Newport

In the 1800s, Newport was a summer playground for the very wealthy, those titans of the Gilded Age who built fabulous homes of huge proportions and elaborate interiors overlooking the Atlantic. These mansions served as proving grounds for the country's best young architects, who designed estates for the Vanderbilts, Berwinds, Astors, and Belmonts.

Recreational sailing is a huge industry in Newport today. For those not arriving by water, a boat tour of the harbor is a great way to get your feet wet.

Newport has much to offer in a relatively small geographical area—mansions, beaches, seafood restaurants, art galleries, shopping, and, some say, more B&Bs per capita than anywhere else in the country. In summer, it can be crowded (3.5 million people visit each year). Yet the quality of its sights and its arts festivals persuade many to brave the crowds. In fall and spring, you can explore the city without having to stand in line.

Away from downtown, the gilded-age mansions of Bellevue Avenue are what many people associate most with Newport. These late-19th-century homes are almost obscenely grand, laden with ornate rococo detail and designed with a determined one-upmanship.