A weekend getaway from Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, is a seaside destination steeped in history and glamour. As a deep-water port between Boston and New York, it was vital to both shipping and defense. Dating back to the 1600s, people used it for transportation. During its heyday, Victorian industrialists built their cottages, or summertime mansions, along the shoreline to catch breezes. The most notable houses are museums and are quite popular due to a recent TV series. Here are 15 fabulous things to do in Newport, RI.
Girls’ Trip to Newport
For my trip to Newport, I went with my college-aged daughter. She had watched the series Gilded Age before our trip, so she had an idea of the time period.
It was a perfect getaway for us. Our trip blended a leisurely pace with two house tours and a picnic lunch on the grounds between visits.
We also took a boat cruise, walked through a topiary garden and ate seafood. Then we did some browsing and souvenir shopping along the wharves as well.
We visited in September. The weather was perfect, with clear and warm days. I recommend you be mindful of parking, as it is limited. Walking between houses, especially along the Cliff Walk, is the way to go. Parking near the wharves is sold by the day, not by the hour.
15 Fabulous Things to Do in Newport RI
Learn about The Gilded Age in America
Tour The Breakers
See the Marble House
Visit The Elms
Take a Newport Harbor Cruise
Tour Rosecliff
Enjoy the Views from Cliff Walk
Explore Bowen’s Landing
Wander through Bannister’s Wharf
Stroll Green Animals Topiary Garden
Chase Waves at Easton’s Beach
Tour Fort Adams State Park
Visit Rose Island
Spot at Lighthouse Near Newport
Eat Seafood
The Gilded Age in America
After the US Civil War, burgeoning technologies reshaped the fabric of the country. With the development of train travel and consolidated control of banking and oil production, a few individuals accumulated massive wealth.
As North America forged a reputation as a world power, individuals sought to recreate the old-world splendor of Europe. With vast pools of wealth, several families in the U.S. designed palaces in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
One of the chosen alcoves of the wealthy was Newport. They built summer cottages, in name only, to spend their summer in style and comfort. Retreating from the stifling heat and humidity of New York City, families enjoyed a summer calendar of events with other families of the same social class.
In the 20th century, many of the original families were unable to support the vast real estate holdings they created. The Preservation Society of Newport acquired the houses to preserve them, opening them up for tours.
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Tour The Breakers
One of the Vanderbilt mansions and the grandest of the summer cottages, The Breakers is the house to visit if limited by time.
Built from 1893 to 1895 for Alice Gwynne and Cornelius Vanderbilt II (grandson of the family patriarch Cornelius). Richard Morris Hunt designed The Breakers. Designed in the Italian Renaissance style, it includes elements from the Beaux-Arts and Neo-Italian Renaissance schools as well.
Named after its location, with its sloping back lawn to the rocky shoreline and crashing waves, this house set the standard for the Gilded Age. With 70 rooms situated on 13 acres, this summer palace hosted seasonal galas and entertained guests both indoors and out. In total, the house measures over 138,000 square feet.
As tourgoers enter the Great Hall, the scale and opulence of the interiors can overwhelm the senses. During our tour, we glided through the rooms, like the Breakfast Room, the Morning Room and the Dining Room, trying to understand the order of the Gilded Age days. It seemed this home had rooms dedicated to various activities and functions, like libraries and music.
With antiques sourced from Europe, The Beakers feels like a smaller European royal palace. From the marble used through the lower floors to the frescoes on the ceiling, opulence oozes from every surface.
Upstairs, the bedrooms were spacious and decorated in different European styles, like Louis XV, with upholstered fabric walls of the senior members of the family. During our visit, one surprising element was the size of the beds, which were mostly double-sized.
The kitchen and the two-story butler’s pantry are interesting spaces to explore. From the cast iron wood-fired stove to the lines of copper cookware, thanks to recent TV shows, tourgoers can imagine the lives of those who ensured the proper running of the houses.
Tours
Today’s guests can explore two floors on the general self-guided tour (by downloadable guide or paper guide in several languages. The self-guided tours don’t require reservations; however, the specialty tours do. From family tours to tours of the basement area to specialized Gilded Age tours, visitors can arrange a specialized experience.
