MrMikeB

Review of International Tennis Hall of F...

Not tennis fans, but we kept up with the big games...

Not tennis fans, but we kept up with the big games, decided to go here on a 3 day Newport RI stay. WARNING: do not park across the street. It $2.50 per HALF hour. Once you drive in you can't back-out. Plus the rude teen attendant will just grab your money after you are charged $10 for 1:40 min. Street parking is impossible as this is smack in the middle of a shopping district. They have meters that take credit cards, it's $1.25 an hour. Three hour limit, not sure if you can just re-do another 3 hours or if they chalk the tires. There is an elevator, AARP discount (eaten up by parking) and children discounts, air conditioned room. BRING CASH.. NONE of the parking areas take CC. Cash only. One car was pulled aside as the lady dug around for cash.

The early item of tennis were interesting. They have lots of memorabilia of long ago you would never find elsewhere. There was only one video that had sound. The others were very bad (old TV recordings) of people playing tennis that were enlarged and just blurry. You'd think they could get some direct clean recordings. Again, no sound or anything of who is playing. Interesting... time stops at 1999. After that, just a few plaques for each of the years on one wall. So if you are a Williams' sister fan, you'll see a plaque and one dress. Lots of stuff from 70's-80's. Billy Jean King and that era. The grounds are nice, you can eat there (no idea of prices) and there are all sorts of tents up for various activities that are most likely private. Seeing the million + dollar yachts in the bay I am sure they have lots of private parties. If you can find street parking, it might be worth it. Traffic, need I say is bad, but not impossible. This is just "up the road" from the harbor, but not walk able. Must be at least a mile away. So if you pay $20 for all day parking (no exit and returns - you're kidding that would drop their profits in half) get your hiking boots. There are stores all over the place if you want to walk from the harbor. There is free parking...way way away from the harbor. Or bring quarters..lots of them.. You'll get to know the one way streets as you circle like a shark for a spot.