Newport, Rhode Island: Gilded Age Opulence in the Shoulder Season
Newport is synonymous with wealth, sailing, and the staggering summer cottages built by the Vanderbilts and Astors. Visiting during the peak months of July and August requires a massive budget. However, shift your timeline by just a few weeks, and Newport transforms into an accessible luxury destination.
When to go & weather: Late September through early November is the sweet spot. The humidity drops, the sailing crowds disperse, and luxury hotel rates fall by as much as 40 percent. The city also looks magical when the mansions are decorated for the holidays beginning in late November.
Costs & passes: Touring the mansions is a bucket-list experience. Tickets to The Breakers, the most famous of the properties, cost $29 for adults. If you plan to see more than one, the Preservation Society offers multi-house tickets; a two-house ticket costs $38, providing excellent value if you combine The Breakers with Marble House or The Elms. For breathtaking ocean views that cost absolutely nothing, walk the 3.5-mile Cliff Walk. The northern half of the trail is fully paved and accessible, offering dramatic vistas of the ocean on one side and the sprawling mansion lawns on the other.
Just visited and didn’t like Santa Fe. Agree, Traverse City is a gem. Newport can be pretty pricey but is a nice place to visit. San Antonio is delightful! Hoping Savannah and Wilmington will be part of next year’s road trip.
Last time we toured the Breakers it was told that the magnificent carved front doors came from a European hotel. I said “Gee, most people just take the towels”