Outside, the grounds slope to the water. Visitors can picnic on the grounds. We did this when we toured the Newport Mansions.
Located at 44 Ochre Point Ave, Newport. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round, however, it is best to check if visiting during the off-season. Adult admission is $32 for The Breakers and $14 for kids (6 to 12), with discounts for visiting multiple houses. The Breakers Cafe serves quick-service salads and sandwiches and a host of hot and cold beverages.
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See the Marble House
Another Vanderbilt manse, built between 1888 and 1892 for Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt (another grandson of the Vanderbilt patriarch) for Alva’s 39th birthday. Richard Morris Hunt also designed this property with an eye towards French design elements.
Marble House, named after the 500,000 cubic feet of international marble used in its construction, is one of the most lavish homes in the U.S. During her youth, Alva lived in France during the reign of Emperor Napoleon III. This experience cemented her affinity for European design.
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During our visit, the dining room wowed us with its Algerian rose-colored marble. The ceiling motifs included hunting scenes, like a stag and a boar’s head at each corner. The dining chairs are cast in bronze.
Another Marble House standout is the Gothic Room, including French and Medieval objects from France. It includes elements of the era, like flames. Hunt graduated from Paris’ École des Beaux Arts, the first American to do so. He went on to co-found the New York Society of Architects, a precursor to the American Institute of Architects.
The Gold Room is covered in 22K gold leaf and served as the Grand Salon and Ballroom. The Mezzanine is another viewpoint to see the public spaces of the Marble House. This area includes private studies for both Alva and William, both subdude in size.
The upstairs bedroom of William Vanderbilt is decorated in the Louis XVI style in shades of green-gold. Alva Vanderbilt used the Louis XIV style with a lilac color scheme, much of the fabric in silk.
Their daughter, Consuelo Vanderbilt, had a corner bedroom in shades of red that her mother designed. Consuelo would later marry the Duke of Marlborough from England in an arranged marriage that ended in divorce.
Just like the other houses along Bellevue Avenue, the service areas of the Marble House offer a glimpse into the working sector of the house. From groceries to ice for the ice boxes to party items, the service entrance served as a gateway to the house.
The Gardens of Marble House
During our visit, we explored the grounds, including the Chinese Tea House. In shades of Verdigris and Crimson, it was designed by Hunt and Hunt, son of Richard. Taking design cues from 12th-century Song Dynasty temple buildings, with guardian animal figures and upswept eave ends.
Alva used this space for her suffrage teas in the early 1900s. It serves high tea, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April to November. Reservations are recommended.
Located at 596 Bellevue Ave., Newport. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from mid-February to January 1. However, it is best to check if visiting during the off-season. Adult admission is $25 for The Marble House and $10 for kids (6 to 12), with discounts for visiting multiple houses.
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Visit The Elms
The Vanderbilt family was a formidable one; however, it was just one of the families that summered in Newport. Up and down Bellevue Avenue, mansions lined both sides of the tree-lined street with homes of the leading families of the 19th century.
Built between 1899 and 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind resided in The Elms, designed by Horace Trumbauer. The Elms took its design elements from the Chateau d’Asniers, an 18th-century French estate, located outside Paris.
Like Marble House and The Breakers, The Elms used the interior design firm of Allard et Fils. A coal magnet from Philadelphia, Mr. Berwind, had a Renaissance-inspired library in shades of red.
As we walked through The Elms, we discovered the different rooms. The conservatory drew its inspiration from European orangeries. The Drawing Room features a ceiling fresco by a Dutch artist.
Over the course of The Elms’ lifespan, some of its original objects were sold off, especially at an auction in 1962 when the house went up for sale. This was the case in the dining room; the dining table was returned in the last few decades after the Preservation Society acquired it.
The Elms and the Berwind family hosted elaborate gatherings that utilized its Ballroom in the Louis XV style. To set the stage, the Berwinds hosted a housewarming in 1901 that included trained monkeys on the lawn.
