Mansions in Newport
 

I will be in Newport for 5 days in mid-June and would like to see the mansions. There are tickets being offered for sale for either 1 (the Breakers)or several including the Breakers. How important is it to see them? Are they really all that different? And is this something not to be missed?

It is something not to be missed. I don't know that you need to see *all* of them, but you will want to see a couple of them. I would save the Breakers for last since it is so spectacular. There is one where the guides dress in period costumes and act as if they are living in the home. I can't remember which one it is, but it's fun.

You might also want to take the cliff walk where you walk along the backside of the mansions.

Enjoy!

But remember that the most significant thing is these aren't "mansions". They are "cottages" -- just little weekend or short get-away type third or fourth homes -- amazing.

The one where they dress up is the Astor's Beechwood....and that is fun. It is not part of the ticket with the Breakers....it is completely separate.

Hammersmith Farm is where the Kennedy family had a cottage. More casual, rahter than "mansion-like," lots of memorabilia.

You can't visit Hammersmith any more. It's privately owned.

Hammersmith Farm is no longer open to the public.

I just went to the Breakers and Marble House a few weeks ago (they were both on the same ticket). I've been to many historic mansions before, but the Breakers has to be the most spectacular, over-the-top of them all (hmm...maybe a tie between the Breakers and Versaille). It's a must-see. If you're going to more than one, save the Breakers for last because the others will pale in comparison. Marble House just seemed....blah after that. The guides at Breakers don't dress in period costume, at least they didn't when I visited.

To visit Newport and NOT tour the mansions would be a sin. Breakers is the grandest, Marble House, the gawdiest, Rosecliff is the Classiest. I find no need to see more than 2 (it gets old after a while).
Enjoy your visit.

Hammersmith Farm was fascinating, not only because it was a home of the Kennedys but because I felt I could happily live there (not so with the grander places). Obviously someone else felt that too and so they bought it.

I loved Marble House, the most lovely house I've ever seen. I'd never even consider calling it "gawdy":) That would be a definite must do for me. The Breakers was also beautiful in an over the top rich beyond belief sort of way. But Marble House was much more cosy... I could live there, lol;)

There are tickets or sale for $31 per person which include visits to the Breakers, Elms, Marble House, Rosecliff and Chateau-sur-mer. Is this worth it and do I want to see all of these? I'm just trying to plan ahead.

Probably too many. Save a few bucks and tour 1 or two. If you went to NY would you visit every museum, or just a couple?

Breakers = $15
Breakers + 1 = $22
Breakers + 4 = $31
Single house (other than Breakers) = $10

I think the Breakers + 1 is the best bet. If you decide to do one other house, you're still only spending $32. Only buy the 5-house ticket if you're planning to do 4 or 5 houses.

I always heard that Hammersmith Farm was Jackie Bouvior's (sp) home, not the Kennedy's.

Bouvier.

You can see Hammersmith, Jackie Bouvier's childhood home, from one of the harbor tours (which I would recommend for a different perspective).

Fun Fact: If you do see Rosecliff, the ballroom and "heart" staircase was used in the first "tango" scene between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tia Carrere in "True Lies". When I took my parents to tour Rosecliff (and the Breakers of course) a few years ago my Dad lit up like a Christmas tree when he heard this. I think it's also the only one that still rents out - after the Ahnold nugget, my father immediately suggested we rent it out for my wedding, but after the rental fee I would only have been able to serve pigs in a blanket and Coors light...

...not that that would have been bad, mind you.

You're right - I think I'll get tickets for Breakers plus 1. Thanks for all the input.

Hammersmith Farm sounds pretty nice, I'd love to see it one day.

"Message: I always heard that Hammersmith Farm was Jackie Bouvior's (sp) home, not the Kennedy's."

Yes, that's true. But don't we all call her one of the Kennedys? JFK and Jackie apparently stayed there numerous times as there were a lot of pictures around of them on the grounds.

TTT for my visit to Newport.
Any new advice?

Hammersmith Farm is not open to the public.

If you were only going to do one of the Newport Preservation Society's mansions ( www.newportmansions.org ), The Breakers would be it.

Mrs. Astor's Beechwood and Belcourt Castle are privately owned and sometimes have theatrical-type tours (tour guides in costume and character). www.belcourtcastle.com/

Rough Point, Doris Duke's former home, usually has interesting exhibits. www.newportrestoration.org/visit/rough_point/

Great topic -- I am book marking this -- thanks! :)

I would consider including Marble House just to see the gothic art collection which belonged to the Vanderbilts, and is on loan to display in its original setting this summer.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rho...ar_ri_mansion/

Oops, it looks like Beechwood is no longer open for tours, either. It apparently has been sold to Larry Ellison (and he's not sharing :) )

Hammersmith Farm is no longer open to the public, and apparently neither is Astor's Beechwood (luckily, got a chance to tour the latter a few months before it closed).

Have been to most of the rest open for tours (except Chepstow as of now) and purely from a house-based standpoint would rank them in must-see order this way: The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosewood, Belcourt Castle, Rough Point, Chateau Sur Mer, Kingscote, Isaac Bell House, and Hunter House. But BC, RP, HH, and Kingscote also have excellent collections of period furniture and paintings and antiques which make them well worth the visit.

Best of all, they're all quite different from each other, so there's no sense of "seen one, seen them all" here. Most folks find seeing 2-3 mansions in a day is about all the sensory overload they can take (three is about right for me).

Bookmarking. :)

Judyrem, you didn't say when you're going, but the Newport Flower Show takes place the last weekend of June at the Rosecliff. http://www.newportmansions.org/page4702.cfm

Hi yk, we are going the first weekend in August. Staying at the Attwater Villa. I am very excited about seeing the mansionsand Cliff Walk.
I think we will do the Breakers and Marble House and maybe one more. I would love to see the period furniture and paintings, bachslunch. Thanks for the info!

lvk, Larry Ellison bought Beechwood? Shoot, I was going to buy it! ;-)

Judyrem, make sure you bring appropriate footware for the Cliff walk - preferably Teva-like sandals or sneakers. I made the mistake of wearing flip-flops, not a good idea. Parts of the walk is not an actual trail, but stepping from one large boulder to the next. I almost lost my flip-flops (as well as my balance)!

Enjoy your visit!

Thanks yk.
I have Keen sandals that can be used for hiking.

bookmarking :)

>>> I always heard that Hammersmith Farm was Jackie Bouvior's (sp) home, not the Kennedy's. >>>>

Right, it did not belong to the Kennedy's. I think it may have belonged to the family of Hugh Auchincloss, Jackie's stepfather.

Jackie and JFK were married in Newport and had their wedding reception on the grounds of Hammersmith Farm.

P.S. I agree that seeing two or three mansions is sufficient - at least for this visit. I also second the reco of the Cliff Walk. You will get to see the grounds and the facades of many of the mansions.