*For a list of Rhode Island's top yearly events, click here.

​

Newport

This beach town has a lot of culture and history going for it. There are a number of Gilded Age mansions to see, many of which are open to tours, such as The Breakers, Marble House, Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer, and numerous others. All of these homes are magnificently beautiful, but our favorite was the Breakers, the famous Vanderbilts' SUMMER home. This place is bigger than most of us would ever imagine living in...and it was their summer home! 

 

The most fun way to see all of the mansions is through Newport's Cliff Walk. You'll have great views of the ocean on one side and all of the mansions on the other. The tourable ones have access from Cliff Walk. Just be aware, Cliff Walk is fairly long. It's actually longer than advertised because a walkable unpaved path goes much further than what is designed as "Cliff Walk". Be ready for a long hike back, or cab it.

 

However, it isn't like cabs are waiting at the end of it to pick you up, you'll have to call them. We were lucky enough to be picked up by a nice older couple that took us most of the way back to our starting point. My wife was a little nervous to ride with strangers, of course, even though they were older. Too many movies have taught us that the old and frail can be deceitful serial killers! My wife solved this dilemma by bringing along a "souvenir" rock that would double as a "head basher" in case of emergency. Luckily, no emergency came, and the sweet old couple was as sweet as advertised.