Newport Mansions

We decided to take a drive down to Newport, RI for the weekend for some coastal views, Black Pearl chowder, Thames Street shopping, and Mansion viewing.

Having arrived just in time for lunch - The Black Pearl restaurant was our first stop. Known for their amazingly good "chow-dah," we each ordered a cup for starters. Followed by our main meal - for which I got a lobster roll. The chowder was perfection and the lobster roll was pretty good--nice and light (not drenched in mayo), it was chunky and fresh.

We strolled around town after lunch, window shopping and people watching, before heading over to tour the Newport mansions.

Kept by the Preservation Society of Newport, there are a number of homes that are open for viewing - those being:
The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff, Kingscote, Hunter House, Isaac Bell House and Chepstow.
*NOTE: you do have to purchase a ticket to tour the homes.

Check out the Society's website for the mansions here:
http://www.newportmansions.org/

Each mansion is unique, offering views of interesting and ornate architecture and design, groomed grounds,  detailed furnishings, and a whole lot of history.

I personally think it is impossible to visit all of the estates in one trip, so we decided on our top 3 and paced our way through them. Our list included: The Breakers, Rosecliff, and The Marble House.

First stop: The Breakers. This "cottage" is the grandest of all the mansions and was home to the Vanderbilt family. An industrialist, Cornelius Vanderbilt, had this summer home built for him and his family. With Italian Renaissance touches, this 70 room home also includes a stable and carriage house on the property, as well as a life-size doll house (for Vanderbilt's youngest daughter). Not to mention it's stunning view of the water.

The back of The Breakers

The backyard view

Our next stop was Rosecliff.

Built by the  Nevada heiress of a silver fortune, Rosecliff was known for its grand parties. It was modeled after Versailles and supposedly cost only $2.5 million to build. During the "season," Tessie (the heiress) would throw elaborate gatherings and invite the likes of Harry Houdini to entertain guests. 

Fun fact: Scenes from The Great Gatsby and 27 Dresses were filmed here.

Rosecliff is still privately owned to this day.

Our last visit was to The Marble House.

Built for the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, The Marble House called for 500,000 cubic feet of marble to be brought in, giving it its name. Mr. Vanderbilt gifted the house to his wife for her 39th birthday (pretty sweet present if I do say so). Sadly, the couple divorced shortly after and she kept it.

She had a Chinese Tea House built in the back, overlooking the water below. 

The Tea House is my favorite - and yes, the do serve tea and snacks in there to visitors!

 

Pretty cool, huh?

If you find yourself in Newport with a free afternoon, you should check the mansions out. Make sure to wear comfy shoes/sandals though as you'll be doing a lot of walking!

We worked up quite an appetite after a long day of tourist-ing the mansions. For dinner we headed to El Perrito Taqueria, a small Mexican restaurant in downtown Newport. 

Check it out here: http://www.elperritonewport.com/

Get yourself some of their fish tacos and thank me later. 

I love living so close to Newport; it's nice to mix it up and take a day trip down for a change of scenery.

Now excuse me while I go buy some lottery tickets so I can get myself one of those mansions ;)

xo Belle