Rough Point is one of the best museums in the US. It's completely under-rated and should be a first…read morestop in Newport. Sure the Breakers is the most over the top mansion from the outside, but many of the other Gilded Age Museum collections were put back together as they were abandoned for many years and lost the original furniture and art collections that were once in the home. Rough Point is exactly the way as Ms. Duke lived in it until her death in 1993. There staff on hand that constantly narrating the tour which is such a nice pus. They answer any questions you have and have many great stories of Ms Duke's eccentric and opulent lifestyle. This feels like you are in someone's home and get a sense of Ms Duke's life. As for the art, there are 17th century tapestries, substantial renaissance portrait paintings, Del Robbias and Falconer Louis XIV furniture. Placards in the solarium tell where Doris Duke would meet her guests like Jackie O. There is a costume section that feature outfits Ms. Duke wore in her fashionable days. You can see her bedroom just the way she left it. Her hair brushes alone were designed by Tiffany. Doris Duke was the richest woman in the world for most of the 20th Century. The tour is well organized with descriptive plaques giving both the history of each piece and context in Ms. Duke's life. The ocean view from the grounds are the best in Newport. You may want to come back on the same weekend. Best touring site in Newport for sure. Sent from my iPhone

I find the life of Doris Day to be pretty fascinating. This mansion is not part of the historical…read moremansions of Newport; it is operated and ticketed exclusively. While opulent, it was also lived-in and seemed the most storied of all of the other mansions. Doris lived a privileged and extravagant life. She was quirky and whimsical. Yet there was always a shadow of sadness looming over her, after the loss of her infant. She was a murderer and a victim. She was a privileged (and perhaps spoiled) woman and a philanthropist. She was a sinner and a saint. I felt empathy and compassion for her, but also a sentiment of annoyance, maybe? I'm not sure really. Mixed emotions. From the camels as pets to her affiliation with the Hari Krishna movement, Doris was as eccentric as all get-out. The house is stunning. I can't wait to visit Shangri-la when I am in Honolulu again. I am eager to see the Islamic decor there. The decor and fashion on display here is more mid-century modern in some rooms, classic in others, and seemed to be a mix of different styles. I am interested in learning more about this fascinating story of the Duke heiress.

Newport, RI - This is a small but exquisite and well-curated car museum, showcasing mostly…read morevintage/classic cars and prestige motors from retro to present day, with a mission of "preserving, celebrating & sharing automotive history." They also host the annual Audrain Concours and Motor Week each October. We were having lunch next door and were debating whether it was worth it to drive back up to Portsmouth to visit the Newport Car Museum (having a few moto enthusiasts in my family including my car-obsessed child) when we came upon Audrain, and caught the Porsche exhibit. Helpful and knowledgeable staff were on hand to answer questions and were very happy to chat about the cars and tell us more about the history and culture. It's an incredible and selective collection. For those who wish to learn more, the description plaques had QR codes that you can scan for more information or to watch and hear the car. They rotate exhibits every few months, so check their website or social media for upcoming themes if you're in the area.

The other car musuem in Newport. Smaller than the Portsmouth one, but $2 cheaper. This one is a…read morelot more crowded, partly because of the size but its still a fun time. The cars here cyle every few months so its always something different. If you had to pick between the 2, the one in Portsmouth is probably the way to go. But if you have little ones with shorter attention spans, you may be better off here.

I recently checked out this event at the Newport Art Museum with a few of my girlfriends and we had…read moresuch a fun night. It was the perfect excuse to get dressed up and try something new, with a twist of course... delicious cocktails. The Edgar Allan Poe experience itself was really well done. The actors were fantastic and fully committed to their roles. I loved the costumes and the dramatic personalities. It made the whole evening feel immersive without being over the top. I'm actually at the museum about once a month for meetings, so it was fun to see the space used in a completely different way. My only wish is that we had a little more time to wander and take in the current exhibits, because it's such a beautiful setting. My one real downside is parking. With the recent changes, it has become pretty difficult to find a spot that is easy to get in and out of, especially during a New England winter. Definitely something to plan ahead for. Overall, such a unique and memorable night. I would absolutely recommend grabbing your friends and checking this out if it comes back around.

A great little art musuem in Newport. Maybe a little overpriced given the size, but considering…read moreits all local it can be overlooked. Its a little wonkey in that you have to go outside through a courtyard to get to the 2nd part of the musuem, which I would imagine is a major inconvenience during colder or inclement weather. No staff or docents other than the person at the front desk. A goodbye quick time.

