Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Garlic Farm. The restaurant is great, although I think it may be a little tricky by bus. The Needles Battery - it's the other end of the island from Ryde, but worth it for the views (the forecast says it will be cloudy for the next 2 days, but dry). One of the open top tour buses goes there, if they are still running.

Thanks, Kevin, I'll see if a bus goes there. Bus service here is good. From Ryde to Osborne house took 20 minutes. I think a person could get almost anywhere on the island within an hour.

Didn't you take a guidebook along?

Carisbrooke and/or Yarmouth Castles? Also Brading Roman Villa. Dinosaur Isle Museum or fossil hunting on the beaches.

The Needles - stunning views! Get on a bus and take it wherever it goes. Sure to be an adventure.

Loved Carisbrooke - really worth the time.

I hope I am not too late posting this reply but as a former Islander I would agree with Carisbrooke but don't miss the South Of the Wight. Get a bus to Bonchurch and Ventnor, very quaint Victorian resort and its village twin . Lots of good restaurants and pubs. I suggest Spyglass Inn but there are also fine dining options. Then get bus along the back of the Wight for fantastic views of coast and walks if you have the time.
You could go to Dimbola Lodge in Freshwater Bay which has both exhibits about a famous Victorian woman photographer but also a display about the Isle of Wight Pop festivals of 1968-70 including the 1970 festival at Afton Down. Jimmy Hendrix's last show etc.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will catch a bus soon and go exploring. When I decided to visit the Isle, I just wanted to visit Osborne House. Now I can look around and see what's here. Island life appeals to me. The climate here seems milder than on the larger island to the north. Public transit is good, and people are friendly. I may take the ferry back to Portsmouth tomorrow and visit the museums and ships there. Without luggage it should be easy and interesting.

I see that bus no. 8 goes thru those towns, David. My plan is to leave my B&B soon, catch bus no. 9 to Newport. After a refreshing break I will take the no. 9 around the southeast of the island. If I see something interesting I can hop off the bus and explore. Ta!

The bus numbers I used are slightly off. The bus returning to Ryde from Newport is no. 3. There is a very good printed bus schedule booklet. ITS A BEAUTIFUL sunny day on the isle. I've completed the loop and am back at my B&B in Ryde, the Dorset on Dover St. I saw several towns that looked interesting. Also, there are footpaths that looked intriguing. As a place to visit and stay awhile, the Isle of Wight looks very attractive.

Swan, there are 500 miles of footpaths on the island, and there are often bus stops located where the paths cross main roads. We've rented a house there two summers in a row, partly because the Lymington-Yarmouth ferry is only 20 minutes from here, but mostly because the island is such a good holiday destination. I'm about 20 miles from you as the seagull flies. It's clouded over on this side of the Solent, but it really was lovely this morning - I'm glad you got to see some of the island while the sun shone.