The Chronicles of Newport

“Go to Narnia. Forget about the Cliff Walk, the Mansions, or Thames Street. Narnia is the place to see around here!”
I had just arrived in Newport, Rhode Island, after driving down there all the way from Boston during rush hour. At the same time, I was tired because of the car ride but also eager to get to know the city a little bit. So I parked my car in the driveway, introduced myself to my host and, a few minutes later, we went out to have dinner and talk about things to do in the area.
That’s when he suggested Narnia, an attraction that wasn’t mentioned in any of the touristic guides I had read before my trip. And I had read many of those! It was my first time going to New England, so I wanted to make the best out of it. Among the many places that I chose to visit, Newport stood out before I had even arrived: too many breathtaking pictures spread all over the internet can have quite an effect! But there I was, talking to somebody who lived at the place, learning about this local hidden gem.
Its actual name is Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. My host and all his friends call it Narnia instead. It is easy to understand why: the place has such a magical atmosphere that it truly deserves the name.
Sachuest Point is home to many animals, like birds, coyotes, and deer, which spend their lives mostly oblivious to human presence. They can be spotted in a few walking trails that border the ocean with its terrific-looking beaches. A few trees here and there and grass all over the floor complete the scene.
I didn’t get to see a lot of animals that day. Maybe the mud-season scared them off, or perhaps they were simply too shy to appear. Whatever the reason was, there were only a few birds spending their time over a rock in the ocean. In fact, I didn’t see so many people either. For most of the time, I was alone. My only company was the vegetation, still covered in snow, the bluest sky, and the warmest sunrays lighting the way.
I spent a whole afternoon contemplating the view, but I feel I could have stayed there forever. To this day, I wish I could just get into my home wardrobe and find myself back to Narnia – I mean, back to Sachuest Point. It is indeed a fantastic place, where beauty and peace meet.