Gilded age
Mar 18th, 2003, 03:17 AM
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Gilded age
I will be visiting Newport on a Cruise Ship for one day (8 to5) and would like to see as much of the mansions as possible. Any advise how I can do it? The tours, offered by Cruise Line, are expensive and cover only one mansion per tour. I read about combination tickets on Internet, but it does not explain anything: how much time is needed, how far the mansions are located from
each other, how and best way get there. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
each other, how and best way get there. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Mar 18th, 2003, 04:51 AM
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Given the fact that you have about 9 hours, you could probably see 2-3 mansions, maybe one more if there are no entry lines and you move fast and don't do any shopping or have a leisurely lunch. Fodor's has put together some of the information you need right on this site. Click on "Destinations" above, then scroll down to Rhode Island and choose Newport. There is a map of Newport showing the location of the mansions.
If I would trying to do this in one day, I would visit The Breakers, Rosecliff, take a walk along the Cliff Walk to see all the main mansions, then have lunch downtown in the later afternoon and do some shopping. You should review the Fodors site, the website for the Preservation Society of Newport, and then choose which of the mansions you really want to see. Go to you first choice first thing in the morning and then move on from there taking in as many as you can/want.
As I recall, the guided tours of The Breakers and Rosecliff take about an hour each. I am assuming the tours of the other mansions run about the same length. This does not include wait time to get into the mansions, or walking time between mansions, or time for lunch. If you are going at a popular time (virtually any time but the winter months), waiting time to enter each mansion will eat into your time available. I also don't know where the ship will drop you, I am assuming it is at one of the piers in the downtown harbour area along Washington St. You will need to get to the main mansion area from there (Bellevue Ave), and I don't think you could walk it without losing significant time. There is a public bus service, I also think the Preservation Society runs a trolley bus, but I am not sure it stops in the downtown area. Check their website or give them a call. You can walk between The Breakers and Rosecliff as well as some of the other mansions, a nice walk along the Cliff Walk, which also gives you a chance to see the outside of some of the other mansions.
You would need a taxi, car or bus service if you want to see Hammersmith Farm.
If I would trying to do this in one day, I would visit The Breakers, Rosecliff, take a walk along the Cliff Walk to see all the main mansions, then have lunch downtown in the later afternoon and do some shopping. You should review the Fodors site, the website for the Preservation Society of Newport, and then choose which of the mansions you really want to see. Go to you first choice first thing in the morning and then move on from there taking in as many as you can/want.
As I recall, the guided tours of The Breakers and Rosecliff take about an hour each. I am assuming the tours of the other mansions run about the same length. This does not include wait time to get into the mansions, or walking time between mansions, or time for lunch. If you are going at a popular time (virtually any time but the winter months), waiting time to enter each mansion will eat into your time available. I also don't know where the ship will drop you, I am assuming it is at one of the piers in the downtown harbour area along Washington St. You will need to get to the main mansion area from there (Bellevue Ave), and I don't think you could walk it without losing significant time. There is a public bus service, I also think the Preservation Society runs a trolley bus, but I am not sure it stops in the downtown area. Check their website or give them a call. You can walk between The Breakers and Rosecliff as well as some of the other mansions, a nice walk along the Cliff Walk, which also gives you a chance to see the outside of some of the other mansions.
You would need a taxi, car or bus service if you want to see Hammersmith Farm.
Mar 18th, 2003, 06:09 AM
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Hi Cecerone: thanks for taking time and giving me great advices. I checked out the site you suggesting before, that is where I got all the info I needed to ask my question. But I did not think
of a map. We will be in Newport on Friday, May 16 and hope at this time it will be not as crowded, as later in the season or on a weekend. By looking at the map, I can see that my husband and I can cover at least 3 mansions - taking taxi one way to the end of Cliff Walk and walking back to the beginning. We will have my elderly parents with us on this cruise. I do not thing they will be able to do as much. One more questions: what is the weather there this time of the year?
of a map. We will be in Newport on Friday, May 16 and hope at this time it will be not as crowded, as later in the season or on a weekend. By looking at the map, I can see that my husband and I can cover at least 3 mansions - taking taxi one way to the end of Cliff Walk and walking back to the beginning. We will have my elderly parents with us on this cruise. I do not thing they will be able to do as much. One more questions: what is the weather there this time of the year?
Mar 18th, 2003, 06:23 AM
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I haven’t been there in May, but Rhode Island is fairly far north and is in on the coast of New England, so I think it will still be fairly cool in May. According to worldclimate.com, the average temperature historically is about 56 F. May is also historically one of the higher rainfall months. So I am thinking cool and a chance of rain. That should not interfere with your enjoyment of the mansions, however, as most of the action is inside. The gardens may be somewhat in bloom as well with early spring flowers. Should be pretty, but bring an umbrella.
Mar 20th, 2003, 08:46 AM
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We were in Newport in November and visited The Breakers. At that time they had no guided tour and did not know whether or not they would reinstate it. There were volunteers in each room to answer questions and it was very very crowded and the lines were very very slow, basically because of the questions. The tour took about 2 tours, but we did enjoy it. We also visited Marblehead which had a self-guided tour with a tape. We enjoyed that much better than just walking through a mansion and asking the volunteers questions.
I think 2 mansions is enough so you can appreciate the architecture and savor every room! During more than 2 may be a little overwhelming.
I think 2 mansions is enough so you can appreciate the architecture and savor every room! During more than 2 may be a little overwhelming.
