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.