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Experiences|Tours

Take A Trolley Tour Of Newport Rhode Island, Then Explore The Historic Homes Along Bellevue Ave Mansion Row

Newport Travel Trolley Tours offers narrated tours of Newport's historic mansions and sites, including The Breakers.

Published Jan 19, 2023

Written by 

Marla S.

One of the best ways to experience Newport, Rhode Island is by taking a trolley tour. Newport Travel Trolley Tours is a local business that offers two options to learn and see the famous mansions and sites throughout the town that draw thousands of visitors each year. Both tours are narrated and take visitors to 150 points of interest in Newport. In addition to the tour covered in the first option, the second tour offered includes tickets to The Breakers - Newport's most infamous mansion.

Want to learn more? Read on to see what you'll get to explore when you take this family-friendly tour in Rhode Island.

During your tour, you'll ride in a comfortable trolley that can seat up to 38 guests.

A white trolley bus with large arched windows parked on a scenic road near the water.
Google

Make sure to have your camera ready so you can take scenic shots like this one.

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Sailboats on a calm waterway with a bridge in the background under a cloudy sky. Green grass in the foreground.
Google/Patricia LaPierre

During the tour, you'll get to learn about Castle Hill Lighthouse from the comfort of your seat on the trolley.

A white lighthouse stands on rocky shores under a blue sky with scattered clouds. Waves gently crash nearby.
Google/Newport Livery

As the tour takes you to Newport's historic mansions, you'll also go by the U.S. Naval Academy.

Sign for the U.S. Naval Academy, with a historic building and trees in the background, under a cloudy sky.
Google/ A- OK

Towards the end of the tour, you'll be able to see the impressive mansions that were summer homes to wealthy notables during the Gilded Age. If you opt for the second tour offered by Newport Travel Trolley Tours, you'll get to visit The Breakers, too.

A grand mansion with a red-tiled roof, ornate architecture, and a manicured lawn under a clear blue sky.
Google/Joey Occhiuto

In addition to being an ideal family outing, Newport Travel Trolley Tours is available to host trips for weddings and corporate events.

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A group of smiling people, including adults and children, posing together inside a trolley bus.
Google/Angela Ponte

To learn more about Newport Travel Trolley Tours' route, hours of operation, and ticket costs, take a look at their website. And, if you'd like to know about Newport, check out the article: There Are 6 Must-See Historic Landmarks In The Charming Town Of Newport, Rhode Island. 

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Experiences|Attractions

The Rhode Island Christmas Display That’s Been Named Among the Most Beautiful in the World

Newport Mansions in Rhode Island offer a spectacular Christmas lights display, featuring lavish decorations and guided tours.

Updated Oct 17, 2024

Written by 

Jessica Wick

It's beginning to look a lot like the holiday season here in Rhode Island. There are plenty of magical traditions we love to indulge in during this time of year, most notably the Christmastime tours of our elegant Newport Mansions in Rhode Island. The seasonal decor is more dazzling than ever, and for that, we are thankful. Read on to learn more about the best Christmas displays in RI!

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Every November, we watch as three of the most magnificent Newport mansions — The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House — are decorated from the inside out.

Here we have Christmas at The Breakers!

A beautifully decorated room featuring a Christmas tree and ornate wall decorations, with figurines displayed on a table.
The opulence of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions meets the sparkle and magic of Christmas during the Holidays at the Newport Mansions.

We love seeing The Marble House, The Breakers, and The Elms shine bright during the cold winter season.

The mansions are decorated lavishly with hundreds of poinsettias, numerous ornamented evergreens, wreaths, fresh flowers, table settings, mantle decor, and more. The Newport Mansions at Christmas are absolutely stunning. At The Breakers, for example, there's typically a 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree that's a local favorite and a color-coordinated theme chosen for each room, and the results are spectacular.

Of course, no expense is spared when it comes to decking these halls. Over the years, Christmas at the Newport Mansions has received plenty of national attention. People come from all over New England to take guided tours during the holiday season.

Did you know that the Newport mansions Christmas decorations are considered some of the best in the world? RI Christmas displays are becoming more popular over the years.