Bottom Line: A historical building housing a lovely gift shop and exhibits about local history…read more I really enjoy a local museum so during a brief visit to the area I visited the Newport Historical Society Museum and Shop. The building itself dates back to 1762 and once served as a market, dry goods storage and granary, among other things. Today the bottom floor houses a nice gift shop and the second floor consists of the museum. The museum exhibits start with the history of the native people that inhabited the area and then cover different aspects about the people, businesses and past times of Newport. The museum exhibits combine original artwork and historical artifacts with documentary films. Also, there was helpful object labels throughout the museum. Museum admission is donation based and the employees were friendly. The museum is located in downtown Newport so we parked in a public lot a few blocks away.

Outstanding guided tours. We arranged for a private tour focused on colonial Newport. Our guide was…read morea retired professor, actor and an expert. Could not have been better!!

I was very impressed with the car collection and the staff. We were greeted by very friendly staff…read moreas soon as we entered the museum. Another staff member gave us a brief introduction and asked if we had any additional questions. We didn't, so we were free to wander and explore. We visited on a rainy day and there were many people also exploring the museum but it did not feel crowded. It is a spacious facility that allowed room for everyone to have a closer look. There was a very knowledgeable gentleman discretely walking around and greeting people. We asked him a few questions and he was a walking encyclopedia of car information! Overall, it was a very fun visit for people who love cars and their loved ones.

I had a pretty fun time stopping in here yesterday, I must admit. They were really friendly and…read morewelcoming at the front desk, and the women's restroom was nice and clean. I honestly stopped in here to take pics of the cars for my dad. But ended up enjoying walking around and looking at everything on display. It's not super big, it took me about 45 mins to walk through. But it was something fun to do on a hot day inside.

It is an amazing house that's part of the Vanderbilt legacy…read more We got discount tickets for two houses to visit. Amazing history and definitely visit at least one of the houses is you are in the area

My second favorite mansion. Mrs Vanderbilt's lavender room is probably my favorite of all rooms at…read moreall of the mansions. It's just lovely and they also did some filming for the gilded age here. The dining room is fantastic as well, and the whole house is wonderful to stop at and visit. The copper in the kitchens is some of my fave, and the tea house out back has been on my bucket list for almost 20 years. At some point I'll make it out there for tea!

Stunning & majestic grandeur at 360 degrees for these historic mansions. Amazed and grateful that…read morethese have been restored for us to view this piece of lavish history. We joined the Historic society for the well worth is discount and toured 3 homes in a day, which is just the right amount. A must in the self guided audio tour via the mansions phone app. It really adds to the history of the mansion and gives great insight to the families and their world. Please explore these fabulous gems when in the area. Can't wait to see the rest!

Visited the Newport Mansions for the first time during the holidays to see all the beautiful lights…read moreand decorations!!! I visited The Breakers and The Marble House (third mansion is The Elms). Each house was lit up with Christmas lights, as well as a Christmas tree in each room. Also bought tickets to see "The Sparkling Lights" outside on the lawn. The mansions are absolutely grand, elegant, and filled with history!! They all cost money to enter, but there is a free audio tour for each one (bring a headset). I loved learning about each one! Short and sweet summaries of each room as you walk through the houses, with the option to listen to extended versions (for you history lovers). Each mansion has parking close-by (although the website claims you can easily walk from one mansion to the next, they are quite far, especially in the winter). I stopped in for a simple day trip, but lots to see and eat in Newport if you have more time! Another tip would be if you're there to see the Sparkling Lights, earliest admission is 4:30 pm, make sure you're in line by 4:15 pm (it gets long FAST)!

