Since we first visited Newport, Rhode Island in 2017, the town has become one of our favorite New England destinations! Having been away for a couple of years, due to the pandemic, I thought it would be neat to visit the houses when they’re dressed up for the holidays. My travel tip for the day is to buy a yearly membership to the Preservation Society rather than daily tickets as it is less expensive, you can see more houses, and it is good for the entire year. I recommended this to a work colleague who was very appreciative and amazed at the value!

Since we’re all through with Christmas shopping, we chose Black Friday as our getaway date. Though chilly, the town was bustling with activity as many people seemed to have our same itinerary.

Our first house was The Elms. We especially love this house in the spring and summer for it’s magnificent rear lawn. The fountains and gardens make it feel like a miniature Versailles. The Christmas trees and fireplaces stole the show today. I particularly loved the toy model of the house that was on display in the ballroom.

The Marble House is always a treat. Like the Elms, all the rooms are appointed with magnificent trees and period decorations. The red marble dining room is astounding in any season, but the addition of the tree just makes the room feel complete. The gothic room feels warmer and inviting with the additional ornaments and decorations. Even the kitchens are decorated for the holidays. Though not as lavish, they still maintain the Victorian spirit stylized throughout the house.

The third house, and grandest of all is The Breakers. Owned by the Vanderbilts, this property is a palace among mansions. It’s large main hall with red carpeted stairway and mezzanine views made it the ideal venue for a grand ball for New York Society during the Gilded age. It is also the perfect setting for dazzling Christmas displays both indoors and outside. Like the other mansions, the house is adorned with Victorian Christmas trees and fireplace decorations.

At night The Breakers also plays host to an outdoor lighting adventure. Guests weave through a walking maze of sparkling lights throughout the grounds. The house is also open for viewing, but since we’d already seen it earlier, we chose to just finish our day traversing the grounds and enjoying the beautiful scenes.

While it is true that the mansions in Newport were built by a class of people who set themselves apart and above everyone else, I am so glad that they’ve been acquired by the Preservation Society, and are available for all to enjoy. We enjoy our trips to Rhode Island and hope for many more.