One thing is for certain — Christmas at the Newport Mansions is the most wonderful time of the year.

A large golden frame surrounds decorated Christmas trees and poinsettias in a festive indoor setting.
A golden frame surrounding christmas trees within the historic elms mansion in newport rhode island.

Reservations aren't required to visit the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island, but reserving tickets online is always a good idea. That way you are guaranteed to see one of the best Christmas lights displays in Rhode Island! This year's Holidays at the Newport Mansions event will be held from Nov. 22, 2024 through Jan. 1, 2025.

Will you be exploring the Newport Mansions during Christmas to see the best holiday lights display in Rhode Island? Get your tickets on the Newport Mansions’ website. You can also view the mansions virtually.

Bundle up this year with your favorite gear from North Face.

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Experiences|Tours

It’s An Epic Adventure Cruising The Bay In Rhode Island

Published May 25, 2024

Written by 

Beth Price-Williams

A few hours on the water is always time well spent, whether we're floating in a tube or paddling along in a kayak. However, very little can compare to a scenic boat tour when we're craving a low-key adventure on the water. We can sit back, breathe in the fresh bay air, and admire the quintessential New England shoreline on this bay cruise in Rhode Island.

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Rediscover the beauty of the Rhode Island coast aboard a scenic boat tour with Coastal Queen Cruises in Newport. Tours sail between the beginning of May and early November annually.

A marina with a sign for Bowen's Wharf, featuring boats, a ticket booth, and clear blue skies.
Facebook/Coastal Queen Cruises

If you're having out-of-town or out-of-state visitors, you won't find a more charming way to introduce them to Rhode Island.

The scenic bay cruise, one of several offered by Coastal Queen Cruises, boards at 5 Bowen's Landing on Bowen's Wharf, making it an idyllic stop if you're spending the day in Newport.

A blue and white boat named "Coastal Queen" docked at a marina on a sunny day.
Facebook/Coastal Queen Cruises

Settle into one of the cozy seats that offers a front-row view of the water. The main deck is wheelchair accessible.

People sitting on a boat, enjoying drinks and the view, with sunlight streaming in and flags visible in the background.
Google/Coastal Queen Cruises

If you're using a wheelchair, call 401-423-9900 before your cruise for assistance in boarding the boat. Coastal Queen Cruises also offers boat tours that leave from the East Ferry Wharf in Jamestown; that location has an ADA-accessible boat ramp.

As you watch the shoreline pass by as the boat sails from Newport Harbor to Jamestown, a seasoned tour guide will provide a lively narrative about the history of the area.

A boat named "Coastal Queen" sails past a lighthouse on a calm waterway, with trees in the background.
Facebook/Coastal Queen Cruises

You may want to bring a jacket on chilly days; however, the boat also has heat to help warm you up.

Grab a drink from the bar (there are bathrooms onboard).

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A blue bridge spans across a calm body of water under a cloudy sky.
Google/Allison Olivadoti

Keep an eye out for seals frolicking in the water or sunbathing on rocks as the boat meanders along the bay.

Arrive between 20 minutes and half an hour before the cruise's departure. Cruises leave on time and do not accommodate late arrivals.

View from a lighthouse with a glass lantern, overlooking a sunset on the water and a boat in the distance.
Facebook/Coastal Queen Cruises

Coastal Queen Cruises also hosts a variety of other cruises, including a lighthouse and mimosa tour, an evening cocktail cruise, and a seal and harbor tour.

A sunset over calm waters viewed from a boat, with a lifebuoy and seating visible on the deck.
Facebook/Coastal Queen Cruises

See a full list of cruises on the official website of Coastal Queen Cruises. Or, stop by the Facebook page of this boat tour agency in Newport, Rhode Island.

Have you been on this bay cruise in Rhode Island? Did you opt for the scenic cruise or another one? What did you think? Let us know in the comments! After your cruise, stroll around Brick Market Place in Newport, where you can grab a bite to eat or explore the shops.

If you're visiting from out-of-town or feel like a staycation, turn that day trip into an overnight getaway by booking a charming Vrbo.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/rhode-island/year-round-day-trip-destination-ri/

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