Great and informative tour, pretty cool to see the Pell bridge from the water. Clean bathrooms and…read moregood drinks although the mixed drinks are small for the price.

A very good experience coming here on the small coastal cruise. The pricing was good and there was…read morelots of seating. It was partially narrated. We got to see most of the Narragansett bay in the newport area, including some of the surrounding areas of newport and's other landmarks. The only drawback was the parking, which they don't supply, and unfortunately for the hour and a 1/2 that we were there. I had to pay about $38 to park.

Super fun experience and an informative tour of the island! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and…read morehilarious. He even provided blankets for us because it was a bit cold. The car was super cool and 100 years old. Totally recommend taking one of these car tours!! The views are great. And he took pictures of us!

This was AWESOME. Ken took my fiance and I on a great tour of Newport. We were able to drive around…read morethe island while learning more about the haves and the havenots of the city. Ken was incredibly friendly, humourous and knowledgeable about Newport all while driving us around. The tour is incredibly safe and was well worth the money paid. We 100% recommend him and his company and if you get the opportunity to come to Newport, DEFINITELY check him out!

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 took the "Rogues and Scoundrels" tour, our guide was Pat. She clearly was excited about her…read moretour, very well knowledged. Only had laminated cards for us to see pictures and a single monologue to read word for word. Not so much walking, as talking which was fine, so many details! Definitely enjoyed myself. As someone that does have a decent idea about the area they were able to inform those that may have no clue, while not boring a local! I would totally take other tours! Especially with that guide! For those curious - at least for this tour, you never actually go inside a building! But it's easy to choose shade or sun depending on the weather!

I recently took the Holiday Lantern Walking Tour with my sister and brother-in-law. The website…read moredescribes the tour as follows: "Stroll Newport's streets and hear stories detailing the diverse ways that colonial residents celebrated--or didn't celebrate--the holiday season." This tour was a disappointment, to put it mildly. You would expect that a historical society would use tour guides that are actual historians, or at least enthusiasts with a minumum amount of basic knowledge of the area's history and the stated topic of the tour. I was very disappointed that our tour guide was a college-aged girl reading from a stack of index cards. It was clear as she bumbled through her tour that she really didn't have any knowledge that extended much past her notes. If someone would have told me that she'd never read a single book on Newport history, it wouldn't have surprised me. Her ignorance was made quite clear when she was asked some basic questions on the tour and couldn't answer a single one beyond pure conjecture: "Well, that's a really good question; I don't know the answer but I would guess..." Sorry lady, but this is a history tour. I'm not interested in your guesses. I can do that myself. Come on, Newport Historical Society, I know funding for your organization is probably low, especially in this fiscal environment, but you can do better than this. Charge more for your tours if you have to, but hire some tour guides that will make it worth my time.

Have to drop them to 3. Had been on a few trips with them that went well, but after this past…read moreFriday they lost me. The 'Friday Funday' Mystic trip was cancelled. Ok. I get it trips get cancelled when there aren't enough people signed up for it. But in this case, they didn't even bother to tell me/us. Even got the confirmation/reminder email the day before. So being at the pickup point and its 5 minutes after we're supposed to leave, I call them to see what's going on and then they tell me it got cancelled and I should've been told Tuesday, but obviously wasn't and again, even got the confirmation/reminder email the day before. As someone that doesn't get a lot of time out work to burn a day off with nothing to show for it is extremely frustrating, and honestly, I just can't risk getting burned again. The owner Ted called later that day offering to make it right and I was refunded the money for the trip and the other trip I cancelled but I can't risk burning another day off with nothing to show for it. The people have always been nice, so I won't completely knock them, but beware even getting a confirmation email the day doesn't mean the trip is happening.