Upstairs at The Elms
Like the other Newport Mansions, the bedrooms are located on the second floor. Mrs. Berwind’s bedroom suite was used in the Gilded Age series as the bedroom of Mrs. Russell.
During their summers, Mr. Berwind visited on the weekends, like many men of his day. His bedroom is much smaller. The daily running of the estate and the social calendar was the responsibility of Mrs. Berwind.
The Elms included the most modern plumbing available at the time. It was here that we saw the white subway tile and cane chair that covered the toilets when not in use.
The Garden at The Elms
I recommend you save time to explore the garden. During our visit, bridal parties used it for their photographs. We also packed a picnic and had lunch under a tree.
During our visit, we took the self-guide tour; however, The Elms offers a specialized tour, The Elms Servant Life, and there is an audio tour that visitors can download.
Located at 367 Bellevue Ave., Newport. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from mid-February until January 1. Adult admission is $25 for The Elms and $10 for kids (6 to 12), with discounts for visiting multiple houses.
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Take a Newport Harbor Cruise
The water views from the mansions are lovely. However, the views of the mansions from the water are better. So arrange a guided Newport Harbor Cruise during your visit.
During my visit, my daughter and I took the Coastal Queen’s Scenic Bay Cruise. This 75-minute guided cruise is the most popular option for first-time visitors.
Leaving from the centrally located Bowen’s Wharf, we boarded the Coastal Queen and sailed around the bustling Newport Harbor, with its many sailboats, ferry service and even a few mega yachts.
During our excursion, we sailed past several mansions and the Cliff Walk. We also saw Rose Island and its lighthouse.
Our cruise sailed under the Newport Bridge as it went up the East Passage of Narragansett Bay. The guide on our cruise was funny and knowledgeable, sharing funny anecdotes, area history and folklore during our trip.
Departing from 5 Bowen’s Landing, Bowen’s Wharf, Newport. Reservations recommended. Prices start at $33, and Newport Harbor Cruises run from mid-April until late November. From January to early April, the Seal and Harbor Tour is popular. There is also Mimosa Cruises and an Evening Cocktail Cruise, centered around the full-service teak wood bar, located on the first level.
Tour Rosecliff
The Breakers, The Marble House and The Elms include their lavish furnishings. Other houses in Newport are sparsely furnished and host frequent events.
During our visit, Rosecliff was closed to tours. However, it is a popular home tour. It was built from 1899 to 1902 for Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs and her husband Hermann Oelrichs. The architectural firm McKim, Mead and White designed the house, using Versailles as an inspiration.
One of Rosecliff’s most distinctive features is its heart-shaped staircase, which features a central stair leading to a landing, then splitting into side stairs. The Ballroom is another hallmark of the property.
Located at 548 Bellevue Ave., Newport. Open from mid-June to November 1. Adult admission is $25 for Rosecliff and $10 for kids (6 to 12), with discounts for visiting multiple houses. Rosecliff features a self-guided tour, and there is an audio tour that visitors can download.
Enjoy the Views from Cliff Walk
Between the Newport mansions and the water, Cliff Walk offers stunning views of the ocean and the cottages. Best of all, it is free to walk and open year-round.
The Cliff Walk starts at Easton’s Beach at 175 Memorial Blvd, Newport, and runs along the coast. I recommend walking from one mansion to the next on your itinerary to alleviate parking issues, especially on weekends.
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See Rough Point
The houses in Newport were residences, and some owners lived in their houses more than the summer season. Rough Point is one of those.
One of the homes of tobacco heiress Doris Duke, Rough Point was originally built in 1887 by Louise and Frederick W. Vanderbilt. Designed by Peabody & Stearns, it is the English Manor style, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean along Bellevue Avenue.
The Duke family purchased the home in 1922 and hired Horace Trumbauer to renovate it (The Elms architect). Her father died in 1925, leaving Doris a fortune. Her mother primarily used the house in the summer.
Upon her mother’s retreat to NYC, Doris emptied the house in the 1950s before using it again at the end of the decade. Following a desire to save the Newport mansions that were being demolished at the time, she created the Newport Restoration Foundation.
