This past weekend I took my visiting parents up to Newport to explore the exquisite mansions of the Gilded Age. Before I get to the pictures, may I just say, that Newport is a lovely town. In addition to majestic mansions, there are tasty restaurants, cute shops, famous festivals and great beaches. The drive over the bridge is one of my favorite parts of visiting.

Visiting the mansions is fairly convenient. Tickets can be bought at any one of the mansions, and there is parking at most. We paid $26 each to see three mansions, though we only made it to two. If we save our ticket, we can use it to view the third on our next visit, and even to re-visit the ones we’ve already seen. It’s just a few dollars more to upgrade for all the mansions. I pretty sweet deal, especially if you’re interested in cultural history.

First up, we have the Elms! Built by the Julius Berwind between 1899-1901, this 60,000 square foot cottage is a sight to behold. Opulence greets your every glance. I’ll let the pictures do the talking!

Our next stop was the Breakers, the magnificent summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt. The home redefines the term opulent. It was wonderful to spend an hour absorbing the beauty of world-class architecture and art.