DETAILS
On this journey, go behind the scenes of Newport and its age-old mansions, now preserved as museums and private residences, all lovingly cared for and appreciated by new generations. Highlights include expert-guided inside looks at the ultimate Newport summer cottage, the 70-room mansion The Breakers, originally owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt II, and Marble House, Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt’s estate, built in 1892 using more than 500,000 cubic feet of marble. Enjoy private access to Newport’s cultural sites that reflect the city’s origins as a refuge for Baptists, Quakers, Jews, and other religious minorities. Go behind the scenes of the Neo-Palladian-style Touro Synagogue, built in 1763 and the oldest surviving synagogue in North America.
- Pricing from
- $5,399
- Trip Type
- Closer to Home, Group Travel Tour
- Departure Dates
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Nov 8, 2027 - Nov 12, 2027
The Brenton Hotel, Newport
Savor sophistication by the sea at Newport’s best waterfront location. This recently built boutique property captures the city’s rich architectural legacy while offering a modern, tranquil retreat overlooking the harbor. Inspired by Newport’s historic landmarks and designed with soothing nautical elements, the hotel provides guests with a serene escape in spacious rooms, all offering harbor views.
ITINERARY
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day 1
DEPARTURE / NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
Transfer independently to your hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, where you will have free time to stroll along the waterfront or explore the many charming shops. In the early evening, gather with fellow travelers at a welcome reception, where a Preservation Society official will share an introduction to Newport’s magnificent history and architecture.
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day 2
NEWPORT
Today, focus on 18th-century Newport and its impressive colonial-era homes. Visit Hunter House, the first property purchased by the Preservation Society in 1945 and a fine example of Neo-Palladian architecture popular in the colonial period. Venture to the nearby Historic Hill, where we will visit the Neo-Palladian-style Touro Synagogue, the United States’ oldest synagogue, dating to 1763. During a short walk, stop at the Georgian brick Old Colony House, the original colonial legislature building from 1739. Following lunch, enjoy private visits with craftspeople at the John Stevens Shop, founded in 1705 and specializing in stone inscriptions, and artist Howard Newman’s metal restoration shop. Afterwards, head to Thames Street and the Whitehorne House Museum, an 1810 stately brick mansion overseen by the Newport Restoration Foundation, which displays 18th- and 19th-century local furniture and decorative arts. This evening, dinner is at leisure.
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day 3
NEWPORT
Along historic Bellevue Avenue, enjoy an inside look at the Isaac Bell House, a Preservation Society-owned historic house designed and completed in 1883 by McKim, Mead & White. One of the best examples of shingle-style architecture, it was revolutionary for its open-plan interior. Next, take a guided tour of Marble House, the summer cottage completed in 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt. Its architect, Richard Morris Hunt, was inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, and more than 500,000 cubic feet of marble were used in its construction. This evening, enjoy a special reception with a viewing of the current exhibit at the Redwood Library & Athenaeum, completed in 1747.
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day 4
NEWPORT
Delight in a private tour of the Vernon House, an architecturally distinguished colonial-era house and National Historic Landmark with extraordinary Asian-inspired interior murals. During the American Revolutionary War, Vernon House served as the headquarters of the Comte de Rochambeau, commander of the French forces from 1780 to 1783. The highlight of the day’s experience is a guided look at the ultimate of all the Newport summer cottages: The Breakers. Designed by Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, this grand mansion has 70 rooms and 13 acres of landscape. The remainder of the evening is at leisure.
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day 5
NEWPORT
Begin the day heading down Bellevue Avenue to Rosecliff, the 1902 mansion commissioned by Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs. Designed by Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White, the house has stunning ocean views and has been the setting for The Great Gatsby (1974) and other films. This afternoon, visit the Newport Art Museum, founded in 1912. The museum operates a gallery in the John N. A. Griswold House, a National Historic Landmark and the premier American Stick Style building, designed by Richard Morris Hunt in 1864. Later, head to the International Yacht Restoration School, a unique vocational school for maritime trades. Here, in an adjacent building, observe the ongoing restoration of the 1885 sailing schooner yacht Coronet (pending confirmation).
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day 6
NEWPORT / RETURN
After breakfast, transfer independently to the airport for return flights home.
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