I joined Experience Rhode Island Tours on their A Day on Martha's Vineyard tour. There were three…read moredeparture locations: Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI, Visitor information Center at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI, and the main entrance of Hampton Inn New Bedford in Fairhaven, MA. Ted picked us up from the Visitor information Center two minutes prior to 7:00am. The mini coach bus was pretty full from the first pickup location. We then went on our way to the third pickup location. After our mini coach bus was full, we crossed Bourne Bridge to Woods Hole Terminal in Cape Cod to take a 45 minute Steamship Authority's ferry ride to Oak Bluffs. The ferry ride was smooth. When we got to Oak Bluffs, Ted told us about the history of Martha's Vineyard and gave us a map. First, we went to the fishing village of Menemsha for lunch and I walked to Menemsha Public Beach. Stanley Larsen, owner of Menemsha Fish Market, came on board the bus and showed us the jaws of a great white shark he caught in 1983 while swordfishing. Next, we went to the Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook to admire the beautiful cliffs of Aquinnah and Gay Head Light. This was my favorite part of the whole trip. Then, we explored the lovely harbor of shops and homes in Edgartown. I walked to the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, which is very close to Harbor View Hotel. Ted talked to us about the Chappaquiddick incident that occurred sometime around midnight, between July 18 and 19, 1969, while standing in front of the Harbor View Hotel looking out at the Poucha Pond. On the way to Oak Bluffs, we stopped at the "Jaws Bridge," a popular spot for jumping into the water despite signs prohibiting it. Lastly, we saw the gingerbread cottages and the tabernacle of Oak Bluffs. We then took the Steamship Authority's ferry ride from Vineyard Haven back to Woods Hole Terminal. We returned to Visitor information Center at the Rhode Island Convention Center about 7:30pm. Everyone on the trip were very respectful of the time Ted told us to return to the bus and were very friendly. This was a wonderful, fun, informational day trip to New England's most popular island and I am so glad I got to explore Martha's Vineyard for the first time with Experience Rhode Island Tours. Ted took us on a tour of the entire island, exploring its six towns. The tour included admission to Martha's Vineyard ferry, narrated tour, and round-trip transportation to and from the ferry, and transportation throughout the day on the Vineyard. Experience Rhode Island Tours always does a great job with their tours and I am looking forward to what other tours they plan in the future!

They never showed at meeting point on the map provided to pick us up. I called that day prior to…read morethe tour and there was no answer. I had to purchase new tour tickets and Mansion entrances. After numerous phone calls spanning a week I've finally made contact with the business operator. The confusion is associated with the fact they have a "Visitor Center" at a different location but when asking around town where THE Visitor Center is, everyone local expects that to be the Newport Visitor Center on America's Cup. HNT Visitor Center is not in Newport but in Middleton.

I had never visited Newport RI and it was on my list of things to do. When I found a deal for a…read moretour with Historic Tours of Newport, I decided that was my sign. I bought the deal and planned the trip with the BF. I called ahead and made my reservation without a hitch. We arrived at the bus terminal and had to ask around for Historic Tours of Newport. We were advised that the driver was out on a tour but if we waited outside, we would see him when he got back. When he got back, it turns out it was just us and one other couple waiting for the next tour. Our driver was a very nice older gentleman who knew the area well. We were booked for the 1.5 hour tour. It was mostly conducted from the bus with one stop at about midpoint. The other tour is about 3 hours and you could visit one mansion (your choice). Since the bus just kept driving it wasn't like we could just stop in traffic to discuss certain highlights. The mini-bus was very well kept and clean but unfortunately not made for tall people. Since my BF is 6'4", it wasn't the most comfortable ride. I'm no jolly giant but legroom was tight for me too. The other issue with the bus was that it was really difficult to see everything the driver/guide was pointing out on the window opposite of the side you were on. Having never been on a bus tour before, I think I've now decided that walking tours are my preferred type. As stated, our driver was a nice older gentleman. We did manage to hear quite a few stories about him and his wife during the tour interspersed with talk about the homes we were driving by. All in all it wasn't the worst 1 1/2 hours I've ever spent but I was really glad I got discounted tickets. If you were staying in Newport, it would be a nice introduction to give you an idea of they lay of the land and some ideas of what else you might want to focus on. PS One bonus is that the tour drove right past a cheese shop that we ended up stopping at after the tour ended. Best cheese plate I've ever had at le petit gourmet.

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.

Next tour is end of June 2025 in the Point area. You will love each House and garden.read more

This is a tour of the private gardens at people's homes. They only do this twice a year so it is…read moreworth it to go once. It is a walking tour, they provide you with a map and there are 13 homes. After you can go to a local church for a brown bag lunch, I got the roast beef sandwich, it was homemade roast beef!!! Delicious!!!

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.

We had such a great time on our trolley tour of Newport! Our guide, Carlos, was fantastic,…read morefriendly, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable about the history of Newport and its beautiful historic homes. He shared so many interesting stories and details and added just the right amount of humor to keep the tour entertaining. It was a wonderful way to see Newport on our first day there and learn about its fascinating history at the same time. We thoroughly enjoyed the entire tour and would definitely recommend it to anyone visiting Newport!

My husband and I took this tour with our four teenagers, and we had a fantastic time! We were lucky…read moreto have a beautiful, clear day, which made the experience even better. Our trolley driver, Rob, was absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgeable about the mansions and shared so much interesting history along the way. He also gave us excellent recommendations for restaurants, nightlife, and parking. If you take this tour, definitely ask for Rob, he made the experience unforgettable!