Rough Point offers main floor standouts like the Great Hall, which mirrors English smaller castles with its hanging flags and paneling. The Music Room is another expansive room, complete with furnishings.
Rough Point underwent renovations, and that is evident in its kitchen, which includes modern conveniences, like a microwave. Upstairs, I found Doris Duke’s bedroom, including several pieces of her clothing collection.
During our visit, we enjoyed a picnic in the garden area. The original landscape firm was Frederick Law Olmsted’s.
Located at Rought Point is open from mid-March until early November. Adult admission is $20, with students entering for $10. Parking is located on site.
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Explore Bowen’s Landing
After its initial English settlement in the mid-1600s, Newport became one of the most important ports in New England, after New York, Boston and Charleston. Along its wharves, visitors can see how the maritime industry is still import to the area.
Named after the Bowen family, this area was vital to shipping, including shipbuilding. Today, this area is home to dining and shopping, along with sailing excursions.
Located on America’s Cup Way. Paid parking in the area.
Wander through Bannister’s Wharf
Named after John Bannister, this wharf handled goods from Europe and the West Indies. It is also steeped in sailing history, especially the America’s Cup.
The oldest sailing race in the world, called Newport home from 1930 until 1983. Several Vanderbilts won the coveted trophy.
Located on America’s Cup Way. Paid parking in the area.
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Stroll Green Animals Topiary Garden
For garden lovers, I recommend touring the seven-acre garden at Green Animals Topiary Garden. With 80 topiary animals and seasonally blooming gardens, it is a delightful way to spend an afternoon.
During our visit, we particularly enjoyed their vegetable gardens and fruit trees, with several berry varieties and even figs. With its protected position along the Narragansett Bay, this garden can grow different plant varieties than the rest of the area.
The home of Thomas E. Brayton sits in the middle of the garden. It is known as the most northern and oldest topiary garden in the U.S., and he purchased the land in 1872.
The whimsical topiaries are a favorite, like a Teddy Bear and a Pineapple. However, the garden also includes formal flower beds with seasonal color. Each area is divided into a garden room, with plantings and garden structures.
Located at 380 Corys Lane, Portsmouth. Open daily from May 1 until August 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends only in September, then closing for the season. Adult admission is $25 for Green Animals Topiary Garden and $10 for kids (6 to 12), with discounts for visiting multiple houses. This is a self-guided tour and garden map.
Chase Waves at Easton’s Beach
If the weather is warm, then Easton’s Beach is the place to be. It is 3/4 mile long with a stretch of sand. This is where the Cliff Walk starts, and popular summer destination for both residents and visitors.
Located at 175 Memorial Blvd, Newport. Open seasonally 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with seasonal lifeguards. Seasonal parking (April 1 through November 30) starts at $25 per day.
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Tour Fort Adams State Park
For great views of Newport Harbor and of Narragansett Bay, Fort Adams State Park is the place to go. As a family-friendly bonus, the park offers space for running, kite-flying, picnics and more.
Located at the mouth of the Newport Harbor, it is the only deep-water port between Boston and New York. Defending the Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay was important to the area’s shipping.
The first structure was built in 1799; however, the current Fort Adams was under construction from 1824 to 1857. Soldiers were stationed there starting in 1841.
Named after President Adams, it is the largest and one of the most complex coastal fortifications in the US. It used French military architecture and was never attacked.
It served in five wars, including both WWI and WWII. President Dwight Eisenhauer stayed there in the 1950s. The mansion was used as the summer White House during his administration. Now named the Eisenhauer House, it is used an event space.
It was decommissioned in 1953 and transferred to the State of Rhode Island for use as a state park in the 1960s.
Located at 90 Fort Adams Dr, Newport. Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Seventy-five-minute guided tours are offered daily at 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Adult admission (18+) is $24, $12 for youth (6 to 17). Self-guided tours run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and adults enter for $12 and youth are $6. Note, the self-guided tours do not include access to the tunnels.
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Take the Ferry to Rose Island
An 18.5-acre island in Narragansett Bay, Rose Island is in the shadow of the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge. Accessible via ferry only, the U.S. Army started Fort Hamilton in 1798; however, it was never finished. It was used for training up until WWII.
