Newport Rhode Island Attractions
Book an fully guided New England Tour with Caravan Tours and your trip includes a sightseeing tour of Newport, Rhode Island, the sailing capital of the world.
This charming seaside town was once regarded as the capital of high society in America. The country’s rich and elite flocked to Newport, Rhode Island, and the extravagance of their lifestyles in the early 1900s is still highly fascinating for those who visit Newport, Rhode Island today.
In fact, nearly 3 million visitors come to Newport each year seeking to explore the area’s extravagant mansions and enjoy walking tours, beaches, vineyards, and boat rides.
Let Caravan Tours open your eyes to the lifestyles of early America’s rich and famous, as part of our New England Fall Foliage tour.
To Book a Caravan New England Fall Foliage tour
Call1-800-CARAVAN (227-2826)
Top Newport, RI Attractions
The Breakers - Vanderbilt Summer Cottage
Recognized as the grandest of all of Newport’s summer cottages, The Breakers belonged to the famous Vanderbilt family and truly displays the full depth of their social and financial status at the turn of the 20th century in America.
This 70-room, Italian Renaissance-style, palazzo-inspired home was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and built in 1895. No expense was spared for the furnishings, fixtures, and the many sculptures within the mansion.
Gladys, the youngest of the seven Vanderbilt children, inherited The Breakers in 1934 upon her mother’s death. As a fervent advocate of The Preservation Society of Newport County, Gladys decided to open The Breakers to the public in 1948 to help raise funds for the society.
In 1972 The Preservation Society purchased The Breakers from the Vanderbilt heirs and it is now designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Learn more about The Breakers mansion on Wikipedia.
Mansions of 400 Club
While The Breakers is the most notable and famous mansion in Newport RI, there are nearly a dozen other mansions within a short distance of one another, including:
- Chateau-sur-Mer
- Chepstow
- The Elms
- Hunter House
- Isaac Bell House
| - Kingscote
- Marble House
- Rosecliff
- Green Animals Topiary Garden
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These homes all belonged to the “Mansions of the 400 Club“.
Back in the day, to be added to the “Mansions of the 400 Club,” your home needed to have a ballroom that could host 400 guests or more and your bank account needed to have at least $3 million in cash (approximately $104.4 million today).
St. Mary’s Church
Caravan’s Rhode Island Tour also includes a visit to the St. Mary’s historic Roman Catholic Church. Saint Mary’s Church is a pleasant departure from the extravagance of Rhode Island’s mansions. It is a brownstone Gothic Revival church, a parish home (formerly a school), as well as a convent.
Designed by Brooklyn architect Patrick C. Keely and built in 1848 – 1852, St. Mary’s Church is on the official National Register of Historic Places. St. Mary’s carries a rich history: it was the first Roman Catholic parish in Rhode Island, and it was the location of John Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier’s wedding in 1953.
More Newport and Rhode Island Facts
- Newport, Rhode Island was founded in 1639 and is over 383 years old.
- Rhode Island is home to 20% of registered historic landmarks in the United States.
- In addition to its mansions, Newport, Rhode Island is famed for its yachting and has hosted America’s Cup, a renowned annual sailing regatta, 12 times.
- Newport is also home to the U.S. Naval War College.
- Newport is just 70 miles from Boston, MA and 175 miles from New York City.
About Caravan Tours
Caravan Tours is a second generation, family run tour company with roots in Chicago dating back to 1952. We celebrate our 70th year in 2022!
Today Caravan Tours offers highly popular and affordable fully guided tours throughout North and Central America. Since the beginning, we have stayed committed to offering low priced fully guided tours that are up to 30% less than our leading competitors with similar offerings.
Caravan’s affordable fully guided fall foliage tours through New England are offered in the late summer and fall each year. Booking your reservations early is highly recommended as these are very popular tours that always sell out quickly!
From Newport, Rhode Island the tour moves on to visit Mystic Connecticut, home of the Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum.
To book your New England vacation please call Caravan Tours directly Toll Free at 1-800-Caravan (227-2826).
To learn more about Newport and Rhode Island in New England:
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Check out The Breakers on TripAdvisor and explore The Breakers with The Preservation Society of Newport County from the comfort of your own home!
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