The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit organization based in Newport, Rhode…read moreIsland and its top priority is the preservation and conservation of its historic houses and their collections. This work includes restoration of roofs and windows, conservation of fragile textiles, cleaning and restoration of valuable paintings and much more. At any given time, dozens of projects are underway. A visit to the Newport Mansions is a donation to The Preservation Society of Newport County. During the holiday season, The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms welcome visitors with spectacular holiday displays so it was a great opportunity to visit. In addition to the house holiday display, there is an outdoor holiday display called Sparkling Lights at The Breakers from November 22 to December 29, 2024 on select evenings. Admission is only at 4 pm, 4:30 pm, 5 pm, 5:30 pm and 6 pm. Gates close at 6:30 pm and the house and grounds close at 8 pm. Timed admissions tickets can be purchased online at https://www.newportmansions.org/. Tickets include access to the lavishly decorated rooms inside the house during the same visit. About a week prior, I bought 2 tickets for December 20, 2024 at 6:00PM ($40.00 each) and I was really looking forward to it. However, there was a winter advisory and it was snowing on the day of. Driving conditions were unsafe. I was worried I was going to lose my money since the website indicated tickets may not be resold, non-transferrable, non-refundable, and cannot be used for a different date. I tried calling the Preservation Society of Newport County, but there were just prompts and I couldn't talk to a live person. I sent a direct message to @newport.mansions through Instagram and they responded promptly that I could receive a refund by emailing info@newportmansions.org. Gary Ruff, Associate Communications Manager, responded and instructed me with what information he needed to provide the refund. I was so appreciative. Thankfully, the snow cleared and temperature warmed up a bit so I bought 2 tickets for December 29, 2024 at 4:00PM ($40.00 each). All the decorated Christmas trees, the 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree, poinsettias, garlands, wreaths and fresh floral in the interior of The Breakers were beautiful and then walking through the lights and illuminated displays of the outdoor 13-acre landscape was just a cherry on the top. The Preservation Society of Newport County also partnered with Stoneacre Brasserie to offer holiday treats and adult beverages. Thank you to The Preservation Society of Newport County for everything you are doing to protect, preserve, and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes.

The family (wife, 10 y/o son, 2 y/o daughter) were visiting Newport and looking fo some activities…read moreto do. I noticed that the Newport mansions were on every to-do list, with the Breakers being the top choice of many. I looked at their website as well as other reviews and saw that this may not be the best place for younger ones. I saw that no strollers were allowed and I didn't think a tour of an old mansion is something my 10 y/o would be interested in. So I decided to take a solo trip on a nice Friday morning while the rest of the family slept in late at the hotel. The Breakers opens at 10 AM. The visitors parking lot is on the corner of Ochre Point Avenue and Victoria Avenue. There are other lots nearby but read the signs as they are for other buildings...The parking lot had adequate space when I arrived at 10:15 or so, but by the time I was leaving at about 11:45 is was pretty packed with visitors having to park in the rear overflow lot. Once you reach the front gate of the Breakers mansion, there are COVID restriction and general rule signs. As you proceed you can go to the left to buy tickets, use the bathroom or enter their cafe. Tickets are about $26 for adults and $8 for children 6-17 years old. The cafe has a bunch of premade food items, drinks, snacks, premade sandwiches... and few seats with tables. There are some more seats and table just outside of the cafe. Before you enter the mansion, there are signs showing you how to use their self tour audio app. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS...AND BRING HEADPHONES. You download the Newport Mansions app from the App Store onto your Apple or Google device, select the mansion you are visiting and begin the tour. The audio tour was excellent and follows you through the tour route of the mansion. I enjoyed listening to all the interesting facts about each room via bluetooth earbuds while my hands were free to take photos with my camera. You only thing you will need to do is to advance (click the play button) the tour to the next room before entering. There are some interesting facts about the mansion as a whole and each individual room. You can also stay around longer in each area for additional facts, essentially lengthening the tour. Without the audio tour, you will have to fread the printed information sheet. You go through the main floor, upper floor and back down into the service area where the kitchen is. You then exit through the gift shop. The gift shop has lots of interesting items, which includes typical magnets, mugs and prints, but they also have some luxury items like platters and wine stoppers as well as a small jewelry section. You finally exit out onto the side of the mansion and are able to walk back around outside to the front where you entered. Before sure to walk through the opened gate to the right of the mansion which takes you through a small garden to the back. Here you can see the Cliff Walk path and the ocean. Overall, I had a great time...It was a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. The entire tour took just over an hour without listening to the extra information about each room. (During the tour, there are a few instances where you have to ascend/descend steps - I did NOT see any elevators - so you may want to call ahead to check if you cannot climb steps) Again, I highly recommend downloading the app and listening to the audio tour via headphones. It allows your eyes to focus on the beauty of the mansion instead of reading. Lastly, the mansion is right off of the Cliff Walk path...so be sure to make the short ride (or walk) north to Narragansett Avenue and visit the Forty Steps.