There is a lighthouse on the island, built in 1870, deactivated in 1970. After an extensive renovation, it reopened on Lighthouse Day: August 7, 1993, with its green light shining bright again.
There is a lighthouse museum, open from mid-May to mid-October from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bird nesting season runs from mid-March to mid-August, so visitors must stay in designated areas.
For lighthouse lovers, you can reserve a two-night stay in the lighthouse. It is off-grid and powered by solar power. The outdoor bathroom utilizes rainwater.
To get to Rose Island, the Jamestown-Newport Ferry offers a hop-on, hop-off service to the island from Spring until Fall. An all-day ticket is $30 for adults, $20 for kids 5 to 12 and $10 for those 4 and younger. To enter the island and museum, adult admission is $12 and kids (under 12) enter for $8. Due to nesting birds, it is not dog-friendly.
Lighthouses Near Newport
I’m a lighthouse lover, and Newport features about 10 lighthouses, some of them functioning. Many are privately owned, so the best way to see them is from the water.
Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport
A 34-foot-tall granite tower from 1890 on the resort’s shoreline. Operated by the U.S. Coast Guard and not open to the public.
Rose Island Lighthouse in Newport
Built in 1870, visitors can take the ferry and stay in the lighthouse overnight.
Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown
Located on the southernmost tip of Conanicut Island, the Beavertail Lighthouse is the third oldest in the U.S. and was built in 1753. Open seasonally for climbing.
Dutch Island Lighthouse in Jamestown
Off the coast of Conanicut Island in the West Passage of Narragansett Bay, the Dutch Island Lighthouse was built in 1826. Not open to the public.
Conanicut Island Light in Jamestown
Built in 1886, it was used for ferry traffic between Newport and Jamestown. It is privately owned.
Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse in Portsmouth
Built in 190, it is located at the southeast shore of Hog Island at the beginning of Mount Hope Bay. It features a unique spark plug design. It is not open to the public.
Ida Lewis Rock Lighthouse in Newport
In Newport, this stone square light was built in 1854. It is not open to the public.
Newport Harbor Light in Newport
Built in 1842, it features a green light. It is located on the Newport Harbor Island Resort on Goat Island.
Prudence Island Lighthouse in Portsmouth
Originally built as Newport Harbor Lighthouse in 1823, then moved to this location in 1854. It is not open to the public.
Bristol Ferry Light in Bristol
Located in Narragansett Bay at the base of the Mount Hope Bridge, now a private home. Not in service any longer.
Sakonnet Point Light in Little Compton
This is also a spark plug lighthouse built in 1884 near Sakonnet Point. Destroyed by a hurricane but was rebuilt and still operates.
Nayatt Point Light in Barrington
Built in 1828, the original keeper’s house is still standing. However, it is a private residence.
Where to Eat near Newport
There are several notable places to eat near the wharves.
Newport Vineyard and Restaurant and Tap Root Brewery
During our visit, we stopped by the Newport Vineyard and Restaurant for a wine tasting and dinner. Founded in 1977, it is located on a parcel of 100 acres of farmland, including 50 acres of vines.
Guests will find a tasting room, a brewery and a restuarant. During our visit, we sampled wine then ordered chowder and a charcuterie board. The dining room drew on its farm-to-table menu and felt cozy.
Located at 909 E Main Rd., Middletown. The market is open Monday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The dining room closes most nights at 6 p.m.
Fieldstones
During our trip, we ended our day at the Green Animals Topiary Garden, a bit north of Newport. With dinner calling, we stopped at Fieldstones.
It was early Sunday evening, and it was packed, always a good sign. During our visit, we started with New England Clam Chowder, a hearty cream soup with chunks of potatoes and clams.
Following my chowder, I sampled the Fish and Chips. It was a thick piece of white fish, paired with a pile of fries, a side of coleslaw. My daughter chose a bowl of Mussels.
The menu is extensive, offering burgers, wraps, beef and chicken. Fieldstones is family-friendly.
Located at 980 E Main Rd, Portsmouth. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links and my visit to Newport was hosted.
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