Newport, Rhode Island, proves its multigenerational appeal in minutes. Gilded Age mansions double as time-travel scavenger hunts, stroller-smooth cliff promenades line the Atlantic, beaches suit both boogie boarders and toddlers, and sailing lessons begin at age five. Add playgrounds tucked into nearly every neighborhood, a four-season festival calendar, and a dining scene scented by waffle cone bakeries, and you have a coastal escape that shines in sun, wind, or a surprise downpour.
