few fun stops to make!

K was ready for about 1 more long car ride....

We traveled to the border of Rhode Island and Connecticut and stayed in CT, which was literally 1 minute from RI. 

Keeping travel days really low key for us worked out well! By the time we arrived at the hotel, unpacked, and got Keaton out and about it was time for dinner. Ryan picked out the Dog Watch Cafe and it was really good!! The best part was my key lime pie for dessert - it was Amazing :)

Keaton didn't fuss through one dinner. I think he likes going out to eat...or maybe it's the cute waitresses ;0) 

The next day we headed out bright and early to Newport, Rhode Island to visit The Breakers.

The Breakers is just this little place Cornelius Vanderbilt designed and had built for his family in the late 1800's. 

See....not much of anything special. Haha!

No strollers allowed inside, so K rode with Daddy.

We did a headset self-guided tour and it was really neat! I learned a lot :) No pictures were allowed to be taken inside, but trust me when I say it was incredible. Really a piece of art! There was even a tub that had salt water running to it straight from the ocean - so cool! 

After the tour, we did a quick diaper change in the car {this little guy got changed in the car a.lot.}...

And then walked a portion of the Cliff Walk. This is a view of The Breakers from the Cliff Walk. Wouldn't it be crazy to live there??

It was so beautiful in Rhode Island, very picturesque all along the coast. 

 

We then drove along the coast for a bit, made an emergency bathroom pit stop at the cutest local park, and headed to Stonington, CT for afternoon shopping and walking, followed by dinner in Mystic at Mystic Pizza!

The restaurant didn't look anything like in the movie, but it was playing on a continual loop inside and there were pictures from the film all throughout. It was fun! Pizza was good too :)

We walked down the main street, went into a few shops, and saw the drawbridge go up!

Keaton thought that was pretty awesome - typical boy!

Ice cream at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream Shop and back to the hotel. I think we went out for ice cream like 5 times on our trip!! It's a little embarrassing, but speaks volumes about my love for a little dairy goodness. 

I was up early the next morning and had my things packed before anyone else was awake. On travel days, I liked to get up and going! I also had grocery shopping, unpacking, etc to do once we got home, so the earlier the better!

The drive home was another 5 uneventful hours. I could tell K was getting a little tired of riding during this leg of our trip, but hung in well! The only "situation" we encountered was when I accidentally drove through an EZPASS lane at a random highway toll in NY. It was ridiculous. SO confusing and busy! Hoping to get that squared away soon :)

It was sooooo good to get away with my little family! Having Ryan around 24/7 to help with Keaton was amazing and neat to watch - he's the best Daddy. We all went through some serious vacation withdraw over the next few days though. It was...the worst. 

Can't wait for our next big adventure {which turns out won't be Atlanta anymore...Ryan's training got moved to a later time! Looks like home projects and overtime for Ryan is on the menu}.